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'Who are they?' Lost photos found in France

Paul Andersen A sepia-tinged photograph of a large group of men sitting and standing in a field around farming machinery, including an early tractor. Paul Andersen
The collection, which has been linked to Lincolnshire, includes photographs of people, tractors, animals and a windmill

A man is hoping the people of Lincolnshire will help him solve the mystery of a trove of photographs, thought to date from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Paul Andersen, from Hampshire, found the photos in a box recovered from a house he inherited in France.

The 72-year-old believes they capture people and scenes from Lincolnshire, but he has been unable to establish the identities of those pictured.

“I have lots of lovely photographs but no names," he said. "Who are they?"

Paul Andersen A close-up of Paul Andersen, who has short grey hair and beard and wears silver-rimmed glasses. He is smiling and looking up at a blue sky.Paul Andersen
Mr Andersen says he's been ‘lumbered’ with trying to solve the mystery

Mr Andersen inherited the French property from a friend who grew up in Lincoln.

He began sifting through the photos six months ago, but found they were unlabelled.

“I think everyone is guilty of taking lots of photos with no detail,” he said.

One group shot depicts people wearing what appears to be fancy dress.

“I thought, wow, there’s a clown at one end and a person looking severe at the other," Mr Andersen added. "I have no clue what is going on.”

Paul Andersen A black-and-white photo, possibly from the early 20th Century, of a group of 14 men and women wearing various fancy dress costumes, including a clown suit, knight's outfit and elaborate dresses.Paul Andersen
Mr Andersen believes the "votes for women" sash worn by one of the women can help date this photo, possibly to the early 20th Century

Mr Andersen found clues in some of the prints, including inscriptions referring to the names of photographers from Lincolnshire.

Among the names is Edwin Rechab Nainby, a photographer who was born in Gedney in 1842 and died in Alford in 1908.

Mr Andersen said he would be "delighted" to discover more about the subjects of the photos and to return them home.

Paul Andersen A horse and cart, with two male passengers, in a black and white photo, possibly dating from the late 19th Century. The cart carries the words "Coney, cabinet-maker and upholsterer".Paul Andersen
This photograph is believed to have been taken by Edwin Rechab Nainby, a 19th Century photographer from Lincolnshire

"I cannot let my children sort them out, it'll mean nothing to them," he said.

"The boxes have been sat in my kitchen and it has pressured me to do something."

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