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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Sarah in Midlands on Friday 23 September 05 13:20 BST (UK)
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Dear All,
I'm really struggling trying to work out which strand of the family these handsome chappies come from. Can anyone suggest a date which may help? The photo was taken by Wards of Brixton, Battersea and Chelsea - I've not been able to trace them either!
All help very much appreciated!
Sarah
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Sarah,
do not know if this helps but there was a John Ward who had studio's in the London area between 1856 to 1871.
His studios were situated at,
Palace Row, New Rd SW-1856-57
Tottenham Court Rd - 1856-1858
Kennington Rd SE- 1857
Euston Rd NW-1858-59 and again between 1866-1871.
There was also the studio of Henry Ward in the Walworth Rd S. between 1867-1879.
Finally there was also an Alfred Ward who had his studio in the Kings Rd Chelsea between 1891-1908
old rowley
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Old Rowley - Thank you!
I found this in the meantime:
Ward, Mr H. & Mrs - Photographers
346 Battersea Park Road, Battersea
54 Brixton Rd., 19 Spencer Place, Brixton
421 Kings Road, Chelsea
287 Walworth Rd, 5 Beckford Rw., Walworth
131 High Street, Willesden Green
But couldn't find dates...
I wonder if this was after 1879 and Walworth studio had shut? I was thinking the photo was late 1890's from the dress???
Thank you!!!
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I would go along with you on your thinking of the date of 1890. The dress of all four sitters does not help at all really (well not for me anyway) as bow ties were worn from at least the 1850's, whilst wing collars were worn in the 1870's to at least the 1930's. Both of the elderly sitters sport watch chains which I believe were/are known as Albert's (named after the prince consort I think) and all three men have facial hair styles that fit in anywhere from 1860 to 1915 (by the 1890's side whiskers were seen mostly on older men while younger men had moustaches as beards had started to decline in vogue). As for the child I would suspect that it is a he and male children of his age were dressed accordingly for some time after 1900.
old rowley
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Sorry, I meant the dress of the ladies in the other photos - all obviously taken around the same time... I've attached one to help - I'm pretty sure it is the wife of the young chap in the first photo.
Does this help age them?
Thank you all!
Sarah
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Hi
I would say 1890s aswell
See link:
http://www.cartes.fsnet.co.uk/date/main.htm
Jane
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still going with you on the 1890's with this one Sarah (and Jane). Leg of mutton sleeves and bolero jackets (which it appears the woman is wearing) were popular during the 1880 to 1901 period. The furniture I would hazard a guess at being late victorian (faux bamboo corner stand and machine turned leg of what appears to be a chair) which lead again into the year range of the 1890's.
you say that you have other photographs that appear to be taken around about the same period. Are they more detailed and could they give anything away about the dates of when they were taken ?
old rowley
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After blood, sweat and toil, I think I may have worked out who the four gentlemen in the photo are...
Henry East - all of them!
Son, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
They were living just off the Kennington Road in Lambeth at the time so the area would be right too!
If correct the little boy was born in Q3 1896. I'm struggling to work out the age of the little boy - I'm guessing between 1 and 2 years which would mean the photo was taken around 1897/8 and make the men the following ages:
81, 55, 25, 1 respectively.
What do you think? Does this sound about right?
S
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Hi Sarah,
I would go along with you in regards to your ages for all four sitters. As the styles of each of the elder ones would fit in with each of those generations that you have given.
Also when you look at the ages that you have it would work out about right for when they may have married.
I would also go along with your guesstimate for the child as being between 1 and 2 years old. Going by his arms (stubby around the forearms and wrist area) I would say that he is most probably in the middle and may have been about 18 month when this photograph was taken. Also have you noticed that the male at the back is in fact holding the child up right (and still) which may indicate that the child would have been unsteady on his feet, which would bring me back to the 18 month freshhold.
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Fantastic - Old Rowley thankyou for being a great sounding board on this one!
At last the mystery may be solved!
S
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Hi Sarah
Sorry to put a spanner in the works after all these years but Henry Ward was the photographer (he is my Great Great Grandfather) and the photo was taken prior to 1890. I would suggest 1870's or early 1880's at the latest. By 1890 his business was being run by his son - also Henry Ward - and the Wards were only operating out of 2 Station Road Croydon. In fact the Wards were living in Croydon prior to 1880. The card the photo is on is an early Ward card and was not being used by them in the 1890's. I have a whole box full of old Ward Studio photos which I can date and, whilst the name 'Wards' looks identical to the photo you have none have the studio locations you have. So its possible you are a generation further back than you thought.
All the best
Bill