Victorian Studio Photos

Victorian Studio Photos

Introduction

Bourne Hall Museum has a sequence of photos copied from glass plates taken by Cuthbert Hopkins of Epsom. They are studio portraits and it can be seen from the ages of the sitters that they were taken over a period of about thirty years in the 1860s to 1880s. The sitters, who were well-to-do members of local society, are identified by surname only.

Cuthbert John Hopkins’ Logo

Dates and Provenance of the Photos

It appears from the writing on the wrappers that these negatives were passed down to the Andrews family, and this is borne out by the use made of some images by James Andrews in his Reminiscences of Epsom (1903). In 1975 the set was put up for auction, most of it divided (more or less alternately by families) into two lots. One lot, after subsequent sales, came in 1993 to Surrey History Centre, where it was catalogued under the number 4123. The other was bought by someone based in the Isle of Man, who in 2016 sold it to the Surrey History Centre.

The glass plates came in wrappers with numbers (running in alphabetical order of sitter, with some deviations) but these numbers are not original; they, and the identifications, may have been given by James Andrews when he was using the photos for local history talks and Reminiscences of Epsom. An original negative number survives on the plate copying the portrait of John Trotter, and presumably these original negative numbers would have been given in chronological series as people sat for the photos. They appear to have been taken in a short space of time, since the same background curtains, chairs and props appear repeatedly.

The most closely dated photos are those for Amy Dorling who appears aged 3 or 4 and was therefore taken in 1862 or 3; the reproduction of a portrait of Dr. Graham, which was wrapped in an 1865 advertisement for Good Words; and the photos of the Crowe family wedding in October 1871. The photo of Katherine Brooks must postdate her marriage in December 1862. The portrait of Elizabeth Collyer-Bristow with a two-year-old, must be of or earlier than 1869 when her last child would have been 2. Those of Susanna Graham must be earlier than her death in 1870. That of Martha Collingwood must be earlier than 1871, by which time, as we know from the census, she had left Epsom. Mary Jerrom died in August 1873, and Rebecca Eisdell in April 1875. Thus the photos seem to span the years between 1862 and 1871. The photographer can be identified as Cuthbert Hopkins, since the photo of Edward Scott has also been found as a cabinet print with attribution to Hopkins’ studio on the back.

Glass Plate Types

The development of the photograpic process in Victorian times is complex so we have briefly described the main processes in our Early Photography article. Most of the glass plates taken in the Hopkins studios were of the wet collodion type, a process used c.1851-1885; the remaining negatives are gelatine dry plates, a process which was introduced in c.1880.

The location of one of Cuthbert’s two studios
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum

Our Research and Articles

Jeremy Harte, Bourne Hall Museum curator, asked if we could help research the people shown in these studio photos. This is a massive task so it will take some time before we finish. However when we have completed research on an individual or group of individuals we will add a page to the website and provide links from this page.

Articles

• Armstrongs and Miss Husband, The (New 02/12/2018)
• Bischoff, Charles & Mary (New 26/03/2018)
• Blandford and Jafferson (New 30/05/2018)
• Brooks, The Brooks Family (New 30/06/2018)
• Burn, The Burn Family (New 12/10/2018)
• Carters, The (New 17/11/2018)
• Caves, The (New 11/03/2018)
• Children of the Clergy (New 21/02/2018)
• College, The (New 11/03/2018)
• Collingwoods, The (New 21/01/2019)
• Cooper, Mrs and The Perrins (New 30/05/2018)
• Dyers, The (New 29/04/2018)
• Eisdell Family (New 30/05/2018)
• Eisdell, Miss Eisdell’s Pupils (New 04/02/2019)
• Gillespies, The (New 23/09/2018)
• Grahams, The and Miss Hicks (Woodcote End House) (New 21/01/2019)
• Harsants (and Miss Young), The (New 15/02/2019)
• Head Family, The (New 07/05/2018)
• Holland Family, The (New 29/01/2019)
• Hunters, The (New 23/11/2018)
• Jenkins Family, The (New 23/09/2018)
• Jenkins and Lushington Network, The (New 10/11/2018)
• Levicks, The (New 22/02/2019)
• Martins, The (New 21/01/2019)
• Maydwells, The (New 10/11/2018)
• Maysons and Dorlings Revisited (New 02/02/2019)
• Millett Family, The (New 26/03/2018)
• Moates Family, The (New 23/09/2018)
• Morris, John Cox and Family (New 16/10/2018)
• Oddments, (Studio Photo) (New 20/01/2019)
• Pagdens, The (New 23/09/2018)
• Ponçons, The. (Church Street, Epsom) (New 02/03/2018)
• Rasch Family (New 25/04/2018)
• Rickard, Mrs Eliza (New 11/03/2018)
• Rickards Family, The (New 08/02/2019)
• Scotts, The (New 27/01/2019)
• Sharpes, The (New 12/05/2018)
• Stilwells, The (New 18/02/2019)
• Taylor, James (of Ashtead and Ewell) (New 26/10/2018)
• Trotter and Strange (New 20/11/2018)
• Ward, Joseph, and Family (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, William Fredrick (Solicitor) (New 20/01/2019)
• White, George and family (New 01/01/2019)
• Wickwar Circle, The (New 02/10/2018)
• Willis Family, The (Horton Lodge) (Amended 07/03/2019)
• Wrights, The (New 11/03/2018)
• Youngs of Downside, Epsom (New 21/02/2018)

