Wednesday, January 9, 2013

A 100 year old Lady photographed by Downer of Watford

Post Cards, etc
Sarah Rowbottom, aged 105
Frank Downer, of Watford, started taking photographs in Watford in about 1863 and developed a thriving business producing pictures in all shapes, sizes and formats including many view and news post cards and an early pictorial newspaper, the Watford Illustrated.  I am always interested in reporting on more examples of his work to complement the online biography I am building up about him.


Old News
Can You Help?
I have just found (on the British Newspaper Archives) a 1865 article from the Hertford Mercury which describes a photograph he had taken of Sarah Rowbottom, who was over 100 years old, and apparently had spent part of her life living in Bushey. The article reports "We have before us a portrait of this centenarian, taken by Mr. Frederick Downer, of Watford, an accomplished photographer, whose skill in the art he cultivates has seldom been surpassed. ..."  [Copy of Article]

Do any copies of this picture still exist? If so please let me know. I would love to have a digital image to add to Downer's biographical pages.

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