Old Photographs - Cambridgeshire Photographers - Bal - Bam

Photographers are listed alphabetically by surname on the following pages.

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Name:  BALDING, Alfred       b: 1839      d: 1915
Address: Lynn Road, Wisbech
Working Dates: C. 1865 - 69
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: There is one local trade directory appearance for Alfred Balding as a photographer in 1869. However, he started his photographic career a few years earlier. In 1865 he submitted one of his photographs to Stationers' Hall for copyright purposes. This was a photograph of W Hutchinson Esq., ex-Mayor of Wisbech, vignette, bust - the copyright owner of work: Alfred Balding, Wisbech, copyright author of work: Alfred Balding, Wisbech. Form completed: 27 July 1865. In January 1866, Alfred, photographer and artist, displayed at the Wisbech Scientific Institute views of Scotland which he had prepared by photographing and colouring engravings. The 1871 census shows Alfred Balding, aged 32, born Walsoken, Norfolk, living at 15 Lynn Road Wisbech. He was shown as the printer and proprietor of ? the Mirror? newspaper. He was living with his parents. His father, James Balding, was the local Collector of Market Tolls and Inspector of Nuisances. In 1873 Alfred filed for bankruptcy. In 1881 Alfred was living with his brother George and his family in Ruby Street Wisbech, and he was described as a printer. He continued his artistic endeavours and in 1887 showed one of his paintings,"A view of the Interior of The Saloon at Sandringham House", in the exhibition of Institute of Painters in Oil Colours. (Lynn News 19 November 1887 p5, thanks to Garry Monger for this reference.) In 1891 he was living with his stepmother in Lynn Road Wisbech and was described as a printer, lithographer, artist, portraits and landscapes. In 1901 he was at Windsor Villa, Lynn Road Wisbech, living with a 20 year old servant and working from his home as an artist and sculptor. In 1911 he was living alone at 22 South Brink Wisbech and was still described as an artist. A number of Balding's oil paintings survive, some can be viewed in the Wisbech and Fenland Museum.
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 Aug 1869
London Gazette 3rd June 1873.
TNA COPY 1/9/501.
Lynn Advertiser Sat 27 January 1866 p8 report of lecture at Wisbech Scientific Institute (Thanks to Garry Monger for this reference)

Name:  BALL & COATES (Alexander James BALL b: 1877 d: 1953 (see below) and Herbert George COATES b: 1883, d: 1978
Address: Queen Street, Peterborough
Working Dates: C. 1910-12
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1911 census Alexander James Ball, then aged 34 years, was living at 35 Towler Street Peterborough, with his wife Alice Eliza aged 30. He was employed at that point as a joiner. Also living at this address with the couple was a 28 year old single boarder, the younger brother of Alexander's wife, Herbert George Coates, b 1883 at Langtoft Yorkshire, who was a photographer, working on his own account. The two probably joined initially in a partnership, but this was short lived and Alexander continued working for some while as a joiner. The two directory entries in the references below pick up the short partnership of the two between 1910 and 1912.
References: Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1910, Peterborough Directory 9th Edn 1912

Name:  BALL, Alexander James b: 1877 d: 1953
Address: 266 Eastfield Road and 35 Queen Street, Peterborough, 6 Glebe Road Peterborough in 1922 and 1925, 154 Park Road Peterborough in 1927
Working Dates: C. 1910-39
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1911 census Alexander James Ball was living at 35 Towler Street Peterborough, then aged 34 years, with his wife Alice Eliza aged 30. He was employed at that point as a joiner, the occupation of his father (James Ball, b: 1851 Somersham Hunts ) . Also living at this address with the couple was the 28 year old brother of Alice Eliza, Herbert George Coates, b 1883 at Langtoft Yorkshire, who was a photographer, working on his own account. It seems likely that it was the influence and expertise of his brother-in-law which led Alexander to a later change of career into photography. The two probably joined initially in a partnership, but this was short lived and Alexander continued working for some while as a joiner. In 1921 Alexander was still a joiner at an engineering works - J P Hall and Sons London Rd Works. In later directory entries Alexander is described as "press and commercial" [photographer], and in 1927 as "Press" The entry above shows a short partnership between Alexander and his brother in law, trading as Ball and Coates. In the 1939 Register Alexander was living at 266 Eastfield Road Peterborough with his wife and a domestic servant - Alexander's occupation was shown as a photographer.
References: Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1910, 1936, The Peterborough Advertiser Directory 1922, 1925, 1927

