Cambridgeshire Photographers

Name: BLACK, Hubert b. 1890 Settle Yorkshire d.
Address: 5 Croft Cottages Exning Road, Newmarket
Working Dates: 1911
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1911 census Hubert was listed as a working photographer, an employee, a single man and boarder at 5 Croft Cottages, Exning. He boarded with Albert and Catherine Wilson, Albert was a stock keeper for a racing establishment.
References: England Census 1911

Name: BLACKALL, Bertha b. 1885 Folkestone Kent d.
Address: 7 Willow Walk, Cambridge.
Working Dates: 1911-
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Bertha is listed in the 1911 census as a photographer's assistant, an employee, boarding at 7 Willow Walk Cambridge with George Wolfe, a college gyp and his wife Caroline. In the 1901 Census Walter Gilbert Blackall (below) and his sister Bertha Blackall were brother and sister living at 33 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, with their parents Walter and Sarah Blackall. Bertha was a photographer's assistant. Their father, Walter Blackall, b: 1845 Theale Berkshire, was a photographer and an employer. When Bertha moved to Cambridge she might have been employed by her brother Walter Gilbert Blackall, or possibly by Hills and Saunders, with whom both her father and brother were believed to have been connected.
References: England Census 1911.

Name: BLACKALL, Walter Gilbert b: 1878, Folkestone, Kent. d.1955 Derby
Address: "Oakthorpe" Omestone Road, Cambridge in 1911. By 1939 at 19 Kings Parade Cambridge.
Working Dates: 1911-1939
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Listed in the 1911 census as a photographer and fine art dealer, an employer. Living at the above address with his wife Ellen Blackall b: 1880 Preston Lancashire. their one year old son and a live-in domestic servant. See also Bertha Blackall above. In the 1901 Census Walter Gilbert Blackall and his sister Bertha Blackall were brother and sister living at 33 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, with their parents Walter and Sarah Blackall. Walter Gilbert Blackall was shown as a photographer. Their father, Walter Blackall, b: 1845 Theale Berkshire, was a photographer and an employer. Walter Gilbert was married at Twickenham in March 1909.

From a number of local newspaper comments, WG Blackall appears to have been a popular Baritone performer in Cambridge over a number of years. In 1939, when the engagement of his son was announced, Walter Gilbert Blackall was still in Cambridge, but at 19 Kings Parade. 19 Kings Parade Cambridge was occupied by photographers Hills and Saunders from 1892 to 1940, and was later occupied from around 1946 by photographer Edward Leigh. A possible connection with Hills and Saunders, who started their business in Oxford, might explain why Walter and Bertha Blackall moved initially from Oxford to Cambridge. The National Archives record the registration at Stationers Hall for copyright purposes of two photographs of Professor Osler of Oxford in July 1905, copyright author Gilbert Walter Blackall, 328 Banbury Road Oxford, copyright owner Hills and Saunders Oxford (TNA COPY1/487/427 and COPY1/487/426).

WG Blackall was an accomplished artist. He illustrated "The Charm of Oxford" by J. Wells, published by Simpkin, Marshall, London, 1920, 1921. Some 23 of his detailed Cambridge drawings illustrated "The Charm of Cambridge" by S.C.Roberts, published by A & C Black, London, 1927, 2nd Edn 1933. Illustrations from this work were in turn published as a series of postcards by A & C Black. His work - detailed and realistic pencil drawings, bear the initials "W.G.B".
References: 1901 and 1911 England Census. Cambridge Daily News 19 Dec 1939.

