Inspired by Marilyn's recent post of a newspaper article on Sepia Saturday's Facebook page about the dilemma of whether or not to save photos of unknown relatives, my contribution this week presents a series of cabinet portraits that have been "saved" from the skip, and may yet be identified, thanks to the habits of an early 20th century photographer.
Although certainly not unique (see W.W. Winter and Pollard Graham, both of Derby), it is rare to find a photographer who meticulously recorded the negative number and surname of every customer on the back of each portrait print that he supplied, but the Barr Brothers seemed to have just done that - at least with all 7 examples in my collection.
William Banister Barr was born in 1877, one of eight children of a Liverpool ironmonger. In early 1897 he briefly tried his hand as an apprentice merchant seaman aboard the ship Irby out of Liverpool. He later joined up as a gunner with the Royal Horse Artillery, but by March 1901 was a patient at the Royal Herbert Hospital in Woolwich, adjacent to the artillery barracks, presumably recuperating from some illness, as it appears unlikely he served with the unit in the Anglo-Boer War.
Cabinet card by Barr Bros, Portland Studio, Nottingham & Cardiff, c.1905
inscribed "15786 Dalby" - taken c. 1905-1907
Image © copyright and collection Brett Payne
| In the 1911 census, only two male children with the surname Dalby and appropriate ages are recorded as living in the town of Nottingham: - William Hector Dalby, aged 13, son of Frank John Birch Dalby, a builder's foreman - Samuel Dalby, aged 10, son of Edward Dalby, a builder's labourer Could one of these two be him, I wonder? |
In early 1904 he was working as a photographer, with premises at 1 Portland Road, Nottingham. By the time the above cabinet portrait of a young boy in a smart velvet suit was taken around 1905-1907, slightly let down by the studio's scruffy pot plant and rustic chair, it appears his younger brother Harold Cowper Barr (1879-1958) had joined him in the business. The card mount lists a branch studio at 47 Queen Street, Cardiff, which was operating in a building known as City Chambers for several years between 1907 and 1911. Harold was living in Cardiff in April 1911, and had presumably operated the southern arm of the business for some years.
Cabinet card by Portland Studios, Leicester & Nottingham
inscribed "26794 Gregory" - taken c. 1906-1907
Image © copyright and collection Brett Payne
| Unfortunately Gregory was just too common a surname in Leicester and Nottingham (at least 13 of approximately the right age) for me to come up with any decent candidates for this woman. |
In July 1905, when William was married at Fairfield, Lancashire, he was living in Birmingham and had studio premises in 52 New Street. He moved to 213 Moseley Road, Aston in 1906 and his first two sons were born there in 1906 and 1907. Within a couple of years, the "Barr Brothers" name was dropped from card mounts, and it simply became known as the Portland Studio, although the stylised ornate "B" monogram remained and they continued the use of their surname in trade listings. In 1908 William moved again, occupying a studio at 46, Imperial Buildings, Dale End.
Some time between 1904 and c.1908 they also briefly operated a studio at 68 Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London N.W.
Cabinet card by Portland Studios, Leicester & Nottingham
inscribed "32708 Tomlinson" - taken c. 1907-1908
Image © copyright and collection Brett Payne
| There were even more candidates for Ms. Tomlinson, so all I can hope for is that someone, someday, will recognise her. |
In 1908 a trade directory listed "Barr Bros" with premises at 20 Granby Street, Leicester, but despite the number of examples using the address in my collection it could not have lasted for very long, since by 1909 a photographer named Harry Clare was operating from that address. Of course it is conceivable that Harry Clare had previously been working for the Barr Brothers.
Cabinet card by Portland Studios, Leicester & Nottingham
inscribed "34562 Widdowson" - taken c. 1907-1908
Image © copyright and collection Brett Payne
| The Widdowsons were likewise prolific in Nottinghams and Leicester, making any identification of this slightly older woman difficult, if not impossible, without further information. |
The Barr Brothers had established a branch studio at 83a Bold Street, Liverpool as early as 1908, mosing to 103 Smithdown Road the following year. The Nottingham studio appears to have closed in 1908 or early 1909, and by 1910 listings for the Cardiff studio showed the head office of the business, presumably under the hand of William, as being located in Liverpool. William's third son was born at Hoylake, Cheshire in July that year, and by April 1911 the family was living at 107 Smithdown Road, Liverpool. William Barr described himself as a "master photographer" and an employer.