Name: BALL, Edward Speare  (Ball and Co in 1919/20)     b: 1863 Looe, East Looe or South Hill Cornwall   d: 1923 Bedfordshire
Address: Regent Studios, 57 Regent Street, Cambridge, 85 Regent Street Cambridge (1904), Also at 14 St Mary's Street, Bedford (1907) and at Peterborough, address not currently known.
Working Dates: 1900-1922
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In 1881 Edward was living with an aunt and uncle in Cambridge Street Southampton - he was listed as a photographer's apprentice. In 1891 Edward was working on the family farm for his widowed mother at South Hill, Cornwall. In 1901 Edward, his wife Mary A Ball, b:1867 Southampton, and daughter Edith W b:1888 Newmarket Cambs, were living at 57 Regent Street, Cambridge. Edward was a photographer, his date and place of birth shown as 1864 Plymouth. In 1911, Edward Speare Ball was living with his wife Mary Annie and daughter Edith Winifred Ball at 112 Foster Hill Road Bedford. Edward was a photographer and employer of others, his daughter Edith was a photographer's assistant, presumably in his employ.

Below is a cabinet photograph of a lady posing beside a stone banister bearing the legend E.S.Ball 14 St Mary's Street, Bedford. The face of the photograph has been signed "Jin" and on the reverse is written in manuscript "Lily with love from Jin, March 26th 1907" (author's collection).

The next illustration is a cabinet photograph of unknown man c.1900 (author's collection) – pale grey board mount with impressed surround, impressed photographer’s name and address "57 Regent Street Cambridge" on bottom of front and 45 degree beveled edge, the photo is printed vignette style, rear of mount is blank. A negative number 1231 is lightly written on the rear in pencil. Beside this is a later carte de visite (author's collection) on grey card with off-white polished edges - A fancy "B" monogram and "ES Ball 85 Regent Street Cambridge" printed in white on the face, reverse blank, negative number in pencil on the rear 15366. Next is a cabinet photograph of a very attractive, but unknown, woman, the mount bearing the legend "ES Ball 85 Regent Street, Cambridge" is similar to the previous example and written on the reverse is a negative no 18271. This image is reproduced with the kind permission of Liz Chapman of Melbourn and is of a hitherto unidentified member of her family. Next is a cabinet photograph of a couple (author's collection), on the rear is written in manuscript "Mr and Mrs Butler, with best wishes for Christmas 1906". The mount is a textured dark green finish with inner mount of light green, reverse blank, on the front "ES Ball Cambridge and Bedford"

Next are a pair of cartes de visite, c.1905, on the face ES Ball Cambridge and Bedford, and the reverse blank. The square cornered dark green mount has the number 1281 in pencil on the reverse. Also below is a later portrait of a young woman c 1910, 5 and 1/8 inches x 3 and 3/8 inches, mounted on brown board bearing name E.S.Ball & Co Cambridge. The entry in 1910 in the Cambridge Annual Directory published by AP Dixon reads "Ball, E.S. (Starr & Rignell), 85 Regent Street Cambridge". Starr and Rignall are also listed at 108 Fitzroy Street and 85 Regent Street. Spaldings Directory for 1910 doesn't list ES Ball but does list Regent Studio at 85 Regent Street and Starr and Rignall at 108 Fitzroy Street.

Next is a group portrait from around 1910 of some young ladies, the text on the rear reads "ES Ball and Co, Regent Studio, Cambridge". Interestingly a number of the young ladies are wearing what appear to be identical "wristlets" - very early wrist watches comprising a small pocket watch held in a leather wrist carrier. First thoughts, that these were Girton or Newnham students have been discounted by college archivists. Another theory is that this might be a group of shop girls from a shop where wristlets were sold.

