Smaller Sizes of Portrait - Photographers in England - Yorkshire and Humberside Region

We have divided England into Geographical Regions in order to keep the page sizes manageable for our listings of stickyback photographers. All the regions are listed here. Within each regional page, practitioners are listed by location alphabetically. If you are looking for a practitioner by name, start with our page "Smaller sizes of portrait photographers by name"

Yorkshire and the Humber Region, includes: South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire. Locations included so far include: Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Scarborough, Sheffield

BRADFORD

Address: not known
Possible practitioner: PIKE, ?, 83 Stratford Road Manchester
Operating dates: 1904
References: The Era - Saturday 17 December 1904 P27."Wanted Sticky Backs on sharing terms in good positions Bradford and Manchester. Applicants must be able to provide everything except room and gas. Room for other novs (sic) on same terms. Pike, 83 Stratford Road Manchester."

Address: 1 Hallfield Arcade, Manningham Lane, Bradford in 1912; 53 Manningham Lane, Bradford, Yorkshire, (1917-1922)
Possible practitioner: TAYLOR, Benjamin Sandford (1881-1958)
Operating dates: 1907-1939
References and information: Benjamin Sandford Taylor was the son of Jesse Taylor, a boot maker, later a farmer and boot maker. In 1901 Benjamin was living with his half brother, Edwin Hamnett Taylor, and his family. His brother was a grocer and provision dealer and Benjamin was shown with the same occupation, possibly working for his older sibling. A few years later, at the time of his marriage in 1907, Benjamin's occupation was shown as a photographer. Benjamin would appear to have been something of an entrepreneur, actively involved with a number of firms in his own and different names. Benjamin appears in the Bradford PO Directory of 1912 in an entry for a photographer by the name of Hamnet, at 1 Hallfield Arcade, Manningham Lane. After the entry the name "B.S.Taylor" appears in brackets, suggesting that he was the manager or operator of the studio. Research so far has failed to show who was behind the studio with the rather unusual name of Hamnett. But, the maiden name of the first wife of Benjamin's father (i.e. Benjamin's step mother) was Hamnett, and this was also the second given name of two of his half brothers. This might suggest that Benjamin either joined a relative's business, or possibly that he had his own business to which he gave a familiar name. Either way, the Hamnett business operated from more than one location and its addresses included: 197 Bristol Street Birmingham, (1904-21, between 1904-12 named 'Hamnett Photographers', then 1913-21 'Hamnett Ltd photographers'); Infirmary Street Bradford; 2 Newport Street Bolton (Hamnett and Co), 45 Market Street Colne 1908 (Hamnett). Benjamin's name crops up in association with another photographic business, that of Benjamin Stanford Ltd. As this name comprises Benjamin's two given names, it seems likely that this was his company. This is confirmed by two entries in The Gazette in 1909 and 1916 when the company went into voluntary liquidation. These showed B.S.Taylor as the Chairman and liquidator and the two notices also included his addresses: 1 Hallfield Arcade (1909) and 53, Manningham Lane Bradford (1916). Surviving cabinet photographs produced by Benjamin Stanford show the following addresses printed on the reverse of the mount:
Head Office and Finishing Works 1 Hallfield Arcade, Manningham Lane, Bradford
Branches
28 King Cross Street, Halifax
17 Hanover Lane off Park Lane, Leeds
The Walk Chambers, Rochdale
Arcade Studio Kirkgate Wakefield
Borough Chambers St Petersgate Stockport
133 High Street Stockton on Tees
45 Market Street Colne
Later directory entries for 1917 and 1922 show Benjamin operating as a photographer in his own full name at 53 Manningham Lane, Bradford. In the 1939 Register, Benjamin was at 118 Manningham Lane Bradford, occupation "photographer and photo dealer". When he died in 1958 his address was I Ashbourne Gardens, Bolton, Bradford.

