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Old Photographs - Cambridgeshire Photographers - Be-Bh

Photographers are listed alphabetically by surname on the following pages.

0 - 9 | Aa-Ak | Al-Ao | Ap-As | At-Az | Ba-Bak | Bal-Bam | Ban-Bd | Be-Bh | Bi-Bk | Bl-Bn | Bo-Bp | Br-Bt | Bu-Bz | Ca-Ck | Cl-Cn | Coa-Cor | Cos-Cz | Da-Dh | Di-Dq | Dr-Dz | Ea-Ec | Ed-Ez | Fa-Fh | Fi-Fz | Ga-Gd | Ge-Gq | Gr-Gz | Ha-Hd | He-Hh | Hi-Hn | Ho-Hz | Ia-Iz | Ja-Je | Jf-Jz | Ka-Kz | La-Ld | Le-Ln | Lo-Lz | Maa-Mad | Mae-Mar | Mas-Mb | Mc-Mi | Mj-Mz | Na-Nh | Ni-Nn | No-Nz | Oa-Oz | Pa-Pb | Pc-Ph | Pi-Po | Pr-Pz | Qa-Qz | Ra-Rd | Re-Rh | Ri-Rz | Sa-Sb | Sc-Sf | Sg-Sk | Sla-Slz | Sma-Ss | Sta-Std | Ste-Sth | Sti-Sy | Ta-Te | Tf-Ti | Tj-Tz | Ua-Uz | Va-Vz | Wa-We | Wf-Wh | Wi-Wz | XYZ


Name:  BEALES, George        b:1837 Hepworth Suffolk       d:
Address: Chatteris in 1864. Ramsey 1864/65, Station Road, March in 1883
Working Dates: c.1863 - 1883
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Very little is currently known about this photographer's work in Cambridgeshire as he appears once only in a local directory in 1883 in the town of March. In 1864 George was a travelling photographer operating from a horse drawn caravan, visiting Chatteris that year. In April 1864 the Cambridge Independent Press reported: "John Freeman Bayfield (21), photographer's artist, was charged with stealing postage stamps, the property of Mr. George Beales, his master, at Chatteris, on the 23rd of September last; and he was further charged with embezzling 6s., the property of the aforesaid George Beales, at Chatteris, on the 27th September last.—Mr. Naylor prosecuted. The prisoner was undefended, and pleaded that both stamps and money had been paid over to his master; which was denied by the master —The Jury acquitted the prisoner on the count for embezzlement, and found him guilty of stealing the postage stamps, and he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment". We learn that George Beales was not a settled resident of Chatteris from a newspaper report in September 1864: "Chatteris. We see by a notice appended to the caravan of Mr G.Beales photographic artist that he is shortly about to leave us and pay a visit to Ramsey. Mr Beales has been here about 13 months during which time he has taken no less than 15000 portraits which have given unbounded satisfaction to his patrons." George and his family moved to Ramsey as announced as their daughter Fannie was born there in 1865. George later settled in Spalding. He appears in Spalding local directories in 1868 at Chapel Lane, 1870-72 at 16 New Road, 1882-1910 at 5 New Road and at 7 Carlton Road Boston 1900-1909. George was in partnership with John Kennerell and Henry Bowser in Wisbech from 1877 to 1879 and with John Kennerell 1879 to 1881. He was also in partnership with his younger brother Frederick Beales in Gainsborough 1896-1905.

In the 1871 census George was living with his wife, Caroline, b:1837 Walsham Suffolk, in New Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire: occupation: photographer, print seller and picture frame manufacturer. They had five children and George's brother Walter W Beales b 1852 at Heppworth Suffolk was living with them and working as a photographic assistant. The family had two live-in servants. The children were George A Beales b 1864 Chatteris, Frederick W Beales b:1867 Spalding, Florence Beales b: 1861 Hepworth Suffolk, Fannie A Beales b: 1865 Ramsey, Huntingdonshire and Ethel A E Beales b: 1870 Spalding. In the 1881 census George was a photographer and fancy shop keeper, employing 2 men and 1 boy at 5 New Rd Spalding Lincs. His son, George A Beales assisted in the shop. Lincolnshire directories show that George Beales photographers in Spalding operated from around 1868 to at least 1895. The Cambridgeshire Directory entry for the town of March in 1883 could possibly relate to George Snr or George Jnr setting up another branch of their firm. Mounts used by the Spalding business claimed the firm originated in 1859, which ties in with an initial period as a travelling photographer before we pick up his presence . No other likely match has yet been found in the 1881 census. George Beales Snr was the older brother of Walter Beales below - another Cambridgeshire connection.
Below is a carte de visite from the 1860s of a standing gentleman, white card mount with square corners, the reverse simply states "Photographed by G.Beales. Negatives kept, copies can always be had". There is no way of being sure that this carte is by the same G.Beales, but the lack of an address may point to a travelling photographer.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992.
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London April 1883. Cambridge Independent Press Saturday 09 April 1864. Cambridge Independent Press 17 September 1864.
Keith I.P. Adamson MSc FRPS "Professional Photographers In Lincolnshire" published by the RPS as a Supplement to the Photo Historian 1999.