Cabinet card by Portland Studios, Leicester & Nottingham
inscribed "34683 Tomlinson" - taken c. 1907-1908
Image © copyright and collection Brett Payne
| A second portrait of Ms. Tomlinson, a few months after the first, and this time it is full length. |
Barr Bros. disappear from sight for the next few years, but the existence of branches in Belfast (109 Donegall Street) and London (132 Dalston Lane, N.E.) is suggested by the addresses on cabinet card mounts deduced to be from the pre-War period. I have also seen a postcard portrait of a merchant seaman, probably pre-War, that is blind stamped, "Portland Studio, 250 High St, S. Tottenham."
Cabinet card by Portland Studios, Leicester & Nottingham
inscribed "34772 Ellis" - taken c. 1907-1908
Image © copyright and collection Brett Payne
| Young Mr Ellis could be any one of a number of candidates. |
William Barr enlisted in the army in June 1916, and was called up for service for months later, at which time he gave his occupation as "photographer." Almost forty years of age, he spent the war in England with various units and was finally demobilised in March 1919.
Cabinet card by Portland Studios, Leicester & Nottingham
inscribed "35159 Pack (or Park)" - taken c. 1908-1909
Image © copyright and collection Brett Payne
| I found a James Park, aged 21, working as a shoe hand in the Lasting Department of a factory in Leicester, in the 1911 census. |
I have no firm evidence that William Barr returned to the photographic profession after the war. He died at Liverpool in 1949.
A list of studios known to have been operated by the Barr Brothers, not necessarily complete, so if you have any further information, please email me.
| 1904 | William Banister Barr, 1 Portland Road, Nottingham |
| c.1905-1908 | Barr Brothers, 1 Portland Road, Nottingham (Portland Studio) |
| 1905-1906 | William Banister Barr, 52 New Street, Birmingham |
| 1905 | William Banister Barr, 17 Lawrence Hill, Bristol |
| c. 1906-1907 | Barr Brothers, 68 Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London N.W. |
| 1906-1907 | William Banister Barr, 213 Moseley Road, Aston, Birmingham |
| c. 1907-1909 | Barr Brothers, 109 Donegall Street, Belfast |
| c. 1907-1909 | Barr Brothers, 138 Dalston Lane, London N.E. |
| 1907-1911 | Barr Brothers, City Chambers, 47 Queen Street, Cardiff (Queen Studio) |
| 1908 | William Banister Barr, 46 Imperial Buildings, Dale End, Birmingham |
| 1908 | Barr Brothers, 20 Granby Street, Leicester |
| 1908 | Barr Brothers, 83a Bold Street, Liverpool |
| 1909-1918 | Barr Brothers, 103 Smithdown Road, Liverpool |
| 1910 | Barr Brothers, 39 (or 33) High Street, Merthyr Tydfil |
| 1910 | Barr Brothers, Market St, Llanelly |
| 1910 | Barr Brothers, 29 High Street, Newport |
| 1910-1914 | Barr Brothers, 79 Taff St, Pontypridd |
| c.1912-1914 | Barr Brothers, 250 High Street, S. Tottenham |
| 1913 | Barr Brothers, Regent Street, Wrexham (Queen Studios) |
| 1913 | Barr Brothers, 88a Church Street, St Helens |
References
Alderman, Mari (2006) Victorian Professional Photographers in Wales, 1850-1925, publ. online by GENUKI
Aston, C.E. John, Hallett, Michael & McKenna, Joseph (1987) Professional Photographers in Birmingham, 1842-1914, Supplement No. 116 to The PhotoHistorian, publ. Royal Photographic Society Historical Group.
Heathcote, Bernard & Heathcote, Pauline (n.d.) Pioneers of Photography in Nottinghamshire, 1841-1910, publ. by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Heathcote, Bernard V. & Heathcote, Pauline F. (n.d.) Leicester Photographic Studios in Victorian & Edwardian Times, publ. Royal Photographic Society Historical Group.
Hicks, Gareth (2003) Glamorgan Photographers (database), publ. online by GENUKI
Holland, Paul (n.d.) Chester & North East Wales Photographers, personal web site.
Jones, Gillian (2004) Lancashire Professional Photographers, 1840-1940, publ. by PhotoResearch.
Vaughan, Roger (2003) Bristol Photographers, 1852-1972, personal web site.