Benjamin had developed a very inexpensive line in portraiture as shown by the example below. This photograph, probably from the 1920s, measuring 43 x 84mm, is a full length portrait of an unknown teenage girl standing by a rustic wooden three-legged table. On the reverse is part of a postcard back with the photographer's name along the centre "B.Sandford Taylor, 53 Manningham Lane, Bradford". This shows that the photograph was printed "three-up" on postcard stock then cut into three by the customer. This photograph is reproduced with the kind permission of Ron Cosens www.cartedevisite.co.uk. The customised postcard stock suggests that Benjamin probably also produced portraits in postcard format or produced real photograph postcards of other subjects.
A and G Taylor, the largest photographers in England at the time, had a studio at Manningham Lane 1881-1912, but there does not seem to be any connection with B.S.Taylor.
Professional Photographers in Bradford 1843 - 1900 Supplement to Photo Historian by KIP Adamson ARPS
https://sites.google.com/site/leedsandbradfordstudios/home
The London Gazette, 18 June 1909 Issue: 28261 Page: 4705.
The London Gazette, 25 August 1916 Issue: 29723 Page: 8423

Address: Manningham Lane Bradford
Possible practitioner: CORK and SCOTT
Operating dates: c 1894-1904 at this address
References See below stamp size photo mounted in cheap cream card carte de visite sized mount with aperture and narrow red borders. Photo stuck in place behind aperture with a blank paper cover slip. On face of mount "Cork and Scott Manningham Lane, Bradford" reverse blank.Professional Photographers in Bradford 1843 - 1900 Supplement to Photo Historian by KIP Adamson ARPS
https://sites.google.com/site/leedsandbradfordstudios/home

Address: 106 Westgate Bradford,
Possible practitioner: not currently known
Operating dates: probably briefly at some point between 1907-1910
References: See below albumen print 67mm x 93mm (approx half post card sized) oval cameo portrait of an unknown young woman in a large hat. The reverse has a circular rubber stamp with the legend "Elite Studio", 106 Westgate, Bradford. This is reproduced from the collection of Ron Cosens (www.cartedevisite.co.uk) with his kind permission. This address and studio does not appear in local directories or in Keith Adamson's "Professional Photographers in Bradford 1843-1900", suggesting that it may only have been in operation for a short period.

Address: 151 Westgate Bradford, Yorkshire See Richard Parker Estabrooke and the Anglo American Photographic Co Fleet Street London.

HALIFAX

Address: 26 Crown Street, Halifax
Possible practitioner: BOULTWOOD, SIDNEY
Operating dates: 1914-15
References: Stickybacks Studio, 26 Crown Street, Halifax , 1914-15. One of Sidney Boultwood's Sticky Back Studios, listed on David Simkin's excellent site on Sussex Photographers at www.photohistory-sussex.co.uk/BoultwoodStickyBacksStudio.htm where you will find the full history of Sidney Boultwood (1882-1958) and his family

Address: 12 Waterhouse Street, Halifax
Possible Practitioner: MURRELL, Henry
Operating dates: late 1890s to 1927 at least
References: See below, portrait of unknown young woman. The image size is 0.9 x 1.2 inches, pasted onto a white card mount embossed with foliage. The image appears to be from the late 1890s / early 1900s. The mount has been roughly cut down to 1.4 x 2.3 inches, presumably to fit into an album or frame. Below this is a stamp sized portrait of an unknown young man in a suit and eton collar, mounted on a white card mount embossed with a botanic pattern and in the lower right hand corner is the text "H Murrell, 12 Waterhouse St, Halifax". The mount measures 2.3 x 3.1 inches and the reverse is blank. This probably dates from around 1910. The RPS Supplement on Professional Photographers in Halifax and Huddersfield 1843-1900 has no Murrell listed. It does however list for this same address, Edward Gregson and Son, photographers, 12 Waterhouse St, Halifax, from 1887 - 1894. Henry Murrell appears in the 1927 Kelly's Directory as a photographer at 12 Waterhouse Street, Halifax.