Name: BLACKMAN, Jane, Mrs Née Berry b:1842 Ramsey Hunts. d:
Address: Westgate, Peterborough
Working Dates: c.1864
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: There is a single directory entry in Kellys for 1864 showing Mrs Jane Blackman, Photographic Artist, Westgate, Peterborough. It seems likely that this is the wife of Thomas Blackman listed below, or even Thomas starting to trade in his wife's name. Jane Blackman was the daughter of a waterman at Ramsey In 1861 Jane was shown in the census without occupation, living with her husband and 8 month old daughter Lizzie at 45 Lincoln Road, Peterborough. Thomas was a shoemaker, obviously a master craftsman as he had a live-in apprentice. By 1871 Jane and husband Thomas, were living at the Talbot public house, Long Causeway, Peterborough. Thomas was the inn keeper, with them were their 4 year old son Thomas and 10 year old daughter Lizzie.
References: Kelly's Northants 1864

Name: BLACKMAN, Jennie b: 1879 Peterborough d:
Address: Exchange St, Peterborough
Working Dates: c.1901
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Daughter of Thomas Blackman below, working as a photographer for the family business in 1901.
References: Census 1901

Name: BLACKMAN, Thomas b. 1837 d. (Traded as Thomas BLACKMAN & Son in 1890) (Thomas BLACKMAN & Co in 1896-8) (T J and W BLACKMAN in 1901) Also used BLACKMAN & Co

Address: (pre 1873) Talbot Public House Long Causeway Peterborough; 1873 at 14 Westgate, 1874 at 14 Westgate and 29 Long Causeway, Peterborough; 1877 at St John's Street, Market Place Peterborough; 1890 at 5 Exchange Street and Long Causeway Peterborough; 1892 Exchange Street Peterborough.

Working Dates: c.1860 - 1903 (Trade directory entries found from 1874. The firm's material claims the firm founded in 1860, so the earlier entry above for Jane Blackman is possibly connected. However, in the 1871 census nobody in the family listed a photographic occupation, suggesting that photography was initially a secondary occupation.

Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1861 census Thomas, aged 24 was at 45 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, where he lived with his wife Jane, no occupation, b 1842 Ramsey Hunts, and daughter Lizzie aged 8 months. Thomas was a master shoemaker with a live-in apprentice. In 1871 Thomas, aged 34, was shown as an innkeeper, at the Talbot public house, Long Causeway, Peterborough, where he was living with his wife, Jane, 4 year old son Thomas and 10 year old daughter Lizzie. In March 1873 the photography business, probably at that point a secondary occupation for Thomas and family, suffered a setback due to a fire. The Peterborough Advertiser Sat 8 March 1873 p2 reported:

Fire — On Thursday at noon a fire broke out in the studio of Mr. Blackman, photographer. Long Causeway. It appears the proprietor left a small stove burning in the studio, quite safe as was thought. On the servant going to the rear of the premises to beat carpets, she perceived a quantity of smoke issuing from the roof of the outbuilding, and at once raised alarm of fire. The destroying element had only a very temporary hold of the premises, for few bucketfuls of water were found ample to extinguish the flames, but the damage done was rather serious.

Perhaps as a result of the fire Thomas changed addresses, and devoted all his time to the photography business in which he made a greater investment. In the Peterborough Advertiser, Saturday 07 June 1873 p2, he placed the advertisement below.

In July 1874, the freehold of 14 Westgate, then occupied by Thomas and family, was offered for sale. In the Peterborough Advertiser, Saturday 01 January 1876 p1, Thomas placed an advertisement for picture framing, giving two addresses, 14 Westgate and 29 Long Causeway, Peterborough. In May 1877 Thomas placed another large advertisement in the Peterborough Advertiser (26 May 1877 p.2), this time announcing a move from Westgate to St John's Street Peterborough. Interestingly the advertisement refers to a new address, in the singular, and that address was St John's Street, Market Place Peterborough. This suggests that in 1877 St John's St was adjacent to St John's Church and the Market Place Peterborough, not the current St John's St. Perhaps the old St John's St was re-named Exchange Street Peterboough, hence another, later address for the Blackman family.

