A MINIATURE wheelbarrow pictured in a 140-year-old "mystery" photograph has been discovered in a local railway museum, bringing an end to the riddle of when and where the picture was taken.

Just before Christmas the D&S Times featured the photo as part of an exhibition put together by Barnard Castle man Parkin Raine. The publicity resulted in about 1,000 people calling at the Witham Hall's Castle Gallery to view the 40 pictures on show, raising £200 for the hall's redevelopment fund.

Although knowledgeable about most of the photographs, Mr Raine was stumped by one measuring only 3in by 2in, which he believed was taken by Thomas Kipling, a local photographer born in Baldersdale in 1827. The scene, which Mr Raine blew up to A4 size in a bid to pick out more detail, showed a well-to-do woman dressed in a crinoline at an event featuring flags, a band and the wheelbarrow. She seemed to be planting something near a park wall and a gateway.

Joanna Hashagen, costume expert at the Bowes Museum, dated the dress to the mid-1860s, which at first led Mr Raine to think that it might be linked to a tree planting ceremony to mark Queen Victoria's silver jubilee in 1862.

"However, Prince Albert had died only the year before and the Queen went into deep mourning, so celebrations were not encouraged," he said. "But good coverage in the D&S and a lot of questioning around the dale drew a blank as to whom it was and where it was taken."

Until now, that is. A few weeks ago Mr Raine was discussing the picture with local shoemaker David Heywood, who is also a railway expert.

"He told me that railway work was often cause for celebration in the early days," said Mr Raine. Then while attending a church garden party at Forcett Hall, he realised there were miles of park walls in that area, and there had been a quarry railway there.

"Within a few minutes I was speaking to the Heathcote family who live at the hall," said Mr Raine. "It was then into their car and round the outside wall of the park, on the road to Caldwell, and there was, and still is, the gatepost alongside the now overgrown railway line to Forcett quarry."

Mr Raine's next stop was at Darlington Railway Museum in North Road, where to his amazement, staff had the miniature barrow used by Mrs Mitchell, of Forcett Hall, who cut the first sod on July 27, 1865, complete with the brass plate recording the event. His findings were also borne out by newspaper cuttings of the day, which he dug out at Darlington library.

A handsome barrow and spade were provided for the occasion, which was attended by the promoters of the line and a large number of inhabitants of the district. Following the ceremony, the company was entertained by John Mitchell at Forcett Hall.

The line was about five miles in length and was projected mainly to develop the valuable lime field at Forcett. It began at a junction with the Barnard Castle line a little to the east of Gainford, then went across the River Tees by stone viaduct to Forcett, accommodating Eppleby, Caldwell and Aldbrough St John.

Mr Raine said he was delighted to have eventually discovered the event which the photograph commemorated.