Address: 2 Waterhouse St, Halifax. Other addresses 8 Grosvenor Terrace Halifax 1891, 45 Hare St Halifax 1901, 123 Parkinson Lane Halifax 1904, 25 Holly Grove, Halifax 1911
Possible Practitioner: WILD, Arthur Vincent. (1852-1916)
Operating dates 1899-1912
References: See below mounted photograph of an unknown young woman is large feathered hat, c.1910. The stamp-sized photograph measures 1.1 x 0.8 inches. The mount measures 2.3 x 3.1 inches. The white mount has an embossed floral border. Impressed beneath the image is "A.Vincent Wild Hx" - this impressed text is part of the manufacture of the mount and is not made by a hand embossing machine. The photograph is simply stuck onto the face of the mount; the reverse of the mount is blank. Arthur Vincent Wild is listed by Keith Adamson in his "Halifax Photographers 1843 to 1900" as operating at 2 Waterhouse Street, Halifax, 1899-1912. Arthur was shown in the 1891 census as a self employed carver and gilder at 8 Grosvenor Terrace, Halifax, living with his wife Lily, sons William Carey Wild and Wallace Wild and daughter Millicent Wild. In 1901 the family were at 45 Hare Street and Arthur was a photographer and an employer; his son, Wallace, was a photographer's assistant. In 1911 the family was at 25 Holly Grove Halifax. Arthur was still a photographer and an employer, but his son Wallace had become an insurance agent. Arthur submitted 5 of his views of Halifax to Stationers Hall for copyright purposes in January 1904 and his address was then shown as 123 Parkinson Lane Halifax (TNA Copy 1/469/220-224). It would appear that Arthur was an artist as well as a photographer, providing high-end portraits as well as affordable midget photos. In 1905, funded by public subscription, he painted a portrait of the late Mr William Greenwood, a leading spiritualist. The Todmorden and District News 15 Sept 1905 p2 reported: "painting a picture the deceased gentleman was placed in the hands of Mr. A. Vincent Wild, Halifax, who has faithfully portrayed lifelike features, and these have been enclosed in a massive gilt frame, which bears the following inscription; William Greenwood. Presented the Sowerby-bridge Lyceum by his colleagues the Spiritualist National Union, in memory of one who loved and served his followers well."

HARROGATE

Address: Princes Colonade, Harrogate
Possible practitioner: Horlington, W.H.
Operating dates:
References and further information: See below an example photograph 1.7 x 1.8 inches of a family group of four, in a card mount 3 x 4 inches with wrap round cover and tissue protection. The photo is stuck behind an oval aperture and is poorly centred. The mount has "W.H.Horlington, Princes Colonade, Harrogate" printed in the lower right corner.c.1910? No further details of this photographer have been found. There was a photographer William Henry Horlington listed in the Kelly's Directory of Durham in 1890 and 1902, who may be the same person.

HUDDERSFIELD

Address: 6 South Parade Studion, Huddersfield
Possible Practitioner: PENTNEY, John Thomas. (1856-1937)
Operating dates: 1897 - 1936
References: See below an example midget carte of an unknown teenage girl. The grey card mount measures 1.4 x 2.25 inches and the photograph on it 1.2 x 1.9 inches. The reverse has a rubber stamped scroll design with the text "J.Thos Pentney, Photographer, South Parade Studio, Huddersfield". Listed at the above address on the above dates in the RPS Historical Group listing for Halifax and Huddersfield. 1881, 1901 1911 census returns.

