A Watford Photographer & Miss Lena Love

Watford

When you start a piece of historical research you sometimes have no idea where it will lead. As I am currently rushed of my feet I was looking for a quick item for the next update of the web site. I recently purchased a carte de visite made by Dyke & Coy., of 96 Queen's Road, Watford. A quick check of the Hertfordshire trade directories showed that 1890 was the only year Dyke was listed. I foolishly thought that a short page with a copy of the picture and a brief timeline would only take a few minutes. It turns out that Colville Dyke (or Col. Dyke as he sometimes described himself) was not just a photographer. Little did I realise that, many hours later, I would still be busily chasing the seductively named Miss Lena Love all round the country.

Read the full story.

A Ventriloquist visits Hertfordshire in 1801

Jackson's Oxford Journal, May 9, 1801

Lee Sugg was a well-known Ventriloquist who toured England at the end of the 18th century and first few years of the 19th century. The above advertisement shows that there were performances in Hitchin and Baldock.

Steven Connor has published a book Dumbstruck, A Cultural History of Ventriloquism and there is a Dumbstruck Archive online which contains addition source information on Lee Sugg.

If you are interested in travelling entertainers in Hertfordshire see the Wells Pavillion Theatre Company.