In 1881 the census showed Thomas aged 44, photographer and tobacconist at St Johns St Peterborough, where he was living with his wife Jane and their children, Lizzie and Thomas. In the Peterborough Advertiser - Saturday 04 February 1882 p1 Thomas placed another advertisement for photography and picture framing and stated that he was also an agent for the Guardian Plate Glass Insurance Co. By this point Thomas was again practicing two different occupations. The 1891 census showed Thomas, aged 54, a photographer at Exchange St Peterborough, with his wife Jane three daughters, and son William b 1883. The 1901 census listed Thomas, aged 64, a photographer working on his own account at Exchange Street, Peterborough, with his wife Jane (no occupation shown), daughter Nellie, a tobacconist's assistant, daughter Jennie, 22, b. 1879 at Peterborough and son William b.1883, both described as photographers. In 1911 Thomas was listed as a tobacconist, living with his wife Jane, son William Percy b: 1883 Pboro, shown as a tobacconist, and daughter Nellie May b: 1876 Pboro, shown as a tobacconist assistant. There was no mention of photography in the 1911 census return.

See below (author's collection) for a carte de visite on cream card, rounded corners – seated studio portrait of unknown young man, reverse states “Photographer Thos Blackman 14 Westgate Peterborough, Negatives kept. Copies may be had at any time” but no negative number shown. The address dates this to around 1874-6

The next carte de visite is an oval portrait of an unknown man with moustache. This is on a light blue mount. and appears to originally have had just the address "Market Place", but overprinted above that in a lighter typeface is "St John's St". Late 1870s. (Michael Brown Collection)

The third Carte de visite (Simon Shirley Collection) is a little more recent (? early 1880s) with the St Johns Street address. This is a close-up portrait of an unknown bearded man wearing a hat. The white card mount is plain on the face, but the reverse has an intricate fern and fan design and the text "Photographer and picture frame maker, Thomas Blackman, miniature and portrait painter, St Johns Street Market Place Peterborough, negatives kept, copies may be had, cartes enlarged to life size and finished in oil or water colour".

The next carte de visite on a cream mount is of anknown lady, seated and is probably from the 1880s. The mount carries the addresses St Johns Street Market Place. On the reverse is a Crown, implying some sort of unspecified Royal patronage. The text of the reverse also highlights "Miniature and portrait painter". The Royal Patronage suggests this design came after other designs with the same address but without the incorporation of the Crown, while highlighting skills in miniature painting suggests perhaps this could be an earlier design. (Michael Brown Collection)

Below that is a cabinet photograph (author's collection) of a couple with riding gear, the mount - in gold on buff card states "Blackman & Co, Exchange St, Market Place, Peterborough Established 1860" c. 1900. Next is a cabinet photograph from the 1890s (author's collection) of an academic in mortar board, the front states, "Blackman & Co Exchange St Market Place Peterboro" and the reverse, is a seated lady artist design by Marion and Co with the legend "From the Studio of T Blackman & Co, photographers and picture frame makers Exchange Street, Market Place, Peterborough. Negatives kept. Copies may be had, cartes enlarged to life size and finished in oil or water colors". Next is a carte de visite from the Exchange St, Market Place, Peterborough address, in seated lady artists with winged cherub design - no negative number given - 1890s. Below this is a similarly mounted carte de visite - unusually the protective tissue covering, printed in blue with a naturalistic design of flowers and a wading bird, has survived and it bears the mount manufacturers name, Percy Lund and Co Bradford.

Blackman's photographs illustrate the book "Photographs and extracts from the History of the Church of Peterborough" by Symon Gunton, late prebendary of that church and set forth by Symon Patrick, Dean of Peterborough with a sketch of the Author; Peterborough. Published 1880 by Geo. C. Caster, Printer in Peterborough.