Sitters

• Alex (New 20/01/2019)
• Andrews, Mrs Lucy Welby (New 02/02/2019)
• Armstrong, Agnes (New 02/12/2018)
• Armstrong, Grace Elizabeth, (later Johnson) (New 02/12/2018)
• Ashton, Mrs and child (New 20/01/2019)
• Ashton, Mrs (New 20/01/2019)
• Bischoff, Charles (New 26/03/2018)
• Blandford, ‘GGB’, believed to be George Gerrard Blandford (New 30/05/2018)
• Blandford, Morgan (New 30/05/2018)
• Bockett, Augusta Champneys (New 21/02/2018)
• Bockett, Julia Fanny (New 21/02/2018)
• Bockett, Rev Benjamin Bradney (New 21/02/2018)
• Britton, William Fraser Cass (New 20/01/2019)
• Brooks, Baby (New 30/06/2018)
• Brooks, Hannah (New 30/06/2018)
• Brooks, Jessie (New 30/06/2018)
• Brooks, Katherine Pascal (Mrs) (New 30/06/2018)
• Brooks, May (New 30/06/2018)
• Brooks, Walter (New 30/06/2018) also Brooks, Walter (New 21/02/2018)
• Brown, Jane (Miss) (New 02/10/2018)
• Brown, Miss (New 02/10/2018)
• Burn, Daughter of Mrs James (New 12/10/2018)
• Burn, Mary Allan (New 12/10/2018)
• Burn, Mystery Child (New 12/10/2018)
• Burn, Nephew of Miss Isabella Forsyth (New 12/10/2018)
• Burn, Robert Junior (New 12/10/2018)
• Burn, Robert, Senior (New 12/10/2018)
• Burn, Robert, (the Epsom ironmonger) (New 12/10/2018)
• Burn, Mrs (New 12/10/2018)
• Byles, Marianne Caroline (New 30/05/2018)
• Cadywold, Miss (New 20/01/2019)
• Carter, Emily (New 17/11/2018)
• Carter, Helen Catherine (New 17/11/2018)
• Carter, Mrs Eleanor and daughter Emily (New 17/11/2018)
• Cave, Agatha Sarah (New 11/03/2018)
• Collingwood, Mrs Martha (New 21/01/2019)
• Cooper, Mrs Mary Ann Cooper (New 30/05/2018)
• Dear, Mr and Mrs Arthur (New 20/01/2019)
• Dorling, Amy (New 02/02/2019)
• Dyer, Emily Jane (New 29/04/2018)
• Eger, ‘Mr Eger’ of Ripley (New 20/01/2019)
• Eisdell, Mary (New 30/05/2018)
• Eisdell, Miss Rebecca (New 30/05/2018)
• Eisdell, Rose Anna (New 30/05/2018)
• Eisdell, Miss Eisdell’s pupil (New 04/02/2019)
• Gasson, Eliza (New 23/09/2018)
• Gillespie, Louisa Maria (Mrs) (New 23/09/2018)
• Gillespies cook, (possibly Catherine Griffiths) (New 23/09/2018)
• Gillespies groom, (name unknown) (New 23/09/2018)
• Gillespies Mary, (surname unknown) (New 23/09/2018)
• Graham, Dr Thomas John (New 21/01/2018)
• Graham, Mrs Susannah (New 21/01/2018)
• Harris, Margaret Ann (New 23/09/2018)
• Harris, Miss (possibly Miss Ann Harris) (New 23/09/2018)
• Harsant, Miss and Miss Young(probably Caroline Redford Young), (New 15/02/2019)
• Haworth, ‘Miss Haworth’ of Leatherhead (New 20/01/2019)
• Head, Frank Somerville (New 07/05/2018)
• Head, Frederick William (New 07/05/2018)
• Head, Mrs Mary Jane (New 07/05/2018)
• Head, Mary Valenza (New 07/05/2018)
• Hicks, Francis (New 21/01/2018)
• Hicks, Mary (New 21/01/2018)
• Holland, Mrs Elizabeth (New 29/01/2018)
• Holland, Frederick (New 29/01/2018)
• Holland, Henry (New 29/01/2018)
• Holmes, Mrs (New 21/01/2019)
• Hookway, Miss Hookway, Alexander’s (New 20/01/2019)
• Hunter, William (New 23/11/2018)
• Husband, Miss Grace (New 02/12/2018)
• Jarvis, ‘Miss Jarvis’ (doubtful) (New 20/01/2019)
