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Mike Petty’s Guides for the Cambridgeshire Researcher

Cambridgeshire Photographers 1844-1990

Between September 1990 & November 1992 I wrote a series of articles in the Cambridge Weekly News about some 76 photographers who have worked in and around Cambridgeshire during the last 150 years. They represent but a small proportion of the list of over 430 names of people who have are known to have taken pictures, either as amateur or professional, and whose work is represented in the files of the Cambridgeshire Collection in Lion Yard Library, Cambridge. Usually only a small proportion of their output has survived, perhaps only a snap or two, and the details of the person behind the lens have been even more sketchy.

During the course of these articles however much new material was donated to the Collection and many relatives and friends of the people so inadequately surveyed have added to the information recorded about them.

This article attempts to identify the first person to have set up a professional studio in Cambridge. This issue was considered in the columns of the Cambridge Daily News in December 1939 when a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, much more expert in matters technical, proffered his thoughts.

He traced the earliest photographic process to the Daguerreotype, first invented in 1831 and recounted how portrait studios were established in London in 1840. Such portraits were expensive and it was not until 1851 that a cheaper process came along. This was the collodian positive invented by F. Scott Archer of Bishop's Stortford which captured images on glass. It had the important bonus in that the process was portable and itinerant photographers became great attractions at village feasts along with other stalls and shooting galleries. They were not always welcome apparently. In 1864 Henry Pendle of Soham, photographic artist, accused two Lt Downham men of causing wilful damage to his booth at Downham Feast - perhaps they did not like their likeness and at Ely the booths were described as eyesores and taking away trade from the established photographers. An early practitioner was Dick Hutchinson who lived somewhere on East Road and "worked" Yarmouth beach each Summer, though he apparently had no Cambridge studio.

Other early contenders for the honour were considered to Edward Gage of Sidney Street, William Pugh of James Street and George Sheldon of Melbourn Passage who were amongst those trading in 1863 together with several others already covered by these present articles. But it now appears that these were not in fact the first.

The earliest record of a Cambridge photographer seems to have been in August 1844 when the "Cambridge Chronicle" carried an advertisement for "Beard's Patent Daguerreo type or photographic portraits". They sent their reporter to St Mary's Passage where he expressed "surprise ... that the beautiful and marvellous art of Photographic portrait-painting has not long since been introduced into the town of Cambridge since other places of far less note have been favoured by enterprising individuals with opportunities of profiting by the Exercise of this Science". The reporter commented: "People fancy that everything which is got in London is better than the same thing in the country; but prima facie a photographic portrait taken by the action of light will be more perfect when the plate is acknowledged up in the clear atmosphere of Cambridge than in the pea soup affair which Londoners breath".

The enterprising exponent who opened this studio in St Mary's Passage was William Nichols and his business flourished despite the newspaper's caution that: "Photography is no flatterer, it paints us as we are, with every wrinkle and every stray hair plainly marked" people responded to the challenge of having "their true lineaments indelibly stamped on metal". It would appear that he had been practising his profession elsewhere for in 1864 he acknowledges the patronage he had enjoyed for the previous 25 years - taking him back to 1839.

By 1861 his advertisements promised "views of the town and university in great variety" with stereoscopic views at 1/- each or 10/- per dozen, more expensive in real terms than examples of his work which we have purchased recently. Perhaps it was Nichols who took the earliest exterior photograph we hold - that of Hobson's Conduit when situated on the corner of Market Hill, before its removal to Brookside in 1856.

Nichols took his son into partnership in 1864 and they continued to trade from his original studio until 1870 before moving to premises adjacent where he continued for another decade. Later Hills & Co, Clement Shaw and Kidd and Baker traded from the address.

Yet there remains some doubt as to whether Nichols was in fact the earliest photographer for when the question was considered in the Cambridge Daily News in 1939 one correspondent came up with the name of George Proctor. His source was one of the men to whom the historian of the present owes a great debt of gratitude, Cambridge's first librarian and founder of the Cambridgeshire Collection, John Pink. Thanks to Pink's work and especially the files of local newspapers he amassed and which are now being indexed more clues are daily being discovered, just as each day more photographs are added to the county's premier record of pictures of the past.