The dates of the Bedford and other Cambridge examples above are similar, plus the 1906 example with both addresses show that Edward's business was simultaneously operating in both locations.

Edward also appears to have operated a studio in Peterborough, address currently unknown. Its existence is demonstrated by the next photograph of an unknown nurse in uniform, probably a VAD nurse from WW1, in postcard format, the reverse bearing the legend "E.Speare Ball & Co, Bedford and Peterborough". This also suggests that Edward no longer had a Cambridge Studio at that point.

The next photograph is of a WW1 period wedding group, printed on postcard stock, on the reverse dividing the back is printed "E.S.Ball and Co, Regent Studio, Cambridge". This is possibly from the wedding of Mr Wm Warburton Wingate of Scroope House Cambridge and Miss Viola Patience Campbell Pemberton at Trumpington Church 18.11.1915 as described in the Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 19 November 1915 p8.

References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Kellys Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London 1900-1922
Mike Petty, An Eye on the Past, Cambridge Weekly News 4/12/1991
Spaldings Directory of Cambridge 1901, 1904, 1907, 1913, 1915, 1919/20 - Ball & Co 85 Regent Street, Cambridge.
Cambridgeshire Collection’s Carte de Visite Collection c.65.5 has 2 cartes de visite and 2 other photographs from ES Ball.

Cabinet photograph c 1900 and carte de visite c 1905 from ES Ball



Detail of impressed mount from cabinet photograph above

Two cartes de visite by Ball with Cambridge and Bedford studios, the one on the left has the number 1281 on the reverse. c. 1905.

Cabinet photograph negative no 18271

1906 Cabinet photograph of Mr and Mrs Butler

Portrait of unknown young lady c 1910 ES Ball & Co

Group photograph of young women, a number wearing wristlets c.1910 - the reverse is printed as a postcard with the text above across one of the shorter edges.

Portrait of an unknown nurse, probably a WW1 VAD Nurse, in postcard format by E.Speare Ball & Co, Bedford and Peterborough

E.S.Ball, Regent Studio, Cambridge, Wedding group on postcard stock. This is possibly from the wedding of Mr Wm Warburton Wingate of Scroope House Cambridge and Miss Viola Patience Campbell Pemberton at Trumpington Church 18.11.1915, described in Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 19 November 1915 p8

Name: BALL, F  C              b:       d:
Address: 266 Mill Road, Cambridge
Working Dates: 1907-1911
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: The 1901 census shows 266 Mill Road Cambridge was a cycle shop and the residence of a stonemason, George French and his family. The 1911 census return shows 266 Mill Rd Cambridge in the possession of a confectioner Annette Stalley. The 1921 Census lists a hairdresser and a cycle agent at this address. There is nobody resident at 266 Mill Rd by the name of Ball in 1901, 1911 or 1921.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Spaldings Directory of Cambridge 1907-11

Name: BALL, Walter S. b Liverpool 1879 d:
Address: 51 Herbert Street, Cambridge
Working dates: 1921
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1921 census Walter is shown as a photographer working for Stearn's in Bridge Street Cambridge. He was a married man boarding at 51 Herbert Street Cambridge
References: 1921 Census

Name:  BALL, William      b: 1833 Wisbech      d: 1885
In the directories, shown as BALL & Co from 1890 - William Ball died in 1885 and the firm was taken over by his wife, assisted at different times by his daughters, so the name change took place some time between 1885 and 1890.
Address: 1869-74 Broad Bridge Street, Peterborough, from 1877 at 13 Narrow Bridge Street, Peterborough.
Working Dates: 1869-1907
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: William Ball was born in Wisbech in 1833. He married Anne Cooper, Nee Goodyear b: 1838 Peterborough. In the 1861 Census William and Anne, with their two children, were living with Anne's mother in Walsoken Norfolk. Anne's mother and William were listed as bakers. By 1871 (in fact probably before 1866) William and his family had moved to Acorn Cottage, Bower's Yard, Bridge Street Peterborough and William was listed as a photographer. William and Anne's children in 1871 were: Alice Mary Ball b: 1863 Walsoken, Florence Ball b: 1866 Peterborough, and Sarah Elizabeth Ball b: 1870 Peterborough. In Harrod's Directory of 1877 William's entry read "William Ball, photographer, oil paintings, oleographs, chromos, engravings, albums and scrap books. Photographic Studio 13 Narrow Street". By 1881 the family still had their business premises in Bridge Street but had moved home out of the town centre and were living at London Road Fletton, Peterborough. The family had increased with the addition of daughter Portia Margueritte Ball B: 1879 Peterborough.