HULL

Address: 293 Holderness Road, Hull 1909-10; 299 Holderness Rd Hull 1919; 285 Holderness Rd Hull 1920
Possible practitioner: GIBSON, Miss Alice Maud
Operating dates: 1909-20
Information and references: Michael Pritchard in "Victorian and Edwardian Photographers in Kingston upon Hull and Beverley", published by the RPS Historical Group lists Alice at the above address 1909-10. She is also listed in the Kelly's Directory 1913. In the 1919 Kelly's Directory she is listed as a photographer at 299 Holderness Rd. See below a cheap photographic print, printed two-up on postcard backed stock, 2.6 x 3.4 inches. The image is a cameo portrait of a young woman in naval uniform, with "HMS Pembroke" on her cap (shore barracks at Chatham). Printed across the base, part of the photographic image, is the text "Alice Gibson 293 Holderness Road, Hull". A number of real photo postcard portraits by Alice Gibson survive, suggesting that this was her normal format. The Hull Daily Mail, Tuesday 5 October 1920, recorded a fire at 285 Holderness Road at premises being converted into two shops, for Alice Gibson, photographer, and Johnson Bros, dyers. A workman caused a gas leak which was ignited by a light.

Address: City Studio, Midland Street, Hull
Possible practitioner: Believed to be DUNCAN,William Harper (1874-1944)
Operating dates: c 1900 - 1919
Information and references: Hull Daily Mail 21 May 1906 carries an advertisement on page 5. "Photography - wanted at once, Assistant, used to stamp and midget business - apply City Studio Midland Street, Hull.". In the same newspaper on 11 December 1906, City Studio, Midland Street, advertised for sale "large selection greeting cards for stamp and midget photos from 6d per dozen". The only photographer listed in Midland Street at this time in "Victorian and Edwardian Photographers in Kingston upon Hull and Beverley", by Michael Pritchard, published by the RPS Historical Group, is
Duncan, William Hooper, 47 Anlaby Rd and Midland Street 1900
Duncan, William Hooper, Midland Street 1901-6
Duncan, William Hooper, 15 Anlaby Rd and Midland Street 1907-8
Duncan, William Hooper, 15 Anlaby Rd 1909-13
Also Duncan W A, 15 Anlaby Rd 1904-6
Other small advertisements in local newspapers show that Duncan was producing cheap work. Hull Daily Mail 5 March 1908 p5, "Photography - for sale midget camera and lense, lamp for artificial light portraits, backgrounds, etc apply Duncan 15 Anlaby Rd Hull.". Hull Daily Mail - Monday 23 March 1908 "For sale midget camera lense and printing frames. About 250 pieces of glass 12 in x 10 in. (clean) apply Duncan 15 Anlaby Rd Hull." Hull Daily Mail - Monday 19 December 1910 p5, " Xmas photograph mounts, midgets, panels, postcard size, 1s per dozen: orders for Christmas taken to Thursday 22nd. Duncan, Anlaby Rd."
Duncan's correct name was William Harper Duncan, b Hull in 1874. Kellys 1913 directory lists him as a photographer at 15 Anlaby Rd, home address 3 Cholmley street. Kelly's 1919 Directory lists him as a photographer at 15 Anlaby Rd, home address 17 Arlington Street. In the 1911 census William Harper Duncan, photographer, b. Hull 1874 was at 3 Cholmley Street with his wife Louisa, a son and a daughter and a live-in servant. Kellys 1899 lists William Harper Duncan as part of Watson and Duncan photographers, 47 Anlaby Road.

W.H.Duncan was clearly a talented photographer, producing quality photographs as well as smaller format cheap work. The cabinet photograph below makes this point, depicting an unknown lady unusually posed uncomfortably on the arm of a chair c.1910-15, on a plain grey card mount. (reproduced with permission from the collection of Paul Manning - if you recognise the sitter from your own family album please make contact).