Carte de visite by G Beales , 1860sReverse of G Beales carte de visite

Name:  BEALES, Walter      b: 1856 Hepworth, Suffolk      d:
Address: Park Road, Peterborough.
Working Dates: 1884-1885 at Peterborough
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Walter Beales was a younger brother of George Beales (above). In the 1871 census Walter was living with his brother George, sister in law, Caroline, b:1837 Walsham Suffolk, in New Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire, George's occupation was a photographer, print seller and picture frame manufacturer. Walter W Beales b 1852 at Hepworth Suffolk was living with them and working as a photographic assistant. The family had two live-in servants. Walter is described in the 1881 Census as a photographic artist. He was 25 years of age, living as a lodger at 27 Westgate Peterborough with a Francis Blackwell and his wife Sarah Blackwell. By 1891 Walter had married Annie b. 1857, Peterborough, and moved to Hyde in Cheshire, where he was listed as a self employed photographer. In 1901 he was still a photographer, but in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. See below, First a carte de visite of an unknown lady probably from the 1880s, on a cream mount with square corners. Beneath the photograph is written "W Beales Park Road Peterborough". the reverse is blank. The simplicity of this suggests it is perhaps Beales' earliest design of mount, (unless it was a later budget version). Next are two cartes de visite (author's collection) the first of an unknown young woman, the second of an unknown gentleman with dog. Although the trade directory entries place Beales in the mid 1880s, the clothing and studio sets in both cartes speak more of the 1860s in the first carte and the 1870s in the second. The gentleman's high crowned top hat with curved rim and rustic setting and square corners to the mount all point to the 1870s. Does this suggest perhaps that both the sitters and the photographer were not at the leading edge of fashion, or that Walter Beales had been operating for some years before appearing in the local trade directory. The reverse of the first carte states "From the Photographic Studio of W Beales, the negative of this carte is preserved & copies can be had or enlarged to life size and finished in colour". The second carte has a more elaborate reverse "From the photographic Rooms of W Beales Park Road, near the Rink, Peterborough". The unusual tombstone design on the rear of the mount is by Frewer and Evans, London.

Below is another, perhaps slightly later, carte de visite from the Tony Gale Collection - an oval vignette of a young man. The reverse of the carte has an oval and geometric rustic design and printed in brown is the following text; "W Beales Photographer near the rink Peterborough cards copied or enlarged to any size according to order." The reverse also carries a royal coat of arms. Next are two cartes de visite with a folded corner design by Marion, Paris - the one on the right being a Marion product, and that on the left appearing to be a copy of the design by a different printer. The rustic setting in the left hand portrait again seems reminiscent of the 1870s rather than the 1880s.

References: Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1885.
Wright's Northamptonshire Directory CN Wright, 1884

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Carte de Visite W BealesReverse of W Beales Carte de Visite

Carte de visite, W BealesReverse of carte de visite by W Beales

Beales carte de visiteReverse of W Beales carte de visite

Two cartes de visite by W Beales
Reverse of two cartes de visite by W Beales

Name: BEALES, BOWSER and KENNERELL
Address: 8 High Street, Wisbech
Working Dates: c. 1877-1879
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: An advertisement in the Wisbech Chronicle, General Advertiser and Lynn News on Saturday 10 March 1877, p1, marked the arrival of this firm in Wisbech, taking over the studio formerly used by Enoch Steele, who died that year. The advertisement read: "The new photographic establishment. Messrs Beales, Bowser and Kennerell, the well known photographers of Spalding, beg to inform the Clergy, Gentry and inhabitants of Wisbech and neighborhood that they will opened (sic) the shop and studio lately occupied by Mr Steele 8 High Street, Wisbech and respectfully solicit a visit to their establishment where specimens may be seen of portraits in every variety of style and size from carte de visite to life size. They particularly call attention to their marvellous new system of photography the Patent Chromotype Photography, the finest portraits ever submitted to the public, protected by Royal Letters Patent. This style of photograph can only be purchased in Wisbech by Messrs Beales and Co. they having purchased at a considerable outlay all the patent processes of the Autotype Company and the exclusive right to work the same in Wisbech, Long Sutton, Holbeach, Spalding and Stamford. Carving, Gilding and picture frame making in all its branches done by experienced hands on the premises." (Thanks to Garry Monger for this reference). By July 1879 the firm was advertising their studio at 8 High Street in the name of Beales and Kennerell. The Autotype Company mentioned in their advertisement was formed in 1876 and had the rights to a carbon photographic process patented in 1864 by Joseph Swann (British patent 503/1864) which it allowed paying photographers to use under license.