In addition to his business interests as a photographer and stationer, William was the Quartermaster Sergeant of the Peterborough Rifles, and as a consequence was given a full military funeral in 1885. He was also active in amateur dramatics, acting and behind the scenes, in Peterborough and Spalding. According to the National Probate Calendar, William's occupation at the time of his death was a photographer and brewer's agent. His funeral was reported in full in the Peterborough Standard 7 Nov 1885 p8. (thanks to Garry Monger for this reference).The funeral report mentioned that one of William's executors was Valentine Blanchard. Presumably this was Valentine Blanchard (1833-1901) photographer, rather than his nephew Valentine Louis Blanchard (1860-1900) photographer, both of whom had close connections with Wisbech. William Ball had been a witness in 1854 to the marriage of Valentine Blanchard (1833-1901) and Mary Ann Allen at Clerkenwell.

After William's death, his widow, shown as Annie C Ball, remained living at London Road Fletton and was herself listed as a photographer. Daughter Alice was shown as a photographer's assistant. Still at home were daughters Florence and Sara, but no occupations were shown for them. By 1901 the family had moved to Gladstone Street Peterborough. Anne Cooper Ball was described as a photographer, and an employer. Still at home was daughter Sara who was listed as a photographer's assistant. Anne Cooper Ball died in 1908 and by 1911 Sara, who was still living in Gladstone Street, Peterborough, had changed her occupation to sick nurse. The last directory entry for Ball and Co was in 1907.

Over their 40+ years of trading William Ball, later Ball & Co, used a variety of mounts for their work. While it is difficult to date these precisely, the list below attempts to put these into chronological order.

The first illustration below is from Simon Shirley's collection and is a carte de visite of a family group, an early example from the late 1860s. On the reverse is printed "William Ball, Acorn Cottage, Broad Bridge Street, Peterborough, Landscape and portrait photographer, negatives kept copies may always be had. Every description of photography undertaken at the most reasonable charges" The "Acorn Cottage" part of the address is rather incongruous for an urban location and does not appear in the Directories. The use of the Peterborough Borough crest with the crossed keys is also interesting.

Next (Simon Shirley Collection) is an unusual 1870s carte de visite photograph of a portrait and poem in Peterborough Cathedral about Old Scarleit (Scarlett), the one-time Sexton and grave-digger at Peterborough Cathedral. The reverse has printed thereon "William Ball Photographer, Broad Bridge Street, Peterborough, A large selection of views of the cathedral and neighboring churches" and a manuscript explanation of the image by an earlier owner. The mount is plain white card with square corners. You can read about Old Scarlett and why he was famous at: www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/churches/scarlett.shtml. Beneath this is another carte de visite, with a similar reverse to Old Scarlett, this time portraying the exterior of Peterborough Cathedral (Simon Shirley Collection).

Below this are two cartes de visite from the 1870s with red printed reverse with the Broad Bridge Street address. Next is a carte with a scroll design wrapped around what appears to be a Peterborough coat of arms surmounted by a crown with halo. Presumably this alludes to some sort of royal connection, but there is nothing related to this in the text.

The next example (Simon Shirley Collection) is a carte de visite of three unknown ladies which is probably a little later (late 1870s). The face of the mount has a border round it and the photographers name at the bottom. The reverse is printed with a scroll design "William Ball photographer 13 Narrow Street, Opposite Priestgate, Peterborough, A large selection of views of the Cathedral and neighboring churches". Below is a similarly mounted carte depicting a man with mutton chops. Next is a carte de visite of a small child seated, with the edge of a mother's skirts just visible in the foreground. This has a very similar scrolled design but showing the business also did picture dealing and picture frame making.