Since I wrote this final article in November 1992 there have been many changes. The Cambridgeshire Collection is now accommodated in part of the second floor of the Central Library in Lion Yard, Cambridge. Its treasures are no longer visible. But there are still some specialist staff and the material is still accessible.

One useful development has been the computerisation of the illustrations catalogue which is now available via the Internet. One section of this catalogue is an index of photographers and artists that should make identification of their work easier.

What follows below is a list of Cambridgeshire photographers compiled in 1991. The Collection may well have identified many more since those days.

If you would like further details or copies of my articles on individual photographers – marked with an ‘*’ then please contact me.

M.J. Petty MBE, MA, ALA,
13a Reads Street, Stretham,
Ely, Cambs. CB6 3JT
phone 01353 648106  
E-mail mikepetty@tiscali.co.uk

November 2006

Cambridgeshire Photographers 1844-1990

Sources checked:

 

Cambridge Antiquarian Society photographic record donors ("CAS)

 
 

Cambridge Photographic Club minutes ("CPC")

 
 

Carling, C & Human, B "Fen archive" ("FA")

 
 

Petty. M.J. Century of CDN ("CDN")

 
 

Petty, M.J. The Cambridge photographers at Post Office Terrace. -"Cambridge" no.29 : Winter 1991-2 ("POP")

 
 

Petty, M.J. "Eye on the past" : articles in Cambridge Weekly News 1990-1992 ("CWN")

 
 

Photographers chronicle

 
 

Photographers cards "K"=Kelly (county) "S"=Spalding

 
 

Rouse, M "Cambridgeshire in early postcards" ("R78")

 
 

* : those written up in CWN

 

ADAMS

CAS 1924

 

ALEXANDRA STUDIO

St Neots & St Ives

 
 

display advert

 

*ALLEN, Dr F.J

lectures CPC 9.2.15

 
 

CAS 1928

 

AMBROSE, Owen

from Stuntney

c1897

ANDREW, David

Elsworth, took all cards of area

c1900-10s

 

have photo & details

 

APTHORPE, Miss Dora

Cherry Hinton Rd

K1922-33

ARNSBY, William J

Whittlesey

K1900-04

ASKEW, Miss Alice

March

K1922-37

ASPLAND, Miss C

March

K1922

ASPLIN, Emma Sophia (1871-1948)

details

FA

AUSTIN, Frank

March

K1912

BAKER see KIDD & BAKER

   

BAKER-SMITH, E.W.

Mill Rd

K1916-53

BALDING, Alfred

Wisbech

K1869

BALDWIN, J

CAS 1937

 

*BALL, Edward Speare

Regent St

K1900-22

 

display advert

 
 

CWN 4.12.91

 

BALL, F.C.

Mill Rd

S1907-11

*BANSALL, Dr

gives name to society - see Bansall club minutes

 
 

declines to join CAS survey

CAS 1904

 

dies 2.11.37 CPC

 
 

CWN 25.4.91

 

BARRETT, Miss E.R.

Victoria St

K1916

BARRINGTON-BROWN, A.C.

Park St

K1953-57

BASEBE see MASON & BASEBE

   

BEALES, George

March

K1883

BEALES & KENNERELL

Wisebch

K1879

BELL, Alfred

Victoria st

K1900-09

*BELL & CO

postcard pub'r

 

BELLAMY, Mrs

CAS 1929

 

BELLAMY, D.D.

CAS 1928

 

BELLAMY, Reginald T

CAS 1928

 

BENNETT BROTHERS, Wisbech

produced postcards

R78

BERTOLLE, Richard

March

K1892-1908

BIRD, Vernon

March

K1908

BIRD, william Henry Vernon

Wisbech

K1904

*BLANCHARD, Valentine

Wisbech

K1883

 

CWN 25.2.92

 

*BLANCHARD, Valentine

Post Office Terrace

S1887

 

successor to J.E. Bliss

 
 

cartes de visite

 
 

display advert

 
 

POP

 
 

article BJP

 
 

CWN 14.2.91, CWN 25.2.92

 

*BLISS, John E.

