A Wellington resident has come forward with a theory about the location of a mystery thatched cottage.

An appeal was published in the Wellington Weekly News two weeks ago after the location of the building in a century-old photograph had puzzled local historians.

Wellington Local History and Museum Society has been offered the photograph but does not know which property it was.

The image was taken by A. E. French, a local photographer who had a studio at 33 High Street, and later at 24 South Street, from around 1894 to 1925.

Now Wendy Davies, of Tonedale, has written to the paper with her childhood memories of a cottage at Tonedale which may be the one in the photograph.

She told the paper: "I am writing with regard to the pretty cottage in a picture which you published and asked if readers could identify, (WWN, March 17). I believe this could be Winsbeer, beyond Five Houses, Burchalls Hill, Tonedale.

"I can remember going there as a child with my friend Sonia, having a great time imagining the cottage to be haunted with ghosts etc!

"The area was quite overgrown, but still had plenty of character. I presume the cottage is no longer there, but if any reader can throw any light on this, I would be interested to hear."

The museum society holds a number of Mr French’s photographs which seem to indicate he did not travel far from the town in the course of his business.

A spokesman said: “We suspect this cottage is in, or near to, the town.

“The setting is quite rural, but 120 years ago the town was much smaller.

“There are currently two thatched dwellings in Wellington, one in Westford and the other at Swains, is it perhaps one of those?

“The thatch is very neat and looks almost new. The garden seems to be very productive of a leafy vegetable.”

Anybody who can help to identify the building is asked to email [email protected] or drop a note into the museum at 28 Fore Street, or to call 07495 512303.