HERE, we have a collection of photos from C.A White – a wonderful photographer who captured colour pictures of the Isle of Wight almost a century ago.

Mr White is an unsung hero.

He was a professional photographer working on the Island during the 1930s and ‘50s, operating from Medina Avenue, Newport, and a shop in East Cowes.

Apart from that, nothing is known about him, except that he left behind a collection of several hundred glass slides taken in the late ‘30s or early ‘40s, mainly in the Newport area.

Isle of Wight County Press: Harvesting with Horses. If anyone recognises the location for this stunning photo, please let us know.Harvesting with Horses. If anyone recognises the location for this stunning photo, please let us know. (Image: County Press/Alan Stroud)

Nothing remarkable about that, you might think.

But there is, they are in colour – real colour – they have not been ‘colourised.’ 

They were captured on Dufaycolor, a short-lived film introduced in 1935.

It was no match for Kodak colour film and was discontinued in the early 1950s but during its brief existence, Mr White used it to build a rare archive of photographs allowing us to see the Island in colour nearly 90 years ago.

Isle of Wight County Press: Blackhouse Quay. The beached boat is on the foreshore at Blackhouse Quay, Newport. This view can be seen today by looking through a gap in the hedge in the car park of Odessa Boatyard and looking toward Cowes.Blackhouse Quay. The beached boat is on the foreshore at Blackhouse Quay, Newport. This view can be seen today by looking through a gap in the hedge in the car park of Odessa Boatyard and looking toward Cowes. (Image: County Press/Alan Stroud)

Isle of Wight County Press: Jubilee Stores were built in 1924 to store grain, but in the mid-1930s, the building was taken over by British Road Services. By the mid-1970s, it had fallen into a state of disrepair and was taken over by Quay Arts and is now used as an arts complex. Jubilee Stores were built in 1924 to store grain, but in the mid-1930s, the building was taken over by British Road Services. By the mid-1970s, it had fallen into a state of disrepair and was taken over by Quay Arts and is now used as an arts complex. (Image: County Press/Alan Stroud)

Many of the glass slides had obviously been entered in photographic competitions because they have been labelled with lyrical, romantic titles, which unfortunately make no mention of the location.

While some of the locations are obvious, many of the scenes still need identifying.

The slides captioned ‘Harvesting with Horses’ and ‘Children in the Harvest Field’ are prime examples.

Frustratingly, Mr White has simply labelled both plates ‘Harvest Time’.

Isle of Wight County Press: Lady in Garden. What a cracker. The woman’s hairstyle, dress and shoes all shout 1940s, which sadly is all we will ever know about this wonderful photograph, unless one of our readers can shine some light on it.Lady in Garden. What a cracker. The woman’s hairstyle, dress and shoes all shout 1940s, which sadly is all we will ever know about this wonderful photograph, unless one of our readers can shine some light on it. (Image: County Press/Alan Stroud)