Post Office terrace

S1878

 

7 St Andrews steet

 
 

display advert

 
 

advert

1881, Nov 26

 

S1881-83

 
 

"late Arthur Nicholls"

 
 

succeeded by Valentine Blanchard

 
 

cartes de visite

 
 

POP

 
 

CWN 14.2.91

 

BOLTON, Mrs Martha

Ely

K1892-1904

BOLTON, Samuel

Ely

K1883-88

*BOLTON, Thomas Samuel

Ely

 
 

Market Place

K1904

 

Fore Hill

K1908-37

 

produced postcards

R78 p17

 

CWN 11.4.91

 

*BOOTS THE CHEMIST

postcards

 
 

CWN 23.10.91

 

BOWSER, Henry

Wisbech

K1879

BOYD, R.H.

photos Bassingbourn

CAS 1924

BRADLEY, William

Newnham

1866-7

 

Ely

K1879

BRENNERS BAZAAR

Wisbech

 
 

produced postcards

R78

BRIGGS, C

CAS 1928

 

BRINDLEY, Mrs

CAS 1929

 

BRINDLEY, H.H.

CAS 1935

 

*BROOM, Anderson

Priory St

S1925-33

 

dies 9.1933 (Rev Yr)

 
 

CWN 20.5.92

 

BROWN, K

CAS 1932

 

BROWN, Jn L

Wisbech

K1904,K1916

BROWN & CO

Wisbech

K1912-16

 

produced postcards

R78

 

March

K1922

BROWN & REAM

Wisbech

K1908

BRUCE, B

Northampton St

K1948-51

BRUNNEY, P.A.L.

elected 9.10.34 CPC

 
 

elected 4.3.45 CPC

 
 

see tape recordings

 

BULLEN, R.H.

death CPC 1.2.38

 

*BULLOCK, J.H.

many references CPC

 
 

gives 600 prints

CAS 1928-9 etc

 

CWN 25.10.90

 

BURKITT, M.C.

CAS 1930,35 etc

 

BURROWS, J.F., Ely

produced postcards

R78 p17

BUSHNELL, G.H.S.

Gt Chesterford

CAS 1938

BUTCHER, Miss

CAS 1936

 

BUTCHER, G.W

Littleport

 
 

advert Barbers

1921

BUTCHER, W

Bridge St

K1896-1912

 

cartes de visite

 

*BYWATERS, F.J.

CAS 1943

 
 

CWN 26.9.91

 

CAMBRIDGE, E.E

Mill Rd

K1929-40

CAMBRIDGE, R.O.

Mill Rd

K1908-1922

 

"negatives reported destroyed" Jan 1975

 

CARTER, Miss

CAS 1929

 

CAVE, C.J.P

CAS 1929

 

CHANDLER, A.V.

Mill rd

K1920-22

CHANDLER, Albert

Fitzroy St

S1926-40

CHAPMAN, Horace

Whaddon

K1922-37

CLARK, Robert H

see postcard series

 

*CLARKE, John Palmer

Post office Terrace

S1895-1934

 

"late Colin Lunn

 
 

cartes de visite

 
 

display advert

 
 

POP

 
 

CWN 31.1.91, 7.2.91

 

CLARKE, William

Chatteris

K1858

CLENETT, E.C.

Lower Park St

S1887

CLENETT, ernest

Willow Walk

K1896-1908

 

Portugal St

S1910-11

*COATES, H, Wisbech

produced postcards (details)

R78

 

CWN 27.5.52

 

*COBBETT, Louis

CAS 1928

 

CODMAN, John,

travelling photographer

1867, Jun 1

COLLIER, T.E.