A three way partnership of photographers was unusual. The partners were John Kennerell, George Beales, and Henry Bowser. From 1879 the firm became Beales and Kennerell (see below). The two cartes de visite below, seated portrait of unknown gent and portrait of an unknown lady, show that there was a partnership between Beales, Bowser and Kennerell operating at 8 High Street Wisbech. The first carte below has been cropped along the bottom edge to fit in an album. The mount is a very pale blue in colour with dark brown printing, with a monogram of the letters BBK on the reverse. On the reverse of the carte is the text "From the photographic studio of Beales, Bowser and Kennerell, 8 High Street, Wisbech. Portraits and landscape photographers and picture frame makers. Negatives kept, copies may be had by sending number". This appears to be a copy carte as there are rounded corners from an original photo visible within the image itself. The second carte below is on a maroon mount with square corners and gold lettering , the text on the reverse is identical to that on the preceding example and the printer of the mount was W.Wright, London, In the middle of the text is a Masonic symbol with the square and compasses and all seeing eye. John Kennerell was a member of the United Good Fellowship Masonic Lodge No 809 from 1882 - 1904. Obviously the partners felt that advertising this Masonic association was better for business than the monogram which presumably preceded it. The style and design of the reverse of the two mounts shown suggest that they were by the same mount maker.
References: No trace of this partnership found in local trade directories. For the Autotype Co see https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap27829/autotype-company

Copy carte de visite by Beales, Bowser and Kennerell

Carte de visite by Beales, Bowser and KennerellReverse of Beales Bowser and Kennerell carte de visite.

Name: BEALES and KENNERELL
Address: 8 and 9 High Street, Wisbech
Working Dates: c. 1879- 1881
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: The firm succeeded Beales, Bowser and Kennerell 8 High Street, Wisbech, listed above. The Wisbech Chronicle, General Advertiser and Lynn News on Saturday 19 July 1879 p1 carried the following advertisement for the reduced partnership: " B & K in acknowledging the patronage they are receiving from the Clergy, Gentry, and the Public generally of Wisbech, beg to draw special attention to the new accessories they have just added to the Studio of the most elegant designs, and an artistic finish. They have also the latest improved Apparatus, and a new instantaneous process whereby children and nervous sitters can be taken in the act of movement. Persons have the advantage of the latest improvements in Photography without extra charge. B. & K. are now doing superior cartes de visite from 5s to 15s per dozen. Cabinets and all larger sizes, at rates to suit all customers, according to finish. Enlargements - The Autotype Carbon enlargements are guaranteed not to fade, and are far superior to anything hitherto offered to the Public. Any kind of photograph enlarged to life size. Framing department - A large assortment of picture frame moulding in stock. Every kind of frame made to order, at any price. India-tinted and cut-out mounts of every size, and made in any shape to order." The Kennerell of the partnership was John KENNERELL. The Beales side of the partnership was George BEALES listed above. The 1881 census lists John Kennerell aged 37, as a photographer living as a boarder at 46 Agenoria Street, Wisbech with three women, Ann Steel, the head of the household, aged 57, her 82 year old mother and her 19 year old daughter, Frances E Steel. At the time of the census 8 and 9 High Street Wisbech was unoccupied. The Gazette, December 20th 1881 announced that the Beales and Kennerell partnership was dissolved on 15 November 1881 and that the business in Wisbech would be carried on by John Kennerell. The 1883 Kelly's Directory lists "Kennerell John (late Beales & Kennerell), portrait & landscape photographer & picture frame maker, 8 & 9 High Street" See below for a carte de visite portrait c. 1880, of a young lady with brooch and locket. The carte is on a medallion mount - the oval image is slightly embossed. The reverse of the mount states " Artists and photographers, picture frame makers, Beales and Kennerell 8 High Street Wisbech copies of this picture can always be had also enlarged to any size and finished in oil, water color or crayon". There is a royal crest and the mount makers name, WW Hughes & Co, appears beneath the design.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
PO Directory of the Counties of Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London Nov 1879