• Jenkins, Ann Eliza (Mrs) (New 23/09/2018)
• Jenkins, Fielder Junior (New 23/09/2018)
• Jenkins, Mrs Jane Crawford or ‘Miss Wardlaw’? (New 10/11/2018)
• Jenkins, Osmer (New 23/09/2018)
• Jenkins, Winifred (New 23/09/2018)
• Jerrom, Mrs Mary (New 02/02/2019)
• Jones, Sarah Vittoria (Mrs) neé Moates (New 23/09/2018)
• Keeling, Mr (New 20/01/2019)
• Killick, Miss Eliza (New 20/01/2019)
• King, Mary (New 20/01/2019)
• King, Mrs Rebecca Capstack (New 20/01/2019)
• Lawford, Possibly Isabel Margaret (New 20/01/2019)
• Lawford, Possibly Katharine Frances (New 20/01/2019)
• Lawford, Possibly Mary Evelyn (New 20/01/2019)
• Lee, Miss (possibly Bertha Mary Lee) (New 30/05/2018)
• Leith, Miss either Helen or Emily (New 20/01/2019)
• Levicks, Frederick (New 22/02/2019)
• Levicks, Herbert (New 22/02/2019)
• Levicks, Percy James and Frank (New 22/02/2019)
• Lushington, Miss (either Catherine or Elizabeth Helen Ansell) (New 10/11/2018)
• Martin, Caroline Mary (New 21/01/2018)
• Martin, Miss or Mrs E (New 01/01/2019)
• Martin, Rebecca (New 21/01/2018)
• Maule, Alfred (New 21/02/2018)
• Maule, Harry Carteret (New 21/02/2018)
• Maule, Mrs Maule/Alice Elisabeth Fanny Maule (New 21/02/2018)
• Maydwell, Miss (either Elizabeth or Letitia) (New 10/11/2018)
• Mayson, Miss Bessie or Esther (New 02/02/2019)
• Mayson, Miss Esther or Bessie (New 02/02/2019)
• Maynard, Miss Eliza (New 20/01/2019)
• Middleton, Miss (New 20/01/2019)
• Millett, Henry (New 26/03/2018)
• Millett, Mrs Maria (New 26/03/2018)
• Millett, Miss (New 08/02/2019)
• Millett, Rosaline (New 26/03/2018)
• Moates, Caroline Augusta Flora (New 23/09/2018)
• Moates, Edith Amina also Moates, Edith Amina (New 21/02/2018)
• Moates, Ellen Henrietta (New 23/09/2018)
• Moates, Emma Marian (New 23/09/2018)
• Moates, Walter Frederic (New 23/09/2018)
• Montgomery, Colonel (New 10/11/2018)
• Morris, Mrs Catherine Bridget (New 16/10/2018)
• Morris, Jane Caroline (New 16/10/2018)
• Pagden, Elizabeth Ann (Miss) (New 23/09/2018)
• Pagden, Frederic also Pagden, Frederic (New 23/09/2018)
• Patient, Charles (New 23/09/2018)
• Ponçon, Alfred Augustin (New 02/03/2018)
• Potts, ‘Mr Potts’ (doubtful) (New 20/01/2019)
• Potts, Mrs (New 20/01/2019)
• Rasch, Mary Louisa Rasch (New 25/04/2018)
• Rattray, Thomas (New 10/11/2018)
• Rickard, Mrs Eliza (New 11/03/2018)
• Rickards, Edith Cordelia (New 08/02/2019)
• Rickards, Eleanor Laura (New 08/02/2019)
• Rickards, Geraldine (New 08/02/2019)
• Rickards, Mrs Harriet Louisa (New 08/02/2019)
• Rickards, Lionel Edward (Probably) (New 08/02/2019)
• Rymer, Charles John (New 02/10/2018)
• Rymer, Sophia (New 02/10/2018)
• Scott, Mrs Ann (New 27/01/2019)
• Scott, Edward (New 27/01/2019)
• Sharpe, Master John William (New 12/05/2018)
• Smith, Miss Amelia Tomlin (New 20/01/2019)
• Smith, Miss Emily (New 20/01/2019)
• Smith, Miss Fanny Mary (New 20/01/2019)
• Smith, Mrs Amelia (New 20/01/2019)
• Smith, William (New 20/01/2019)
• Stilwell, Miss Ann Louisa or Miss Agnes Maria (New 18/02/2019)
