England's First Provincial Photographic Studios

In June 1841, Richard Beard claimed to have “disposed of licences for Liverpool, Brighton, Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham and Plymouth”. The first provincial photographic studio in England was opened on 31st July 1841 at Plymouth. A second daguerreotype studio was opened in Bristol on 10th August 1841. In September, 1841 Photographic Institutions were established at Cheltenham and Liverpool. On Saturday 2nd October, Alfred Barber opened a photographic portrait studio in Nottingham. The proprietors of these new “Photographic Institutions” required considerable capital. To operate in the town of Nottingham, Alfred Barber was expected to pay a total of £1,220, made up of a down payment of £450, a first instalment of £50, followed by three separate quarterly instalments of £240. The Licence which covered Liverpool and a ten mile area around the city was fixed at £2,500.

William Constable's Photographic Institution in Brighton

William Constable had paid £1,000 to Beard for a licence to take daguerreotype portraits in Brighton. Constable opened his Photographic Institution to the public on Monday 8th November 1841. Before the week was over, Constable wrote to his sister Susanna and gave a progress report on his new enterprise:

“I opened my concern of business last Monday – for the first day or two I took but very little money indeed . . . I could not help feeling anxious and nervous, although the result was what I reasonably ought to have expected – But I feel every day that I am growing in notice and have no doubt that I am gaining a very fast and respectable foothold here . . . I am crowded with visitors all day – from 11 to 4 . . . there is nothing against me but the lateness of the season.”

William Constable seated in front of Cruikshank's 1842 picture of an early daguerreotype studio.

 

1

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUESeasonal Visitors To Brighton

 

Website last updated: 23 December, 2002

 

This website is dedicated to the memory of Arthur T. Gill (1915-1987), Sussex Photohistorian

 




Home Page, Directory of Photographic Studios, A-Z Index of Photographers, History of Photography in Brighton,
Dating Old Family Photographs, Victorian and Edwardian Brighton, Location of Brighton Studios, Glossary of Terms

Photographers' Biographies


   

 

Spartacus Educational Privacy Policy