Beales and Kennerell carte de visiteReverse of Beales and Kennerell carte

Name:  BEALL, George   b: 1826 Bletsoe Beds  d:1907, later G.BEALL & Son, the son was Samuel Smart Beall b: 1855 d:1937.
Address: 25 Sidney Street, Cambridge
Working Dates: c.1861- 1921 at least
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Chemist and druggist and dealer in photographic goods. The 1861 and 1871 census shows BEALL as a chemist and druggist at 25 Sidney St Cambridge. Numerous advertisements in the Cambridge Independent Press from 1870 describe the firm as Agricultural Chemists. In 1871 George's son Samuel Smart Beall b: 1855 Cambridge was an apprentice in the business. In 1891 and 1901 George was living at Cavendish Avenue Cambridge and was still described as a chemist and druggist and an employer. He died in 1907. His son Samuel Smart Beall, then a pharmacist, was one of his executors. The advertisement below, from a Spalding's publication of around 1910, shows they were offering darkroom services as well as photographic supplies. It is not currently known whether anyone in the firm was an actual photographer. By the time George Beall died the firm had become G.Beall and Son. The 1921 Census lists Samuel Smart Beall, pharmacist and chemist at 25 Sidney Street. Samuel died in 1937. Also the 1921 Census lists George Edwin Beall, b 1884 as a pharmacist at 25 Sidney Street.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992.
Morgan's Directory of Cambridge 1865/6 and advertisement 1865

Advertisement c.1910

Name:  BEATTIE, John    b: 1820 Scotland  d:1883 Bristol
Address: Huntingdon
Working Dates: c.1852-1854 (Cambs)
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In 1851 John Beattie and his wife Naomi were in lodgings in Goole. He was described as a "lecturer and photographist". He was a traveling photographer who was in Huntingdon, address unknown, in Aug 1854. In the Cambridge Independent Press 22nd July 1854 p4 he announced, "Contrary to Mr Beattie's expectations his Photographic Rooms continue so crowded, and his orders so numerous, that he is compelled to RE-OPEN his Rooms, and prolong his stay for another fortnight in Huntingdon - Mr Beattie hopes the low prices of his beautiful portraits will induce the Public to take the opportunity of procuring them. Portraits from 6s 6d "They must be seen to be appreciated" - Press". Press advertisements and reports place his Photographic Rooms (claimed to be the largest portable rooms in England) in Bury St Edmunds 1852, Yarmouth 1853, Stamford 1853, Huntingdon 1854, Colchester 1855, Ipswich, Norwich, Lowestoft, Leicester 1856, Leicester 1857, Leicester, Hereford Taunton Weston- super-Mare 1858, then from around 1858 onwards a more settled existence in Bristol. In 1860 at Weston-super-Mare again. In 1861 John was living with his wife Naomi b: 1826 Crantwick Yorks and an assistant, Arthur Winterlow b:1841 Colchester, at 25 The Triangle, Bristol. The firm became Beattie and Bark around 1864 until 1868 when the partnership with C.V. Bark was dissolved and Bark carried on the business there.

Press reports of 1856 spoke of stereoscopic and hand coloured portraits. In January 1856 he was reported to practice "the daguerrian, the glass and the paper processes" Norfolk News 19/1/1856. The reporter for the Suffolk Chronicle on 16th February 1856 stated: ".... portrait photography is an art, requiring great judgment to ensure the most agreeable and artistic view of the face and position of the person. Landscape photography, on the contrary, a mechanical manipulation, which naturally gives such light and shade and charming scenery as can brought into the field. The portraits of the Ipswich worthies taken by Mr. Beattie, represent the highest branch of photographic portraiture. They are a new style of calotype picture of large size, with clear neutral tinted backgrounds. This evidently a secret to photographers. The halo of light round the head gives great beauty and force to the portraits, and strongly impressed us with the idea that Mr. B. had succeeded in selecting that graceful and simple attitude which is best adapted to the sex, age, and character of the sitter. In our opinion, Mr. Beattie has made the nearest approach to what a photographic portrait should be, viz., not so much chemically as artistically beautiful."

References: Heathcote, Bernard and Pauline, A Faithful Likeness. The First Photographic Portrait Studios in The British Isles 1841-55. Cambridge Chronicle 26/8/1854 P1, Cambridge Independent Press 22nd July 1854 p4.
Secure the Shadow. Somerset Photographers 1839-1939, by Robin Ansell, Allan Collier and Phil Nichols, 2018, published by the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society

Name:  BEAUMONT, C.W.   b:   d:
Address: 28 Hills Road Cambridge
Working Dates: c.1899
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information:

In July August and September 1899, C.W. Beaumont, describing himself as "late with Mr Ralph Starr" and operating from a Studio at 28 Hills Road Cambridge, advertised midgets, cartes de visite and cabinet photographs in the local Cambridge Newspapers. As a special offer during August and September, he was selling one dozen cabinets for 8s, 1 dozen cartes de visite for 4s. (Cambridge Daily News 9 Sept 1899 P1).

