I've recently completed some major update of my web site devoted to
Derbyshire Photographers & Studios.
After roughly six years, the index now includes approximately 477 different photographers and studios, while detailed profiles and portfolios of over a third of them (171 photographers) have been compiled. Information and images have been received from 163 separate contributors, in every corner of the world, to whom I am very grateful. The site receives an average of between 20 and 40 visitors a day, and I'm hopeful that a fair proportion have found the site interesting or useful in some way. Visitors to the site come from 35 different countries all over the world, but the bulk are from United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Included in the updates are additional photos and information or new profiles for:
Frederick Barber of Sheffield & Matlock
Herbert Batteson of Chesterfield
Ernest Battey of Glossop & Hadfield
Frederick J. Boyes of Derby
James Brennen of Derby
R. & R. Bull of Ashbourne
Howard Burkinshaw of Belper
John Burton & Sons of Derby
John Caloe & Sons of Sheffield
Carr, Gilbert & Co. of Derby
George H. Chell of Belper
Chesterfield Studios of Chesterfield
John Clark of Matlock Bath
William Davies of Ripley
Diana Studios of Derby
Edwin J. & Joseph C. Evans of Youlgreave
Thomas Frost of Derby
Pollard Graham of Derby
H.I. Hawkes of Derby
John Hobbiss (Senior) & John J. Hobbiss (Junior) of Buxton
Frederick Holbrook of Belper
Charles Hooley of Derby
Jerome Limited of Derby
Richard Keene of Derby
William Leuchars of Chesterfield
Norman J. McAuslan of Belper
Morgan's Studio of Chesterfield
Frank N. & Randolph C. Nield of Ripley & Bakewell
Augustine Porri of Nottingham & Sandiacre
J.W. Price of Derby
Clement Rogers of Derby
Jacob Schmidt of Belper
Alfred Seaman & Sons of Chesterfield
"Professor" Frank Simpson of Ashbourne
Edward Smith of Derby
George Statham of Derby
W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge
J. Alfred & K.F. Stevens of Derby
T. Steward & Co. of Buxton
W.E. Swift of Derby
Thomas Sykes of Derby
A. & G. Taylor of Derby
Paul Turner of Chesterfield
J.S. Walker of Chesterfield
Ward's Studio of Derby
John Hy. Waterhouse of Chesterfield
Harry J. Watson of Derby
James Watterson of Wirksworth
J.W. Wayne of Belper
John Westmoreland of Derby
G. White (daguerreotypist) of Chesterfield
W.W. Winter of Derby
The profile and portfolio for photographer
W.W. Winter has undergone a complete revamp, and due to its size I've had to split it into two separate pages. About 40 different card types have now been identified, which enable dating of practically any WW Winter photo accurately down to within two or three years.
As usual, I am indebted to many people for contributions, in the form of both information and images, and would like to express my appreciation to them: (in no particular order) Robert Silverwood, Marilyn McMillan, Adrian Farmer, Lies Ligthart, Virginia Silvester, John Bradley, Graham Fulford, Michael Patterson, Herbert Brooks, John Palmer, Cynthia Maddock, Julia Sturgis, Bunnie Ellison, Emma Sullivan, Bronwyn & Graeme Gilmour, Barrie Thompson, Michael Handley, Nigel Aspdin, James Morley, Rob Jennings, Kevin Rhodes, John Powell, Cliff Prince, Roy Sims and Fiona Wilson.
I am particularly grateful to:
- Max Craven for alerting me, some years ago, to the existence of a collection of portrait photos in the Derby Local Studies Library,
- Jane James for facilitating my examination of these photos during my visit to Derby in October last year
- Trish Kenny, the chief archivist of that institution, who kindly gave me permission to scan a selection of those photographs for use on this site, and
- staff members Mark Bowyer and Fiona Nevin, who made the process very simple and easy for me.
If you have any old portrait photographs taken by Derbyshire studios that you would like to share, please consider sending me scans for inclusion on the web site. I'm always looking for contributions. Email me for details, or visit the section entitled "Contributions" on my web site.
Regards and best wishes,
Brett Payne
Tauranga, New Zealand