CAS 1928

 

COOK, Arthur Walt

Ely

K1866-75

COOKE,

Ely. Market street

K1858-69

 

fire at premises

1870, Jan 15

COOKE, Miss

CAS 1929

 

COOKE, K

CAS 1928

 

*COOPER, J

Sawston, postcards

 

*COOPER, T.R.

Swaffham Prior

K1916-22

 

CWN 18.7.91

 

COULSON, B.B.

cine pioneer CPC 30.11.43

 

COULSON, C.B.

CAS 1932

 

COWLES, S

CAS 1932

 

COX, William

Chatteris

K1879

CREEK, Charles D

Union Rd

 
 

cartes de visite

 

CRISP. A.W. & co

Kings Parade

S1912-40

CRISP, R.S.

Sussex St

S1932-35

*CUDWORTH, C.L.

references in CPC 8.4.41,16.12.41,23.3.43,16.5.44,8.8.44

 
 

see Collections file

 
 

CWN 21.3.91

 

CURTIS, D

CAS 1928

 

DAVIES, Peter Hughes

March

K1869

DAVIS, Arthur

Rose Crescent

S1913-15

 

"photos of University life a speciality"

 

DENSTON, A.R., Ely

produced postcards

R78 p17

DIKO TRADING CO

Victoria rd

S1931-35

 

lectures on windmills CPC 29.7.411

 

DRAKE, Oliver B

Leys Ave

K1948

DRAKE, William

Norfolk St

K1896

DRING, Robert

Newnham

K1888-1904

DRYSDALE, Alfred

Wisbech

K1892

DUMBLETON STUDIOS

account of growth - "Whither Whittlesford" Aut 1981

 

EASTERN PRESS AGENCY

Castle St

S1933-57

EDELSTEIN, William

38 Hills Rd

K1892

 

"1889" TT 23.12.1939

 

EDWARDS, Ernest

photos used in Cooper "Memorials"

 

*EVELYN-WHITE, C.H.

CAS

 

*FARREN, William

10 Rose Crescent

 
 

display advert

 
 

new photographic rooms opened

1864, Oct 1

 

enters business brother, now "Farren bros"

1865, Nov.11

 

people to attend early in hot weather

1865, Sep.23

 

opens branch Chatteris

1866, Jan.13

 

Chesterton rd

S1867

 

continues

1870, Jan 1

 

a really good paying concern : selling off the printselling business 1870, May 7

 
 

advert

1870, May 7

 

Jesus Lane

K1874

 

fire at premises

1874, Nov 7

 

combined photographic art gallery : will not open in St Andrews street after all

1875, Jan 9

 

temporary gallery Jesus Lane

 
 

1875, Jun 5

 
 

Market St

K1879-81

 

new instantaneous process, Market St

 
 

1881, May 7

 
 

arbitration case re Market St [rp, nd]

 
 

suceeded by R.H. Lord - some of his Cartes de visite use Farrens design

 
 

CWN 27.6.91

 

*FARREN, William Scott

see CPC

 
 

article re birds

Country Life 18.3.1905 (CDN)

 

many references CPC; includes reminiscences 1.3.38 CPC

 

FARREN BROS,

10 & 11 Rose Crescent

S1866-67

 

1867, May 25

 
 

partnership dissolved, continued by W. Farren

 

FEGAN, E.S.

CAS 1928

 

FELTON, Herbert

exhibits CPC 30.10.23

 

FENN, E

CAS 1929

 

FENTON, Horace

borough librarian, elected CPC 8.1.35

 
 

CAS 1938

 

FITZROY STUDIONS see CHANDLER, Albert

   

FOSTER, J.E.