The only C.W. Beaumont who has been found so far with Cambridge connections is Charles William Beaumont (1872 - 1917), but so far nothing has been found other than the name and location to connect the two. So for the moment it is a working hypothesis that the photographer C.W. Beaumont was Charles William Beaumont, son of Army veteran and Chelsea Pensioner James H Beaumont b: 1839 Swavesey. Charles William was born at Curragh Camp County Kildare, Ireland in 1872 while his father served there in the army. By 1881 James Beaumont and his family were back in Cambridge living at 28 Shelly Row. By 1891 Charles William Beaumont was an apprentice printer. He was living at Argyle Quadrant Cambridge with his older married sister Adelaide Doggett b: 1868 Grahamtown South Africa and her family (head of household Charles R Doggett 23, railway porter b:1868 Coton Cambs). In 1897 in Cambridge, Charles married Ellen Cook b: 1875 Cambridge. The Cambridge Daily News on 5 December 1899 p2 reported "There were 25 applicants for the post of Relieving Officer for No. 1 district at a salary of £80 per annum. Two of these were proposed—Mr C. W. Beaumont, clerk of Gwydir Street, proposed by Mr Ward, and seconded by Mr Wisbey, and Mr Wilson, clerk, of Priory Road, proposed by Mr G. W. Hattersley, and seconded by Mr Richardson. The former was elected". So if this is the same CW Beaumont, his period of activity as a professional photographer lasted no more than a few months. In 1901 Charles was living at Abbey Road Cambridge and his occupation was Relieving Officer and Inspector of Infant Life, a position he held until his death in 1917. In the 1904 Kelly's Directory Charles' address was shown as 50 City Road Cambridge. In 1905 a CW Beaumont was the Secretary of the local Salvation Army Corps - this could be the same person. In 1911 Charles and Ellen were living at 73 Abbey Road Cambridge with their two children Leslie Bernard Beaumont b: 1902 Cambridge and Gladys May Beaumont b: 1910 Cambridge. In 1913 Charles' address was shown in various newspaper references at 2 Brunswick Terrace, Maids Causeway, Cambridge. When he died in 1917 The Cambridge Guardians at their meeting on 26 December 1917 expressed their condolences to his family. The Chairman recalled that his appointment as a young man with no poor law experience had been somewhat "experimental", they were inclined to make the appointment because he would be working alongside a very experienced colleague, and he had proved to be an excellent relieving officer. Cambridge Independent Press 28 Dec 1917 p2.

References: Cambridge Daily News 9 Sept 1899 P1,
Cambridge Independent Press 28 Dec 1917 p2.
England Census 1881,1891,1901,1911.

Name: BEDFORD AND SON, BEDFORD, Edward Dennis. b 1853 Earith Hunts, and BEDFORD, Edward Christopher b: 1890 Needingworth.
Address: High Street, Needingworth,
Working dates: c.1911-1920s
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: 1911 High Street Needingworth, grocers. 1914 Kelly's Directory of Huntingdonshire lists Edward as grocer, rate collector, clerk to the Parish Council and Post Office. The 1921 Census shows Edward Snr as the Needingworth sub postmaster, grocer and draper. His son Edward C Bedford was a partner in the grocery and drapery business. Publishers of RPPCs. Not currently known whose images used.
References: Bedford and Son, Post Office, Needingworth, included in a "Directory of Cambridgeshire Postcard Publishers/photographers noted before 1914" by Michael Rouse in "Cambridge in Early Postcards", Oleander Press 1978.

Name:  BEECH, Henry    b: 1830 Frampton, Lincs     d: 1905 Peterborough
Address: Photographer, Millfield, Peterborough
Working Dates: c.1862-1864
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information:Two trade directory entries from the 1860s are the only evidence found so far for this photographer: Slater's Directory of Northamptonshire 1862 (described as an "Artist photographic") and Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1864. Henry Beech (1830-1905) from 31 Millfield is thought to be the individual concerned, but the connection rests on the identical name and residence in the same street. Henry Beech was born in Frampton Lincolnshire around 1830. By 1851 he was listed in the census at Marketstead, Kirton, Lincs, with his parents, John Beech a gardener and Mary Anne Beech. Henry's occupation was a painter, glazier and paper hanger. By 1861 Henry had married and was living at 31 Lincoln Rd Pboro; his occupation was Methodist Free Church Local R(epresentative?) and engine painter" (The census return wrongly records the family surname as "Peach"). Also present were his wife Jane 28 years born in Kirton and children Alice 6, Annie 4, Ernest 2, and John Henry 6 months. The two girls were born in Doncaster and the two boys in Peterborough. This suggests that the family moved to Peterborough around 1857-59. If we have correctly identified Henry as the Millfield photographer, then his practice in that occupation had ended before the 1871 census when his home address was recorded as Bell Place Peterborough and his occupation was shown as a painter and paper hanger. In the 1870s Henry advertised his premises in Lincoln Road Peterborough as an artistic decorative establishment, offering every requisite for mural decoration (Peterborough Standard, Saturday 06 April 1878 p8 and subsequently). Two years later and his advertising stressed that the wallpaper he sold had not been treated with dangerous Arsenic compounds.(Peterborough Standard, Saturday 20 March 1880 and subsequently). Later he advertised (Peterborough Standard, Saturday 01 December 1888 p1 and subsequently) a sole agency for Defries lamps, "the only absolutely safe paraffin lamp, 10 to 100 candlepower". In 1881 Henry and family were living in Lincoln Road. He was described as a painter and paper hanger employing 5 men and 2 boys. His family had grown with eight children still at home. In 1891 Henry's occupation had not changed and the family was still in Lincoln Road. Henry died in 1905. A brief obituary in the Peterborough Standard, Saturday 25 November 1905 p7, highlighted Henry's commitment to the cause of temperance. It was suggested that he was persecuted for his temperance beliefs before coming to Peterborough. He was a founder member of the Peterborough Rechabites, a temperance based friendly society, an officer in Meadhamstead Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars (a fraternal temperance organisation), and an active member of the congregation of Trinity Congregational Church, Peterborough. The obituary also mentions Henry's love of natural history and microscopy. An interest in optics could be another tie-in to an earlier, albeit short, photographic career.
References: Slater's Directory of Northamptonshire 1862 (described as an "Artist photographic")
Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1864
Peterborough Standard, Saturday 25 November 1905 p7 for obituary

