View up Straight Street - narrow lane running between Christian and Jews' Quarter in Damascus. Buildings either side stand in ruins. The 'Street called Straight' led out of the Christian quarter. Signs of the 1860 conflict are still apparent in the photograph. The street, however, was known as the place where St Paul (formerly Saul) regained his sight and converted to Christianity, having been blinded by holy light three days earlier while travelling on the road to Damascus. The Christian quarter is to the north-east of the street. This reflects a decision made in 636 by Khalid Ibn al-Walid, the Muslim conqueror of Damascus, to retain the orthodox churches in this area and to continue to provide access for the Christians to these buildings. The photograph is signed, captioned and dated in the negative, 'F Bedford Damascus'. The number in the Day & Son series is 97.