CAS 1931

 

FOWLER, Gordon E

CAS 1932

 

*FOWLER BROS

Gamlingay

 
 

CWN 1.7.92

 

*FRITH, F

photos in Cooper Memorials

 
 

see Francis frith collection files

 
 

CWN 6.6.91, 13.6.91

 

GAGE, Edward

44 Sidney St (TT 23.12.1939)

1863

GARDINER & CO, Wisbech

produced postcards

R78

GATES, Thomas George

Fitzroy st

S1895

GATES & STARR

Mill Road

SA 1889

 

display advert

 

GATES BROS

Mill Road

K1891-2

 

advert

1890, Jul 9

GATTY, H

CAS 1938

 

GAUTREY, Harry

Portugal place

K1888

GEE, Charles R

Chatteris

K1916

*GEORGE, Margaret (1899-1983)

Guyhirn

 
 

details

FA

*GERMANY, Leslie

CWN 29.7.92

 

GILSON, H.C.

CAS 1931

 

*GILLSON, Frederick

Burwell

K1900-12

 

produced postcards

R78

 

negatives held in Ipswich CRO - list in

 
 

"Illustrations" file

 
 

CWN 16.5.91

 

GODDEN, John Harvey

Sawston

K1904-1922

 

some prints possibly available :

 
 

contact Crampton & Sons, Mr Godden, High St

 
 

Sawston

 

GOODE, G

CAS 1932

 

GOODISON, J.W.

CAS 1937

 

*GOODRICH, C.E.

on work professional photog'r

12.1.1927 (CDN)

 

POP

 
 

see Palmer Clarke

 

GOODRICH & SANDERSON

Posr Office Terrace

K1904-1922

see Palmer Clarke

 

GOSHAWK, Alfred

Mill Rd

S1881

GRAINGER, Albert

Burwell

K1929-37

*GRAINGER, Dorothy

see Photog'rs card & collection

 
 

CWN 14.10.90

 

*GRAY, J.P.

postcards

 
 

CWN 12.8.92

 

*GRIFFITH, Edward

took photos for local press

1929-30

 

article : C & P.L. March 1975 p14-15

 
 

CWN 6.12.90

 

*GRIFFITHS, J.C.

photographic surveying CPC 24.4.23

 
 

killed CPC 23.10.23

 

GRIGGS, Frank

Newmarket

K1929-37

GWYNNE, Clement

Soham

K1912

 

March

K1916

HADDON, E.B.

CAS 1932

 

HAILEY, Clarence

Newmarket

K1896-1929

HANSCOMBE, E.M.

CAS 1932

 

HARDING, Col

CAS 1924

 

HARDING, G.W.

on Post office CPC 17.12.35

 

HARLOCK, F.L.

"going back to 1860s, Ely

CAS 1935

*HATFIELD, C.G.M.

colour transp CPC 8.11.38

 
 

see Collections files

 
 

CWN 1.8.91, 8.8.91

 
 

CAS 1935

 

HATLEY, G.F. Miss

CAS 1928

 

HAYES, J.L.

nominated CPC 1.2.16

 

*HAYLES, W.H.

CAS 1932

 
 

prizes Ch 9.1.1891

 
 

CWN 13.11.91

 

HAYLOCK, E.C., March

produced postcards

R78

*HAYNES, J.L.

negatives collections

 
 

CWN 20.11.91, 27.11.91

 

HAZELDINE, C.H.B.

Chatteris

K1892

HENDERSON, A

Sidney St

S1910-11

HENDERSON, R

Dick, first photographer TT 23.12.39

 

HICKSON, G.F.

lectures CPC 11.1.44

 

HILLS, G.J.

died 18.3.23 CPC

 

HILLS, Robert

see HILLS & SAUNDERS

 

HILLS & CO

St Mary's Passage

K1883-87

 

"Photographs of Wisbech & neighbourhood"

c1899

*HILLS & SAUNDERS

15 Kings Parade

 
 

display advert

 
 

1868, Oct 10

 
 

K1869-92

 
 

advert

K1869

 

started a branch business, relinquished June 1888

 
 

bankruptcy Ch 8.3.92

 
 

pics of Backs as Christmas cards

13.12.1889 (CDN)

 

19 Kings Parade

S1907-40

 

cartes de visite

 
 

Ralph Starr worked before starting Starr & Rignall

 
 

1950 (CDN)

 
 

CWN 18.12.91

 

HILTON, E

East Rd

S1911-15

HINLEY, John

Lynn Rd

K1888

HOPE, St John Lady

CAS 1936

 

HOPPETT, E.C.