Name: BEEDHAM, Lucy Elizabeth b:1866 Thornton Le Dale, Yorkshire d: 1955
Address: Woodville, Hills Road, Cambridge
Working Dates: c.1902-1906
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Lucy was the only daughter of Henry B Beedham, a clerk in Holy Orders of Clare College Cambridge, and Rayne E Beedham, a lady of independent means. In 1891 the family lived in Hills Road Cambridge with two servants. In 1899 her father died and in 1901 Lucy lived in the same house with her widowed mother, likewise in 1911. None of the census returns showed an occupation for Lucy. In 1939 Lucy was living in Pickering Yorks where she too was described as being of independent means. Lucy and her mother were obviously interested in photography, both attending the national Photographic Convention held in Cambridge at the Guildhall in July 1902. Her photographic interest is further revealed in three submissions to Stationers' Hall recording the transfer of copyright in three photographs from Lucy as the photographer to others. From the subject matter, these may have been images which Lucy sold to postcard publishers. Details were:

  • Photograph of cottages at Axmouth. Copyright owner of work: Charles Harold Avery, Wyndcliffe, Hornyold Road, Malvern. Copyright author of work: Lucy Elizabeth Beedham, Woodville, Hills Road, Cambridge. Date of agreement or assignment: 7 October 1902. Names of parties to agreement: Charles Harold Avery, Lucy Elizabeth Beedham. Form Completed 1 November 1902. TNA COPY 1/458/8
  • Photograph of Smugglers' Lighthouse, Hythe. Copyright owner of work: Charles Harold Avery, Wyndcliffe, Hornyold Road, Malvern. Copyright author of work: Lucy Elizabeth Beedham, Woodville, Hills Road, Cambridge. Names of parties to agreement: Charles Harold Avery, Lucy Elizabeth Beedham. Form Completed 4 November 1902. TNA COPY 1/458/23
  • Photograph, size ½ plate, subject two oxen and a man with plough. Copyright owner of work: Henry Etheridge Collett, Bertram Saward St Luke Puckle, trading as The Graphic Photo Company, 21 Bride Lane, Ludgate Hill, London. Copyright author of work: Lucy Elizabeth Beedham, 'Woodville', Hills Road, Cambridge. Name of parties to agreement: Lucy Elizabeth Beedham and Henry Etheridge Collett, Bertram Saward St Luke Puckle, trading as The Graphic Photo Company. Date of agreement: 8 November 1906. Form completed: 12 November 1906. TNA COPY 1/503/227

References: TNA records listed above. Cambridge Daily News 10/7/1902 p3.

Name:  BEETON, John William.   b: 1837, March Cambs   d:
Address: 1 Market Hill Chatteris
Working Dates: c.1861
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: John was the son of a carpenter. The Peterborough Advertiser, 16 March 1861 p2 includes an advertisement for J.W.Beeton, bookseller, stationer, photographer and pianoforte dealer, 1 Market Hill Chatteris. "Musical instruments repaired. New music kept in stock". In the 1861 Census John's occupation was shown as "printer, stationer, bookseller, piano forte dealer and tuner and photographer." He was unmarried and living on his own.
References: Peterborough Advertiser, 16 March 1861 p2. 1861 Census England.

