Update of Hertfordshire Photographers & Post Card Publishers

One of the activities that is slowly continuing is the update of information on Victorian  photographers in Hertfordshire and also early post card publishers.  In the last couple of months changes have been made to the following pages - ranging from a revised date to new examples of their work and additional biographical information. Some of the pages are "work pages" in that when I get perhaps half a dozen references I will then consider adding biographical details.

Pages with Updates

George Avery (1839-1911) of Hitchin (1864-1870) & Kent

John Barnard (1841-1894) of St Albans (1878-1894)

Athelstane Basebe (1853-1909) of Hertford, Hemel Hempstead & Watford (and elsewhere)

Ernest Bedwell of Bedford - Bedwell & Bedford Series of Hertfordshire post cards circa 1903/4

Percy Alex Buchanan - School posts cards nationally (Also Photo Tourists Association)

Michael Chadwick of Tring - post card publisher

Atlas Church (father & son) of St Albans (c1881) and London

Julianna Dunn (1853-1935), photographer of Hemel Hempstead (c1886-c1916)

Thomas Benwell Latchmore (1832-1908) and son of Hitchin from 1864

Daniel Barton Skillman, post card publisher of Harpenden of Herpenden

J J & W F Southwood of Watford (c1900-c1930)

Valentine of Dundee - dated example of Hertfordshire post cards

Some minor photographer/post card updates

I have discovered that John Barnard, Photographer of St Albans, had a studio in the borough as early as 1878. 

I have added a small example of a panoramic school view by Percy Buchanan, who has taken many pictures of Hertfordshire schools (and I am interested in knowing any others he has photographed).

I have added some more negative number information for Edward Bedwell (Bedford Series post cards). While Edward lived in Bedfordshire he published a lot of Hertfordshire post cards circa 1903-4.

The Lodge, Walsworth Road, Hitchin

Ernest Bedwell, of Bedford, published a large number of view post cards in the early 20th century. While most of them are of Befordshire, quite a few were of Hertfordshire, including this view looking along Walsworth Road, Hitchin, posted in 1904.  

The Lodge, Walsworth Road

It would seem that over a short period he published about 1000 different views, but then stopped completely. There is increasing evidence that similar things happened with other early local post card publishers who started well. The problem could well have been competition from the many national post card publishers who rapidly moved into the market. This left any the local publishers of printed cards with large stocks which did not sell well. More information is needed to establish this and if you have post cards by local publishers which can be dated and which have nother clues - such as series numbers - I would be interested to have details.

Some Photographer updates

Alfred Burton's great granddaughter, Denise, has written to suggest that he may have switched from being a gardener because he had some experience with working with chemicals. Has anyone any other possible suggestions?

I have added details of a numbered (1014) and dated (July 1904) card, of Turvey Church, Bedfordshire, by Ernest Bedwell. It is looking increasingly likely that all the cards in his Bedford Series were published circa 1904.