Fabulous photos from 1857 rural Britain

[oldtimer]

Hi friends 

Just had to share this wonderful photo collection http://mashable.com/2017/09/24/william-grundy-english-views/#k_Sgb9lGK6qf

Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did.

Judy 

[ABradley]

Judy,
They are fantastic photos,thanks for sharing. It's like a window into the past. Most of the people look as if their clothes had to last many a year.
I do like the"dandy" leaning against the brick wall.

Andrew

[oldtimer]

Thanks Andrew.

I particularly liked the fact that these are mainly working class folk in their normal working attire. A real snapshot of rural live in the mid nineteenth century.

[3sillydogs]

Thanks for sharing those. 

 A wonderful window to the past

[Regorian]

Thank you so much for drawing attention to this marvellous collection of photographs. I think he lived at Sutton Coldfield. Perhaps he drew his subjects from this area, Sutton Park in particular. Evidently he spent a lot of time in composing the scenes. They are as good as, if not better than those of William Fox-Talbot who lived quite near me (Laycock Abbey).

The every day dress of ordinary people is a delight to see. Not Sunday best but full of style. After 1860 it was all downhill for all classes. The military band was Royal Artillery I think. Note the musical instruments, quite different to what followed. 

 

 

[oldtimer]

Thank you both.

Usually the photos we see from this date are indoor studio photos of people looking stiff and unsmiling, wearing their Sunday best. These are much more relaxed and informal.

Interesting that he lived in Sutton Coldfield - not too far from me!

[ankerdine]

What a wonderful collection of photos. Thank you Judy so much. How did you come acroos them?

It would be quite a challenge to pinpoint some of the locations but in some caes, where there are buildings, surely possible.

My family were engaged in farming north of Sutton Coldfield at the end of the nineteenth century.

I love the one with the young lad and the dogs.

Judy x

[candleflame]

The quality of those photos is amazing! I wonder what the people in them thought when they saw themselves for the first time. We take instant photos so much for granted now with phones that can take photos and videos.
Thank you for finding this link for us all.

[maggbill]

Wow - what great photos!  I just about find it hard to believe that photos taken in 1857 could be so clear!  Thanks for sharing!