Name:  BELL, Alfred     b:  1854, Thirsk, Yorkshire     d: 1928
Address: Station Street Chatteris, Victoria Street Chatteris, London Road Chatteris
Working Dates: 1897-11
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In 1901 Alfred Bell was in Station Street Chatteris and was described as "tobacconist and drugstore", on own account. Described in 1904 as "Drug Store and tobacconist Station Road and Photographer Victoria Street" In 1911 Alfred Bell was living at London Road Chatteris and was listed in the census return as tobacconist and photographer. See below for a cabinet photograph mounted on black gloss card with "Alfred Bell Photographer, Chatteris" beneath the photograph on the front of the mount: the rear of the mount has no printing. Alfred deposited one of his photographs at Stationers' Hall for copyright purposes in 1897. It was described as "Photograph of hearse with coffin inside entitled 'In Memory of Tom'", copyright owner of work: Alfred Bell, 1 Station Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. Copyright author of work: Alfred Bell, 1 Station Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. Form completed: 4 January 1897. TNA COPY 1/428/16. The Chatteris site for the Cambridgeshire Community Archive Network (CCAN) http://chatteris.ccan.co.uk/index.php has a number of examples of Alfred Bell's work, reference nos: 51310520216, 51310520227, 51270520318, 51270520321, plus three others which can be found by searching their site with the search term "Bell".
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London 1900-08

Cabinet Photograph, by Alfred Bell

Name:  BELLINGHAMS
Address: 14 Glebe Road, Brampton, Huntingdon
Working Dates: c.1974
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: The 1974 Yellow Pages entry states they had been photographers since 1900 - but no statement as to where. Industrial, commercial, equestrian, weddings, children listed as specialities.
References: Peterborough Yellow Pages 1974

Name:  BENDALL, Peter
Address: Not currently known
Working Dates: at least from.1997 to 2018
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: "Peter Bendall On Show" - was an exhibition at Workshop Design, Bridge Street, Cambridge, Sept and Oct 1997, showing familiar and unfamiliar scenes of Cambridge. Peter was later the author and illustrator of Aspects of Cambridge, a book of his Cambridge photographs, 68pp, published in 2018. Former website, now defunct, was www.peterbendallphotos.com/
References: Cambridge Evening News 17 Sept 1997.

Name:  BENNETT, Richard, BENNETT BROS 
Address: Wisbech
Working Dates: 1907-20
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Bennett Brothers were postcard producers. It is not known at this stage whose photographs were being reproduced. One of the Bennett Bros would have been Richard Bennett b:1866 Clapham, London, an assistant stationer living in New Bell Lane Wisbech in 1901 and a stationer, living at 27 High Street Wisbech in 1904 and 1911. Below is a postcard of Leverington Church "Published by R Bennett, Wisbech". This has a divided back, but refers to "For inland postage this space as well as the back may now be used for communication. For foreign postage the back may only. (Post Office Regulations). This dates the card to around 1902-7 Below is a slightly later, broadly similar, example view postcard from around 1907 of The Parish Church Wisbech - the face bears the legend "Published by Bennett Bros. Wisbech". The reverse is a divided back listing Japan, Spain and the USA as countries not accepting a divided back.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Rouse M “Cambridgeshire in Early Postcards”
Powell, Roger and Bell, Robert, Britain in Old Photographs, Wisbech, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1972, pp17 (1920) and 80 (1908)
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire 1904.
Bennett's Wisbech are included in a "Directory of Cambridgeshire Postcard Publishers/photographers noted before 1914" by Michael Rouse in "Cambridge in Early Postcards", Oleander Press 1978.

View postcard by Bennett Brothers

R. Bennett postcard

Reverse of R Bennett postcard

Name: BENSON, Charles b:1874 d: 1962
Address: The Post Office, Murrow, Wisbech.
Working dates: Not currently known but post 1916
Subjects, styles, advertising , other relevant information: Charles Benson was born in Whittlesea Cambs in 1874. In 1901 he was living at Mill Drove Murrow with his wife Martha and two young daughters; his occupation a postman. He was at the same address in 1911, occupation Rural Postman. It is not currently known when he took over the Murrow Post Office, but it must have been after 1916 when Kelly's Directory showed the sub postmistress there to be Miss Lucy Stapleton and after 1921 when Charles was a rural postman, but his wife, Martha Benson, was the Murrow Sub-Postmistress. It is not currently known whether Charles Benson was a photographer, marketing his work through local topographical postcards, or whether he was simply a shopkeeper / postcard publisher. See below a real photo postcard of Murrow Church near Wisbech. The reverse of the postcard is branded with a branch and ribbon design and the text "RA Series the seal of artistic British Excellence printed in England". Along the right hand edge of the reverse is printed "Published by C.Benson, Post Office, Murrow, Wisbech". Print on the reverse is in green ink.
References: England census 1901, 1911, 1921. Kelly's Cambridgeshire 1916. Benson is included in a "Directory of Cambridgeshire Postcard Publishers/photographers noted before 1914" by Michael Rouse in "Cambridge in Early Postcards", Oleander Press 1978.

