Victorian and Edwardian photographers in York…part 2

Since posting this, I’ve done an update to some of the text here https://suegough.net/victorian-and-edwardian-photographers-in-york-part-3

I am fascinated by old photographs. I’m lucky that my uncle Derek gave me some in the 1980’s when he emptied his aunt’s home. It’s fun trying to work out who people are and where a photo may have been taken. We can use old trade directories to find out when photographers had studios in a particular town. We can try to date photographs by using resources such as these: Jayne Shrimpton; Jayne on Find My Past; Roger Vaughan; The Museums Association or the National Science and Media Museum.

My Neale ancestors had a relative called Kitty Myton. She married Ernest Drysdale in 1920. His great aunt, Mary Elizabeth, married Cecil Cuthbert in 1894. According to the 1902 York trade directory, Cecil Cuthbert was part of Cuthbert Bros, the photography business. Some of the photos my uncle gave me were taken at Cuthbert Bros. The picture of the building on the back of some of the photos shows that the studio was on the corner of New Street, where Cafe Nero© is now. They were there at 20 Davygate in at least 1895 to 1902.

Mid-1890’s

Charles Bowry was also Davygate, at number 19a. He is there about 1906 to 1913. He was living on Huntington Road in 1911.

Harry Masser at 10 Tower Street, 1890 to 1913 at least.

Late 1890’s. Possible wedding of Edward Walker to Elizabeth England OR Alfred England to Clara A Suddaby OR John England to Annie Flannagan


George Henry Thwaites had premises at 12 High Petergate in the 1901 directory. On the 1911 census he was living at 21 East Parade.

Wedding of John Mangham to Minnie Jane Cass 1919. Taken in garden of 19 Union Terrace, York

J Catley was at 11 Shipton Street.

Pink mount

Avison and Co advertised their daylight and electric studios at 9 Fishergate. They were there in at least 1896 to 1913. Edwin Avison, photographer, was living at Haxby on the 1901 census. By 1911 he’d moved to Whitby to become an inn keeper. His father-in-law, Thomas Boxell, was described as a retired photographer. When Edwin married in 1893 his occupation was a printer.

1910’s

The back of this photograph looks like it says Rooks, Davygate. I don’t know anything else.

Famous York photographers include Dr Tempest Anderson, William Pumphrey and W Hayes.

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