Address: 29 Prospect Street, Hull
Possible Practitioner: Either Miss F MITCHELL or John OSBOURNE (see below)
Operating dates: c 1907-
References: The British Journal of Photography 7 December 1906, p.ii carries an advertisement: "Midgets. Wanted young married couple for management. Able to re-touch, spot, operate, print etc. Also young man as general assistant. Only those used to the business required. Photo specimens, refs to Manager, 29 Prospect Street, Hull." "Victorian and Edwardian Photographers in Kingston upon Hull and Beverley", by Michael Pritchard, published by the RPS Historical Group gives two possibilities for photographers at this address:

• Miss F Mitchell in 1907. A local directory entry for 1907 at first sight makes her the most likely occupant in December 1906. To date nothing further is known about this photographer.
• John Osbourne (1870-1921) from 1908-10 - but, given that directory entries probably lag a year or more behind the event, make him another possibility for December 1906. John Osbourne was the son of photographer Alfred Twigge Osbourne (1847-1900). The family had been in business as Hull photographers from at least 1891, and had other premises in Norfolk Street from 1904-09. The December 1906 advertisement could have marked them opening a second studio and setting this up for cheap work in the form of Midget cartes.

We await the discovery of midget cartes from this address in order to firm up the details of this studio.

Address: 17 King Edward Street, Hull
Possible Practitioner: Currently unknown, trading as "Stickybacks"
Operating dates: June 1913 - no later than June 1914
Information and references: Hull Daily Mail 27 June 1913 p6 "Stickybacks, 17 King Edward Street, Hull. In order to advertise our American Automatic process of photography by presenting this coupon to the lady at the desk you are entitled to 1 dozen lifelike photographs of yourself for 3d (half price) Save this Coupon, the value of which is 3d and don't forget to bring it with you, Every picture lifelike and guaranteed perfect" This advertisement ran in Hull until 30 June 1913.There are no photographers listed at this address in the 1913 Kelly's Directory of N and E Ridings of Yorkshire. This advertisement is very similar to the advertisement just two months earlier for a new stickyback studio in Causewayhead, Penzance, Cornwall. It is also very similar to an advertisement in 1911 for a studio opening at 127 North End Croydon. "Victorian and Edwardian Photographers in Kingston upon Hull and Beverley", by Michael Pritchard, published by the RPS Historical Group does not list any photographer at 17 King Edward St. This address was the head office of the Ma-Bu-Te Dairy Co Ltd at least from March 29 1912, but by June 1913 the Dairy Co was already on the way to a voluntary winding up, so the Stickyback firm may well have had a short lease while the Dairy company's affairs were settled. ( Notice of winding-up The London Gazette: 2 September 1913 Issue: 28752 Page: 6284). By 15 June 1914 number 17 King Edward Street,was occupied by Macdonald's Dental Surgery, who were offering a sitting room and balcony to rent to observe the procession at the forthcoming Royal Visit to Hull that month by King George and Queen Mary. (Hull Daily Mail, 15 June 1914 p1.) Seen for sale in Jan 2021 a stickyback photogaraph from this studio of an unknown young girl in a slip-in embossed cream card mount 4 x 2.4 inches, with oval aperture, and in the lower r.h. corner of the mount is printed "Stickyback Studios, 17 King Edward St, Hull". It is not known currently whether the studio used a signboard in its images, or if so, what is written on it.


LEEDS

Address: 23 Park Row, Leeds
Possible practitioner: Not currently known
Operating dates: 1905
References: Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 28 January 1905 p5. "PHOTOGRAPHY. Sticky Backs a speciality. Wanted partner, working or sleeping. Capital not less than £50 to work all leading provincial towns: safe income: none but business men open to start at once need apply. Address Photo, 23 Park Row, Leeds".

Address: 83 Briggate Leeds
Possible practitioner: Not currently known
Operating dates: c. 1910
References: Next is a postcard print of an unknown lady in a shoulder width brimmed hat, c.1910. The number 321 is intruding into the mid right of the image. This is by the Sticky Back Studio, Market Street Manchester and at 83 Briggate, Leeds. They use an SB monogram in a scroll design.