References: History, Topography and Directory of Northants, Francis Whellan & Co 1874
Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1877, 1890.
Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1894 Blackman, Thomas & Son, Exchange Street and Long Causeway Peterborough.
Cook's Peterborough and District Directory, WJ Cook, Boston, Lincs 1894
Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1898 and 1903, Blackman, Thomas & Co Exchange Street, Peterborough
Wright's Northamptonshire Directory CN Wright, 1884
Caster's Directory of Peterborough 1892, 1896, 1901
Cook's Directory of Peterborough 1898
Clarke's Directory of Peterborough 1876

cdv by Thomas Blackman

Carte de visite, Thomas Blackman Reverse of carte de visite, Thomas Blackman

Carte de visite by Thomas Blackman.

Blackman & Co cabinet photo of an academic Reverse of Blackman & Co cabinet photograph

Carte de visite unknown lady by Thomas Blackman

Tissue covering Blackman carte de visite

Name: BLACKMAN, William Percy b: 1883 Peterborough d:
Address: Exchange St, Peterborough
Working Dates: c.1901
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Son of Thomas Blackman above, the census return shows that he was working as a photographer for the family business in 1901. By 1911 he was shown as a tobacconist in the family business.
References: Census 1901

Name: BLAIR, Charles W b:1846 Canterbury Kent d:Q1 1880 St Olave Southwark
Address: High Street Huntingdon
Working Dates: c.1871
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Listed in the 1871 census as an assistant to photographer Arthur Maddison in Huntingdon, occupation shown as "photographic printer".
References: 1871 census

Name: BLANCHARD, Valentine b:1833 Wisbech d:1901 Herne Kent
Address: Various London addresses, Rectory Farm, Harston, Cambridgeshire, in his retirement c.1892-95
Working dates:1857 to 1890s
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Uncle to Valentine Louis Blanchard below. See this page for full details of this photographer

Name: BLANCHARD Valentine Louis or BLANCHARD Valentine Jnr. b: 1860 Kings Lynn d: c.1900 Johannesburg South Africa
Address:Lynn Road Wisbech 1883, later Post Office Terrace, Cambridge (1887) and 28 and 15 Hills Road, Cambridge, Bradford, 1890, then Horton Yorks c.1891
Working dates:1883-1889 (Cambridge)
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: See this page for full details of this photographer

Name: BLISS, Henry James b:1852 Oxford d:
Address:Operating from Post Office Terrace Cambridge working for or with his brother John Edward Bliss.
Working Dates: from at least 1883 probably to 1885 when his brother died, and by 1888 he was a photographer at 1 London Road, Grantham
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Henry James Bliss trained in the printing industry and was an apprentice compositor in 1871, when he was living with his parents and six siblings at 95 Friars Street, Oxford. At some point before 1883 Henry had joined his brother, John Edward Bliss, as a photographer at his studio in Post Office Terrace, Cambridge. John Edward Bliss died at Newport, Isle of Wight on 19 January 1885; Henry James Bliss, also then a photographer at Post Office Terrace, was named as his executor (Cambridge Independent Press 2nd May 1885). Henry James Bliss was a Freemason and a member of the Cambridge based Lodge of Three Grand Principles No 441 from around 1883 to 1885. The Lodge records list him as a photographer. In Jan 1888 Henry joined another Masonic Lodge, Doric Lodge No 352 at Grantham, where the Lodge records again showed his occupation as a photographer. He resigned from the Lodge in Dec 1894. Local Directories record him as a photographer in Grantham at 1 London Road, in 1894 at 34 Lombard St Nottingham and also at Grantham, 1901 at 34 Lombard Street. From 1905 to 1911 there is a Henry James Bliss resident at 99 Stanford Avenue Brighton, who may be the same person.
References: Records of United Grand Lodge of England for Lodges 441, 625 and 352
Cambridge Independent Press 2nd May 1885
Kelly's Directory Lincolnshire 1894, Nottinghamshire 1894, 1900, Sussex 1905, 1911