Real photo postcard of Murrow Church pub by C.Benson


Name:  BERTOLLÉ Richard Frederick        b:1851  Kingston Surrey     d: 1934 - Brentford, Middlesex
Address: Broad Street, March
Working Dates: 1889-1908 in Cambridgeshire
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1861 Census Richard, aged 10, was living with his parents in Islington. His father, James Bertolle, formerly a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Marines, later a principal turnkey at Brixton Prison, was a Greenwich out-pensioner. From 1849 to 1852 James was also the Governor of Kingston House of Correction. Also at home were Richard's three sisters and a brother. The brother, older than Richard, was James Louis William Bertolle, aged 24, an "artist in photography" with studios in his name in North London well into the 20th Century. In the 1871 Census, Richard was residing in Long Acre Westminster where he was an assistant to a silversmith and pawnbroker. When he married Susannah Kate Heffield in April 1874, Richard showed his occupation as a Police Constable residing in Islington, so presumably a member of the Metropolitan Police. In the 1881 Census, Richard was living and working as a photographer in Eastgate, Bourne Lincolnshire with his wife, Susannah (who had been born in Bourne) and they had a daughter, Florence M. b:1876, Islington London. Brett Payne, in his excellent site on Derbyshire Photographers, records entries in local Derbyshire directories for R F Bertolle as a photographer in Corporation Street Chesterfield in 1887 and 1888 (https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~brett/genealogy/photos/dbyphotos.html) . (Brett also assisted with information used in this entry). In September 1889 Richard advertised in the Cambridgeshire Times "High Class Photography, R.F.Bertollè (sic)(Late photographer to Her Majesty's Government). Portrait, landscape and architectural photography executed in the finest manner. Open every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Studio at the end of Broad st March. Prices moderate, 25 years experience". This suggests that Richard's photographic career began in the 1860s and probably refers to him learning the photographic business assisting his older brother while a teenager. For the moment the Government service mentioned in the advertisement remains a mystery. Perhaps the Metropolitan Police occasionally called on his photographic expertise while he served as a Police Constable. The 1891 census lists Richard as "photographer and violinist" at Creek Road, March. Kelly's 1892 and 1896 Directory entries list him as “teacher of violin Station Road and Photographer Broad Street March”. By 1911 he was living at Aldermans Drive, Peterborough, no longer a photographer, but a general dealer. Between November 1886 and Sept 1906 Richard submitted 30 of his images to Stationers' Hall for copyright purposes (these were mainly photographs of works of art - could the Government service mentioned above refer to some role in photographing works of art?). The two cabinet photographs below are by Bertollé. That on the left appears to be the earlier of the two, on cream card, the reverse is shown below - printed in black "R.F.Bertollé, Photographer, Broad St March Cambridgeshire and at Bourn, Lincs" (1890s). The second on grey card has a blank reverse and on the face simply stated "R.F.Bertollé March" (late 1890s). Next is an 1890s carte de visite with a cameo portrait of an unknown man. This has addresses for studios in March and Bourne and also carries a Royal coat of arms and the text "Late photographer to Her Majesty's Government". Next is an 1890s carte de visite of an unknown lady, on a cream mount with no text on the face, but printed on reverse is "Photographed by R.F.Bertolle, The Studio, Broad Street, March Cambs. Copies of this picture can always be had Portraits enlarged to any size and finished in oil. water color or crayon". Below this there is a slightly later carte de visite of a vignette portrait of an unknown young man on a plain grey card mount impressed below the image "RF Bertollé March Cambs" c.1900. The reverse of the mount is blank.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992      
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London 1892-1908
Cambridgeshire Times Friday 13 September 1889 p1 (thanks to Garry Monger for this reference)
TNA COPY1/378/191, COPY1/378/185, COPY1/378/193, COPY1/378/192, Copy1/378/189, COPY1/378/184, COPY1/378/194, COPY1/378/190, COPY1/378/188, COPY1/378/187, COPY1/378/186, COPY1/391/349, COPY1/391/341, COPY1/391/342, COPY1/391/345, COPY1/391/343, COPY1/391/344, COPY1/391/346, COPY1/391/347, COPY1/391/340, COPY1/391/348, COPY1/393/14, COPY1/393/15, COPY1/393/16, COPY1/435/967, COPY1/448/492, COPY1/491/294, COPY1/497/328, COPY1/498/366, COPY1/501/84.
Pritchard, Michael, "A Directory of London Photographers 1841-1908"
David A Kennedy, PhD. A Local Prison For The Poor. A Study Of The Kingston House Of Correction, 1762-1852.
Bourne web site for a detailed and illustrated biography http://www.falakros.net/bourne/portrait/bertollerichard.htm

Two cabinet photographs by Bertolle

Reverse of first of the above

carte de visite by R.F.Bertolle of an unknown man

Carte de visite by Bertolle, 1890-95Reverse of Bertolle carte de visite

Carte de visite, Bertollé

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www.FadingImages.uk is a non-commercial web site for local and family historians, listing photographers in Cambridgeshire 1840-2000
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