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Images Index> Images of People> This page |
| Matlock & Matlock Bath Photographers | ||||||||||||||||||
| People who lived in the Matlocks : Photographs, Postcards, Engravings & Etchings | ||||||||||||||||||
At the time of the 1861 census there were already two photographers in Matlock. The Italian Paul P. Letti was lodging on Matlock Bank[1] and Manchester born John Latham was on Tagg Hill in Matlock Town[2]. As for Matlock Bath, John Clark of seems to have been the first "photographic artist" to advertise in a local trades directory in 1864[3], with Charles Davis of Matlock Bank[4] and George Washington Unwin of Matlock Bath[5] joining him by the time of the 1871 census. Suddenly, everyone who could afford it wanted their photograph taken and by 1881 these three had been joined by David Sherwood Jones and John Potter on Matlock Dale[6]. Photographer's studios were plentiful in the Matlocks and the photographer always ensured his name was somewhere on the mounts of his photographic prints. If you've any mid to late nineteenth century or early twentieth century family photos you can usually find the photographer's details on either the front or the back, either pre printed on the mount or as a sticker.
Alfred Seaman was another photographer of this era[8]. But probably the best known of all was William Nathan Statham who had a studio on Dale Road, Matlock from shortly before 1891[9]. He worked as a photographer for many years, but in 1932 his business had become W.N. Statham & Sons. The son of Nathan and Sarah Statham of Matlock Green and born in 1862, he started out as an Artist China Painter before turning to photography. His 'logo' is shown below. |
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Statham wasn't the only photographer to display his name firmly on the front of his work and the black ground and gold lettering appears alongside the work of other photographic studios. The Statham example was printed down the left hand side of the photograph. Hilder's photo of Mrs Widdowson (linked through his advertisement above) also has the photographer's name on the front. Denis Potter has very kindly allowed the use of this original photograph of his Potter relatives, which was taken by Mr Hilder. The family group were probably photographed in the studio's garden. |
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Potter family Standing : Catherine, Fred, George, Herbert Seated Charles, Hetty, Kate, John (Denis's grandfather) On the grass : May |
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John A Potter emigrated to Canada, with his wife, son Leonard Charles Frederic (born 25 Dec 1899) and daughter Kathleen (born 1902). He took family photographs with him to remind him of home. Much of Denis's collection have been stored in a box for almost 100 years. Leonard and Kathleen attended All Saints' School before emigrating. Presumably they'd have had to walk from their home below Oaker Hill down Snitterton Road and then up to the school on Smedley Street. Quite a distance for young children to walk, though many did.  See the
view of Oaker Hill, part of a multi view card, which may be of
members of this familyAlison Uttley's books about her childhood describe her own walks to school. (Uttley was born in Matlock, at Castle Top Farm -See Biographies) The photograph of the two children below is in the form of a postcard, taken about 1908. About All
Saints' School |
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On the back of another photograph in Denis Potter's collection are the familiar intertwined initials W. N. S. (William Nathan Statham). He described himself as a certificated Art Master and Photographic Artist. |
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There is more on site information about the photographer Harry Gill: |
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Images and Potteer family information kindly donated by Denis Potter of Canada © 2004 Information researched by Ann Andrews for personal use only |
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References (click on the coloured links for more on site information): [1] Paul P. Letti in 1861 [2] John Latham in 1861. Also see what happened to John Latham in 1869 Matlock & Matlock Bath Names in the London Gazette [3] Clark's Kelly's 1864 Directory entry. He also advertised in Bemrose's 1869 Guide [4] Find Charles Davis and his family on the 1871 census [5] George Unwin also appeared in the 1871 census By 1881 Unwin was living in Chorlton On Medlock, LAN. His children are listed under "Strays" [6] See the online transcripts of the 1881 census for Matlock Bath [7] J W and Annie Hilder are listed in the onsite transcripts of the 1891 census. The 1901 census transcripts show John Hilder living in Matlock Bath [8] Alfred Seaman was also in Matlock, staying at Smedley's Hydro [8] William Nathan Statham first advertised in Kelly's 1891 Directory. He was living on Church Street in the 1891 census He advertised in the 1908 programme of the Operatic Society |
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