• Stilwell, Mrs Jane Catherine (New 18/02/2019)
• Taylor, James (New 26/10/2018)
• Taylor, Mrs (Mary Greer) (New 26/10/2018)
• Telfer, Charles Edward Drummond (New 10/11/2018)
• Telfer, James Drummond (New 10/11/2018)
• Telfer, Mrs Jane Helen (New 10/11/2018)
• Thornton, Caroline Elizabeth (New 21/02/2018)
• Travers, One of the Travers boys, either Otho Robert or William Howard (New 21/02/2018)
• Trotter, Alexander (New 20/11/2018)
• Trotter, John (probably) (New 20/11/2018)
• Waetzig, Miss Augusta (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, Elizabeth (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, Emily (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, Jane Goude, Mrs (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, John Edmund (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, Joseph (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, Margarette, Mrs (New 20/01/2019)
• Ward, William Fredrick (New 20/01/2019)
• ‘Wardlaw’, Miss or Jenkins, Mrs Jane Crawford ? (New 10/11/2018)
• Watchon/Watchorn, Mary Elizabeth (New 23/11/2018)
• Watson, Agnes Mary (Miss) (New 02/10/2018)
• Watson, Edward Joseph (New 02/10/2018)
• Watson, Elizabeth (Miss) (New 02/10/2018)
• Watson, Elizabeth (Mrs) (New 02/10/2018)
• Watson, Joseph (New 02/10/2018)
• Watson, Mary Teresa (Miss) (New 02/10/2018)
• Wheeler, Mr Wheeler, The College (New 20/01/2019)
• Wheeler, Elizabeth (New 20/01/2019)
• White, George Henry (probably) (New 01/01/2019)
• White, Jane Mrs (New 01/01/2019)
• Wickwar, Ann Mrs (Snr) (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, Francis (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, James (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, Joseph (Jnr) (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, Joseph (Snr) (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, Joseph James (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, Mary Ann (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, Vincent Richard (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, William (New 02/10/2018)
• Wickwar, William Joseph (New 02/10/2018)
• Wilkins, Miss (New 04/02/2019)
• Willis, A child of the Willis family (New 15/02/2019)
• Willis, Henry Junior (New 15/02/2019)
• Willis, Louisa (New 15/02/2019)
• Willis, Matilda (Probably) (New 15/02/2019)
• Willis, Robert (New 15/02/2019)
• Willis, Miss and Miss Leith (New 20/01/2019)
• Willmot, Miss (New 20/01/2019)
• Wilson, Miss Emily Ann (New 20/01/2019)
• Woodward, Mrs Richard (née Engel) (New 30/05/2018)
• Woodward, William (New 30/05/2018)
• Woolston, either Emily Harriet or Ellen Maria (New 04/02/2019)
• Woolston, possibly the other Miss Woolston (New 04/02/2019)
• Wright, Daphne (New 11/03/2018)
• Wright, Mrs Sarah Wright (New 11/03/2018)
• Young, James (New 21/02/2018)
• Young, Supposedly Master John Henry (New 21/02/2018)
• Young, Miss (New 20/01/2019)
• Young Miss (probably Caroline Redford Young) and Miss Harsant (New 15/02/2019)

Peter Reed 2018