Friday 28 October 2011

Sepia Saturday 98: Cart, Coach and Carriage Drivers and the Day Excursion

Image © and courtesy of Marion Oubhie
Reverse of card mount by George Renwick, Burton-on-Trent
Image © and courtesy of Marion Oubhie

Marion Oubhie sent me an image of an unidentified man, possibly from her Showell family, asking if I could estimate a date. It is a standard carte de visite by the Burton-upon-Trent (Staffordshire) studio of George Renwick. From the design of the card mount (see image below) and the negative number, I believe that the photograph was produced around 1883-1885.

Image © and courtesy of Marion Oubhie
Unidentified man with a whip, c. late 1870s/early 1880s
Carte de visite portrait by George Renwick, Burton-on-Trent
Image © and courtesy of Marion Oubhie

The date of the portrait sitting is a little more difficult to estimate, partly because the studio setting and furniture are not visible, but also because my knowledge of the subject of men's clothing fashions is meagre. It is possible that the subject sat for the portrait in the early to mid-1880s, as suggested by the mount, but I think it more likely that it is actually a copy of a slightly earlier photograph, taken perhaps in the mid- to late 1870s. Perhaps the man visited a studio first in the late 1870s, and then ordered a further copy of the portrait half a dozen or so years later.

I was intrigued with the object in the man's right hand, which appears to be a whip and suggests an occupation involving driving a team of horses or draft animals. He was probably a wagon, coach or carriage driver. Marion's Showell ancestors were agricultural or brewer's labourers and farmers, so it seems likely that this man drove a wagon transporting farm produce or supplies for the brewing industry in Burton.

Image © and courtesy of Linda Snyder
William Mottram and his daughter Sarah, c. late 1860s/early 1870s
Carte de visite portrait by John Clark of Matlock Bath
Image © and courtesy of Linda Snyder

These two images sent to me by Linda Snyder, and taken by Matlock Bath photographer John Clark, portray an occupation which is far less equivocal. William Mottram (c.1813-1879) is shown as an ostler in the 1861 Census, and as a labourer ten years later, but Linda tells me that he was employed as a coachman at the time these portraits were taken.

Image © and courtesy of Linda Snyder
William Mottram, c. late 1860s/early 1870s
Carte de visite portrait by John Clark of Matlock Bath
Image © and courtesy of Linda Snyder

The clothing certainly gives that impression, with the short ornamented jacket, top hat and leather riding boots. He also has a special leather side flap fastened with buckles to the outer side of his lower right leg, presumably to protect his boots, clothes and calves from the horses harness or something similar. I'm sure there's a name for these, something like leggings or chaps, although neither of those terms seem to quite fit this item.

Image © and courtesy of Linda SnyderImage © and courtesy of Linda Snyder
Reverse of card mounts, John Clark of Matlock Bath

Although clearly taken at the same sitting the card mounts used for these two portraits are different. Together with the studio setting and clothing and hair styles of the young woman, the card designs suggest to me that the portrait was taken in the late 1860s or very early 1870s. Sarah would have turned 18 years old in late 1871 or early 1872.

Image © and courtesy of Ann Bruce

The last image in this series was sent to me by Ann Bruce, whose great-grandparents James and Ann Smith (nee Gosling), he standing up in the carriage, are about to head off on a day's excursion from Aberystwyth. They lived in Smethwick, near Birmingham so would have travelled by train to the coastal town in north Wales, and stayed in a hotel there before taking the excursion. Unfortunately the driver is mostly hidden by a passenger in the front seat anxious to show his best side to the camera.

From the size of the "leg of mutton" sleeves of the dresses that the two visible women members of the party are wearing, I estimate the photograph to have been taken in the mid-1890s. The number "935" appears to have been written in black ink on the negative, this printing out white on the print. The photographer is likely to have handed out tickets with this number printed to members of the excursion party, and they would no doubt have been able to buy a print upon their return, much as Bailey did in Bournemouth between the wars (Sepia Saturday 92: All Aboard the Bournemouth Queen). It also suggests that the photographer was a regular habitue of excursion parties, and it may well be that there are other such photographs surviving out there. Actually, I'm being somewhat disingenuous, because I have already featured an Aberystwyth excursion photo by Gyde, using an identical card mount, and with the negative number "1139," on Photo-Sleuth three years ago.

I see there is a second, as yet unoccupied, horse drawn carriage behind the first, presumably waiting for the next party to arrive, and I suspect that the large, double storey building in the background was some sort of inn or hotel. There is something behind and to the left of the main carriage, but I can't work out exactly what it is. The printing on it, "THE DE... WATER ... AND G..." is tantalising, but as yet unrevealing.

Thank you very much Marion, Linda and Ann for these excellent examples of occupational photographs, which have slotted nicely into my take on this week's Sepia Saturday theme. I trust you will now head over there to check out what the other slaves to sepia have on offer.

11 comments:

  1. I can’t stop thinking about that sign now Brett! It’s like a crossword but with not enough clues. I do hope you find the answer. Water and grain springs to mind for some reason.

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  2. That looks like an "R" after the "G"--could be grain. "DE" could be depot.

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  3. Husband has suggested The Denbighshire/Derbyshire (or similar) Water and Gas Company

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  4. Like Little Nell, I was captivated by the word puzzle. I think her husband's suggestion has merit.

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  5. Wonderful photographs and descriptions as usual. One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is how much people traveled in the late 1800s. Excursions were time-consuming and yet people were able to make the time for them.

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  6. This sent on a sleuthing trip to look for that 'leg guard' name. Had a lot of fun, but didn't find an answer! LOL

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  7. The secret word is - Spatterdash

    or perhaps
    Gaiter

    Terrific photos and story. The genre of occupational photos is filled with fun puzzles and mysteries like these.

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  8. Interesting photos of men with whips.

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  9. Thanks all for your sleuthing and suggestions.

    Little Nell's husband - I think you have it.

    Mike - I think you have it too.

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  10. Wonderful contribution to Sepia Saturday - great images, fascinating write-up : but ny now I expect nothing less from you.

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  11. the coachman is definitely my favorite, but I did enjoy every word here.

    "slaves to sepia"...
    that's a nice one!!
    :)~
    HUGZ

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