CAS 1930

 

HOWARD, Mrs Mary

Chatteris

K1912

HOWELL, Thomas

Wisbech

K1892-1900

*HUGHES, H.C.

CAS 1932

 
 

CWN 15.7.92

 

HULBERT-POWELL

lectures corbels CPC 27.7.43

 
 

CAS 1939

 

*HUMPHREYS, A.E.

CWN 11.3.92

 

HUNT, Thomas Bidwell

Fitzroy St

S1895-1926

 

see "Illustrations collections"

 
 

pictures pre 1878 & after 1860

 
 

CWN 19.9.91, 30.10.91

 

HUNT, Thomas Reuben

St Edwards Passage

K1912

 

"late of Hills & Saunders"

 
 

cartes de visite

 

HUTCHINSON, Dick

"took early photos, Yarmouth beach", TT 23.12.1939

 

HUTT, J

Park St

S1866-67

IMPERIAL PHOTO CO

Regent St

S1908-10

IMPERIAL PHOTO CO

Wisbech

K1929

INGRAM, G.I.C.

CAS 1940

 

JARMAN, H

Newmarket

K1912-33

 

lantern slides of Ely CPC 20.1.25

 

JARMAN, L.J.

death CPC 2.10.34

 
 

CAS 1928

 

JARMAN, M.A.

CAS 1928

 

*JARROLDS

postcards

 
 

CWN 30.10.91

 

*JEFFREYS, H

CWN 20.6.91

 

JERMYN, O.H.

elected CPC 13.10.25

 
 

CAS 1928

 

JOHNSON, Misses

CAS 1928

 

JOHNSON, Agnes

death CPC 28.12.43

 

JOHNSON, Ben

slides of river CPC 28.11.44

 

*JOHNSON, E

Wisbech

K1864-92

 

Fen & Marshland churches

 
 

Gardiner p.112,186

 

*JOHNSON, H.S.

CAS 1930

 
 

CWN 17.6.92

 

JOHNSON, J

CAS 1932

 

JOHNSON, M.J.

CAS 1929

 

JONES, Owen

Nk & N. Photographic soc exhibited

1856

 

Colman has catalogue

 
 

see photog's card

 

*JUDGE, F

postcards

 
 

CWN 11.12.91

 

KENNERELL see also BEALES & KENNERELL

   

KENNERELL, John

Wisbech

K1883-1900

 

pics in Gardiner

 

KIDD & BAKER

St Mary's Passage

S1907-39

KING, P.J.

Bottisham

CAS 1924

KING, W

cine - see CPC

 

KITTRIDGE, H.J.

CAS 1928

 

LAFONT, B, Miss

12 Sussex St

K1916-22

*LANE, Walter Martin (1906-1973)

Ely

 
 

details

FA

 

elected CPC 31.10.44

 
 

see collections index

 
 

article Sept 1990, CWN

 

LANGDON-DAVIES, F.H.

elected Fellow RPS CPC 16.2.26

 

*LAURIE & McCONNAL

postcards

 
 

CWN 13.5.92

 

LEACH & SON, Wisbech

produced postcards

R78

LEE, Nick

Post office Terrace

 
 

POP

 

LEIGH, Edward

19 Kings Parade

K1948-57

 

"Eaden Lilley have taken over business

 
 

and acquired negatives" 4.1987

 

LETHBRIDGE, T.C.

CAS 1940

 

LIDDELL & WILLIAMS

Wisbech

K1869

*LILES, W.E.

CWN 11.11.91

 

LILLEY, G

Wisbech

K1858

LISTER, James H

13 Abbey Rd

K1892

LLOYD, A.H.

CAS 1936

 

LOFTS, P

Post Office Terrace

 
 

POP

 

LOOKER, Donald

photos appear in A. Looker "Cambridge

 
 

Wesley Methodist"

1912