Name: BLISS, John Edward b: 1854 Oxford d: 1885 Isle of Wight
Address: 7 St Andrews Street, Cambridge (1883) Post Office Terrace Cambridge (1878)
Working Dates: 1878-1885
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In 1878 John Edward Bliss was elected a member of the Photographic Society of Great Britain, and his address was shown as Post Office Terrace, Cambridge (Photographic Journal Nov 1878). In 1881 Bliss was shown in the census residing at Post Office Cottage at the rear of the Post Office, Cambridge. He was single and a photographer. A display advertisement dated 26/11/1881 shows, "Late Arthur Nicholls. Studio portraits and local views." The entry Bliss had in the Harrod's Special Directory of 1886 (presumably submitted a year or two before publication) reads, "Bliss J.E. artist, photographer, portrait and miniature painter and picture frame maker, Post Office Terrace, St Andrew's St (Cambridge)".

The first image below is a carte de visite of an unknown man on a mount bearing Arthur Nicholls' name on the face and J.E.Bliss, successor to Arthur Nicholls on the reverse. The mount, on cream card with square corners, is by Marion of Paris. This must have been one of the earliest of the mounts used by Bliss after taking over Post Office Terrace Studio. Was Arthur Nicholls' name being left on the face an oversight, or a cost saving by using up old stock or only changing one plate with the mount manufacturers? Below this is a cabinet photograph of an unknown young man, negative No 890. This is one of the earliest designs used by Bliss, as it simply mentions the Post Office Terrace address. On the cream face of the mount is printed in red "Cabinet Portrait JE Bliss Cambridge" The mount is a high gloss ivory. The reverse is printed in red "Artist and photographer J.E.Bliss Post Office Terrace Cambridge Portraits enlarged by the carbon process and finished in oil or water colours. Negatives kept copies may be had". There is also a heraldic crest with a sheaf of corn and the motto "Quod Severis metes" - (as you sow, so shall you reap) - the Bliss Family crest. The mount is printed by Trapp and Munch, Berlin. Next is another cabinet photograph, no negative number, with a black mount on the front, cream on the rear, the design is similar to the first, but has slightly more elaborate corners and has the addition of the St Andrews Street Fancy Goods Store. The mount publisher is Reeves and Mears. Below this are three cartes de visite, believed to be oldest on the left. Mounted on cream high gloss cards with rounded corners. The design of the reverse of the cards takes the original diagonal name design used by Arthur Nichols and adds new information to it. The whole of the reverse reads "Fancy Goods Stores, 7 St Andrews Street, Artist and Photographer J.E.Bliss, late Arthur Nicholls Post Office Terrace Cambridge. Cartes enlarged by the carbon process and finished in Oil or Water Colors. Negatives kept copies may be had. Plain 1sh each, 7 for 5 sh, 14 for 9 sh – 26 for 16 sh 6d. Vignettes 1 sh each 7 for 6 sh 14 for 10 sh 26 for 18 sh 6d” The cartes of the two female subjects are numbered 584 and 682 bottom LH side of the reverse with a blue inked numbering stamp. Below this is another carte de visite of a gentleman with moustache and central parting, on the reverse of the mount is written the name of the sitter "AP Humphry". There is no negative number shown. The mount was supplied and printed by Trapp and Munch, Berlin. Although these mounts refer to Bliss's business being "late Arthur Nicholls", they are not simply older mounts over-printed by Bliss, but appear to have been designed by Bliss to capitalise of the goodwill accumulated by his predecessor.

