Monday 21 January 2013

Bahrain - Old Photographs (Part II)

Continuing from where I left off...

Liwa dance (a Bahraini music thought to originate from Africa) 
Shaikh Abdullah street in central Manama, circa 1950.
A dhow (traditional ship), used mainly for pearling
The Manama-Muharraq swing bridge, circa 1950s
A nurse weights two new-borns, in Awali hospital. Date unknown
Adhari spring, date unknown. Likely early 1950s.
The first official medical clinic in 1925.
Gulf Hotel, in the early 1970s. It's no longer beach-front property due to land reclamation.
Jashan (now known as Jashanmal)'s department store in Manama. Date unknown.
Delivery of the first cars in Bahrain (or so it is claimed), in 1919.
The old Blacksmiths market of Manama... and some youth flexing for the camera!
The old Political Agency of Britain, circa 1920.
Yateem Petrol Station in Manama, date unknown
The office of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, in Ras Ruman.
The iconic windtower (known locally as badgeer) of the Al Awadhiya houses in Manama
Bab al Bahrain street, Manama.
BAPCO (Bahrain Petroleum Company)'s buses, used to transport workers from Manama/Muharraq to Awali. Circa 1950s
(The vast majority of these photographs were taken prior to the 1960s, by which time their copyright expired and is now in the public domain, as stated in Legislative Decree No. 10 of June 7, 1993 in respect of Copyright Law)

Thursday 10 January 2013

Bahrain - Old Photographs (Part I)

Below is a collection of stunning old photographs of Bahrain taken in the 20th century. I'll try to input as many captions as I can. Enjoy!

(The vast majority of these photographs were taken prior to the 1960s, by which time their copyright expired and is now in the public domain, as stated in Legislative Decree No. 10 of June 7, 1993 in respect of Copyright Law)





Bab al Bahrain
RAF Muharraq airbase, in 1949.
Farooq house - Now Ibn Sina health centre.
Awal Cinema, circa 1950s.
House of the poet Abdul Rahman Rafea, in the Fadhel neighborhood of Manama
House of Mustafa bin Abdullatif in Ras Ruman, close to Manama.
Shaikh Hamad's palace in Gudaibiya, Manama.
The Manama Municipality, 1930-1950s.
Entrance to Manama Souq, 1949.
Manama's northern sea coast

Ardha Dance in front of Sheikh Hamad Palace

Ardha Dance in front of Riffa Palace

Al Ahli Club in the 1960s.
Customs Building and the main seaport in Manama
Government street, Manama.
Bab al Bahrain road
Wednesday Market in Manama (happened every Wednesday, hence the name)
Vegetable Market in Manama 1930s-ish
Opening of the Al Tajer library in Hoora, in 1920.
Muharraq in the 1930s.
British Political Agency in Manama, 1900ish
Freezing conditions in Awali, Bahrain on 20 of January 1964
Market
Liwa dance in Bahrain, a traditional Bahrain music that originated from Africa
Al Fadhel mosque in Fadhel neighbourhood of Manama
Aerial view of Manama, circa 1950s.
Another aerial view of Manama
Old customs office, circa 1940s.
Manama souq, circa 1930s.

Why More Maps Should Be Upside Down

If you've utilised a map at any point in your life, whether it's Google Maps to find out which right turn you just missed on the hig...