Address: 28A and 30 Queen's Arcade, Briggate, Leeds
Possible practitioner: Flashette Co. Individuals behind the company not currently known
Operating dates: 1905-20
Information and references: Directory entries can be found for the firm at the above address in 1905 and 1920. The Yorkshire Evening Post, Monday 14 September 1908 p5 includes two photographs from this studio of the victim and offender in a murder /suicide case. The first photograph below of an unknown lady with fob watch measures 29 x 37mm. It is one of a vertical strip of prints. A job no L9051 is visible in shot and the customer has cut the strip in such a way that this image has the job number at the top and the bottom. Next are two small portraits in simple card mounts with different shaped apertures, decorated with silver scroll designs and the legend "Flashette Queen's Arcade, Leeds" The mounts are grey and green and measure 65 x 92mm and 58 x 78mm respectively. The prints are held in place behind the apertures by plain brown paper sheets stuck onto the reverse of the mount. All three examples are reproduced with the kind permission of Ron Cosens www.cartedevisite.co.uk, The RPS listing "Professional photographers in Leeds 1842-1900" by Adamson and Budge lists Alan Nield photographer at 23 Queens Arcade 1892-1900+ which may possibly have been the same studio under different occupancy.

Address: Beeston, Leeds
Possible name of practitioner: The Scholastic Souvenir Co
Operating dates: 1915 -
Information and references: The earliest reference to this company which has so far been found is in an advertisement in the Sheffield Evening Telegraph - Thursday 11 February 1915 "Photographer outdoor wanted with own outfit willing to travel. no canvassing whatever. Permanency: £1 per week and commission. Scholastic Souvenir Co Beeston, Leeds" Thereafter the company seems to have been based in Blackpool - see our entry for it in Blackpool.

SCARBOROUGH

Address: Westborough Scarborough
Possible Practitioner: Not currently known
Operating dates: c.1905-14
References and further information: The stickyback photograph below is of an unknown teenage girl. This is part of a strip of prints, possibly in a horizontal strip. The photograph measures 30 x 41 mm. The signboard at the top of the image has what is believed to be a partial address, "27 Westboro" and a negative number "126". Scarborough is perhaps the most likely town, with "Westborough" a prominent address. So far research has failed to establish anything further. It is to be hoped that other examples may be found with additional information. This image is reproduced with the kind permission of Ron Cosens www.cartedevisite.co.uk .

Address: Corrigan's Amusement Park, Scarborough
Possible Practitioner: Trading as SCREENBEAMS
Operating dates: 1950s / 1960s ?
References: See below a novelty photographic portrait, overall size 90 x 140mm, which shows a small head-and-shoulders portrait of a young man with a plain white background on a screen, within a bigger scene of a cinema interior. This would appear to be "While you wait" work printing from two separate negatives. The photographer may have offered a choice of images for the setting. On the reverse is a rubber stamped backstamp with the text "Screenbeams Further copies or enlargements from Corrigans Amusement Park Scarborough. P.C.s 1/6d, Enlargements 5/- Enclose Photo (cash with order)". In manuscript on the reverse is written the name of the sitter, Noel Bodden. The general appearance of this image suggests it is from the 1950s/60s. Corrigan's Amusement Park in Scarborough were advertising for workers in the local press in 1945 and 1955. There is a Jimmy Corrigan’s Penny Arcade in Scarborough today. We are most grateful to Ron Cosens (www.cartedevisite.co.uk) for permission to show this image from his collection.

SHEFFIELD

Address: 453 Attercliffe Road, Sheffield
Possible practitioner: CURTIS (no further details currently known)
Operating dates:1902 Jan - March
References: A shop and house at this address were advertised to lease in Jan 1902. It could be that this photographer obtained a short lease on the premises while a longer term tenant was sought. Advertisements appeared in 1902 similar to this example from the Brockley News, New Cross and Hatcham Review, Friday 10 January 1902 p8: "Portraits, stamp size, 36 for 1s. Send carte de visite or cabinet which will be returned uninjured. Curtis 453 Attercliffe Road, Sheffield."

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