In May 1883 Bliss registered 14 photographs at Stationers' Hall to preserve copyright. These were portraits of named individuals in different parts in the classic plays "the 'Ajax' of Sophocles" (TNA records COPY 1/364/244, COPY 1/364/250, COPY 1/364/247, COPY 1/364/246, COPY 1/364/251, COPY 1/364/248, COPY 1/364/252, COPY 1/364/245, COPY 1/364/249, COPY 1/364/302, COPY 1/364/303, COPY 1/364/304, COPY 1/364/305, COPY 1/364/301) . Bliss died at Newport, Isle of Wight on 19 January 1885; his brother Henry James Bliss, also at that time a photographer at Post Office Terrace, was named as his executor (Cambridge Independent Press 2nd May 1885). There was a sale of J E Bliss's apparatus and stock at Post Office Terrace on 30 June 1885. The Post Office Terrace studio was leased to Bliss by Jesus College who either owned the premises or occupied them by arrangement with Christ's College. R Reynolds Rowe, a Cambridge architect employed by Jesus College, in a letter dated 13th Jan 1887 to the College Bursar stated of the premises: "The rent is high at present; the two last tenants (i.e. Nicholls and Bliss) lost money there".
It would appear that John had an apprentice in 1883, namely James CREAM, Cambridgeshire County Archives have an application for apprenticeship for James Cream of 14 Coronation Street as photographer and stationer with J.E. Bliss of 7 St. Andrew's Street, Cambridge, dated Feb 1883. This comprises original application and testimonials in support of James Cream by Charlotte Porcheson, H. J. Buckwell, Henry Hall, Professor [Samuel] Peed and the famous English naturalist Osbert Salvin. Cambs Record Office, Ref CB/10/2/6/4/9 and CB/10/2/6/1/161

For more on Post Office Terrace Studio and negatives from the studio www.fadingimages.uk/POT1.asp

References: Reeve, F.A. Victorian and Edwardian Cambridge from Old Photographs, Batsford 1971
Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Spaldings Directory of Cambridge 1878-83
Kellys Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London April 1883
Mike Petty, An Eye on the Past, Cambridge Weekly News, 14/2/1991
Petty MJ, The Cambridge Photographers at Post Office Terrace, Cambridge No 29, Winter 1991-2
Numerous negatives survive in the Cambridgeshire Collection from the firm and there are 3 cartes de visite in the carte de visite collection at the Cambridgeshire Collection c.65.5.
Cambridge Independent Press 2nd May 1885 and 27 Jun 1885.
Census 1881

JE Bliss carte de visite, successor to Arthur Nicholls

Bliss cabinet photograph Reverse of Bliss cabinet photo

Cabinet photograph by Bliss Reverse of Bliss cabinet photograph

JE Bliss carte de visite Reverse of JE Bliss carte de visite

Name: BLOXHAM, Nigel b: c.1949 d:
Address: 88 High St Newmarket, in 1981 also at 71 Mill Lane, Fordham in 1982 . In 1983 at 16A High Street, Newmarket, in 1990 at Station Road Fordham, in 1995 at 71 Mill Lane Fordham. Currently 29 Festival Road, Isleham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5SY.
Working Dates: c. 1969 to at least 1998 – may still be in business in 2016 according to a number of online directory sites.
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Worked for the Newmarket Journal and the Ely Standard for around 10 years from 1977. Later specialised in press, social, industrial, commercial and Aerial photography. 1000 sq m drive-in studio advertised in 1990. According to B.W. 20 Sept 1990 and CEN 12 Oct 1989, the new studio was a conversion of an old chicken shed in Fordham. Also in 1990 teamed up with Prime Example Public Relations in Ely producing corporate brochures and stationery (Cambridge Evening News 29 Nov 1990). The photograph below, produced with the kind permission of Peter Norman, shows Nigel Bloxham's shop in Newmarket High Street in 1985.
References: Cambridge Yellow Pages 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998.
My Way with Nigel Bloxham, Newmarket Journal, 3 Oct 1991
Current website (2019) www.ukphotogallery.com/f775037104

Nigel Bloxham's shop in Newmarket High Street c.1985 (Peter Norman collection)

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Photographers are listed alphabetically by surname on the following pages.

www.FadingImages.uk is a non-commercial web site for local and family historians, listing photographers in Cambridgeshire 1840-2000
This page was last modified: 31 July 2021, 17:10

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