Next is an example carte de visite from the Tony Gale Collection of a girl in a bonnet holding a basket of flowers. On the face is written "Ball & Co Narrow Street, Peterborough". The reverse is a Marion & Co design depicting a lady artist at her easel. The reverse, on grey card, states "From the studio of Ball & Co 13 Narrow Street, Peterborough, All negatives kept" The edges of the carte are gilt. This appears to date from the 1870s/1880s, suggesting that the firm had started to use the name Ball & Co some time before the change was listed in local directories.

The two cabinet photographs below this (author's collection) are from Ball and Co Peterborough. The lady with cycle has the date in pencil on the rear 7/5/1898 and is on a dark green mount with edges and printing in white. The other photo - (the surface of the portrait is damaged - it is not a one-eyed subject!) is on a medium green mount with impressed border and writing.

Next is a carte de visite of a girl with doll, on a cream faced, blue / green reverse, Marion mount. The address of the firm is shown as 13 Narrow St Peterborough. There is a Reg design number on the reverse, 109154, which dates to 1888.

Next is another carte de visite from the Tony Gale Collection, a vignette portrait of a man with a moustache, possibly from the 1890s. The mount is cream with green printing. The face of the Carte reads "Ball & Co Peterborough, copyright". The reverse has "Ball and Co" in large receding 3d lettering, and "Central Studio 13 Narrow Bridge Street, Peterborough, Speciality Porcelains and permanent carbon enlargements".

Next is a cabinet photograph of a mother with two children. The face caries the company name and address. The reverse has a massive simple design "Ball & Co". The mount is printed by Marion, Paris.

Next are a cabinet and carte de visite with gilt serrated edges, blank reverse and gilt text on the face "Ball & Co Peterborough".

Next are two cabinet photographs by Ball and Co. That on the left has a grey mount with a lake edge and dragon fly design and the text "Ball & Co Peterborough". The photograph is of a mature gentleman in fur trimmed robe. The other has a cream mount with red text on gilt artist's palette design and gilt serrated edges with the text "Ball & Co Peterborough 13 Narrow Street." This photograph depicts two children in stage costume - the girl holding a shepherd's crook. Both of these cabinet cards have blank backs.

In 1876 W Ball was also listed in the local directory as a "Photographic Warehouse", implying sale of photographic equipment and supplies as well as photographic work.

A carte de visite has been seen with a view of the exterior of St Mary's Church, Peterborough, no text on the face, but on the reverse of the mount is printed "Published by E.T.Hamblin, Stationer, Peterborough. Photographer W Ball Broad Bridge Street". Edward Townsend Hamblin b:1831, Bridgewater Somerset, was a Stationer at 6 Narrow Street Peterborough in 1871. This carte de visite dates from between around 1869 when William Ball started his business and 1881: in 1861 Hamblin was living in Middlesex and in 1881 he was a Widcombe in Somerset.

References: PO Directory of Northants, Hunts and Beds 1869
History, Topography and Directory of Northants, Francis Whellan & Co 1874
Clarke's Directory of Peterborough 1876
Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1877, 1885.
Harrod's Directory of Hunts 1877
Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1890, 1894,1898 - Ball & Co Bridge Street Peterborough
Cook's Peterborough and District Directory, WJ Cook, Boston, Lincs 1894
Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1903, 1906, 13 Narrow Bridge Street Peterborough
Directory of Peterborough, Caster, 1892, 1896, 1901, 1907
Cook's Directory of Peterborough 1898

Name: BALLARD, Ethelbert Harold. b: Milton Cambridgeshire 1901 d:
Address: School House, Milton Cambs
Working dates: 1921
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1921 census Ethelbert, son of the schoolmaster at Milton, is recorded as an out of work photographer's assistant last employed by Stearn's, Bridge St Cambridge
References: 1921 Census

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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