Cambridgeshire Photographers

Name: McGLONE, Weston Joseph b:1904 Toronto Canada d: 1973
Address: The Studio, Rous Road, Newmarket
Working Dates: c.1929 - c.1939 and beyond
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Born in Canada of British parents, in 1911 McGlone was living at Sherboro House, The Avenue, Newmarket with his mother Madoleine (sic) (b: 1871 Newmarket). He was recorded in local directories as a photographer between 1929 and 1937. In the 1939 register Weston was living at Ivy Cottage Newmarket. He was single, a photographer and a Special Constable for West Suffolk. Cambridge Independent Press, Fri 7th April 1939 has a picture of an amateur dramatic production in Newmarket taken by Weston McGlone, another of a road traffic accident in Newmarket appears in the CIP on p8 27 October 1939. The photograph below is an 8 x 6 inch black and white print showing a works group of eight men, all in suits, taken outdoors and probably dates from the 1950s or 1960s. On the reverse of the print is stamped "Weston McGlone Photographer, Newmarket". This suggests that Weston was working for a number of years beyond the dates of the directories mentioned.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire, 1929, 1937.

Group photograph 1950s / 60s by Weston McGlone

Backstamp used by Weston McGlone on the above print

Name: McKEANE, Lesley ABIPP, AIMI, Dip IMI, trading as MM PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGING b:
Address: 28 Fairfields, St Ives, Cambridgeshire
Working Dates: c.1995-7
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: medical, personal injury and legal specialist, PR, Commercial, groups and weddings . Lesley is now with LMB Visual Aids (http://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/va/ )
References: Cambridge Yellow Pages 1997, 1998, Peterborough Yellow Pages 1999

Name: McLEAN, William & Son. William Snr b:1826 Ipswich d: 1901. His son, William Jnr b:1866 Hunstanton d: 1903
Address: Hunstanton Norfolk and Station Road March, Cambridgeshire
Working Dates: c.1861 - 1901 at Hunstanton, dates for March not currently known, but there in 1889.
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: William McLean Senior was born in 1826 in Ipswich. In the 1851 census William and his wife were lodging at a public house in the High Street, Dunstable Beds, also lodging there were his parents, George McLean b:1805 Lynn Norfolk, Licensed Hawker and Jane McLean b:1807 Elmstead Essex. William was also a licensed Hawker, and his wife was Martha McLean b:1825 Halesworth Suffolk. William and Martha had two daughters, Jane McLean b:1840 Ipswich and Mary McLean b:1841 Ipswich. By 1861 William Senior was at Grundisburgh Suffolk, a widower and a photographer. Living with him were Mary McLean, his sister, b: 1840 Ipswich, housekeeper, Charles his son b:1857 Ipswich and William Barker, assistant, b:1836 Halesworth, a photographic artist. By 1871 William had re-married and he was living in Hunstanton, Norfolk. His new wife was Harriet, b: 1843 Woodton Norfolk. They had three children, Willie, (William Jnr) b:1867 Hunstanton, Sarah b:1868 Hunstanton and Minnie b:1870 Hunstanton. William Senior was still a photographer. Also living with the family in 1871 were Margaret Hollingsworth, William's wife's sister, b:1844 Ipswich and Harriet Hollingsworth, niece, b: 1871 Penge Surrey. By 1881 the McLean family home was Beach Terrace Bazaar, Hunstanton. William, head of the household, was shown as photographer and dealer. He had a different wife: Fanny McLean b:1838 Luffenham Rutland. The children of the household were Whillie (William Jnr) b:1866 Hunstanton, Sarah b:1869 Hunstanton, Minnie b: 1871 Hunstanton and George b: 1873 Hunstanton. The family's circumstances had improved somewhat as they had a live-in 19 year old servant.

By 1889 the firm also had a studio in Station Road, March, Cambridgeshire. The Cambridgeshire Times, Friday 18th October 1889 reported: "Prizes of a successful athlete. We yesterday visited the studio of Messrs MacLean and Son, Station Road, to inspect a group of handsome articles sent there to be photographed comprising the whole of the prizes won at cycle races in various parts of the country by Mr M.F.Rowe of March during the past 6 years. They included silver cups, an expensive set of geometrical appliances, time pieces, dressing cases, portmanteaux, and a variety of silver goods. We are informed the aggregate value of the prizes is over £300, and they certainly give proof of a successful racing career of which any "wheelman" might well be proud".

In 1891 the family were still at the Bazaar, Beach Terrace, Hunstanton. William was shown as a photographer and employer. His wife Fanny McLean was shown as a bazaar keeper. William, George and Minnie were all shown as being employed as photographers, as was Ettie Hollingsworth b: 1878 Hunstanton, niece. The family still employed one servant. In the 1901 census in Beach Road Hunstanton two different McLean households were listed. In the first were William McLean Snr, a photographer working on his own account, his wife Fanny McLean and Rachael Dennison b:1877 Lynn Norfolk, Assistant Fancy Goods. In the other were William McLean Jnr, photographer, working on his own account from home; his wife, Olive Eliza McLean b:1866 Houghton Norfolk, his daughters, Olive Elsie, b:1896 Hunstanton, Violet b:1899 Hunstanton and son William E McLean b:1900 Hunstanton. On 30 Nov 1901 William senior photographer and dealer in fancy goods died and William Jnr died in 1903. In the 1911 census his wife, Olive E Mclean, then a widow, was at Beach Terrace Road, Hunstanton, and was shown as a fancy goods shopkeeper. With her was William's mother Fanny McLean, fancy goods assistant and her children: Violet Sarah b:1899 Hunstanton, William Ernest b:1900 Hunstanton , and Reginald b:1902 Hunstanton.

Below is an example carte de visite of a baby, from the 1870s which shows William as a Hunstanton photographer - no mention of March. The design on the reverse of the mount freely incorporates the Prince of Wales feathers, a garter design with a Norman French motto used by the Crown "honi soit qui maly pense" (shame on anyone who thinks evil of it) and the Latin maxim "palmam qui meruit ferat" (let whoever earns the palm bear it). Altogether an impressive, but meaningless heraldic amalgam. Unusually this carte includes a reference to "portrait clubs". These contemporary marketing devices were arrangements whereby "members" received expensive high quality photographs "up front" and later paid for these by low weekly installments. Below this is a carte de visite of an unknown bearded man. The face of the mount bears the legend "McLean March and Hunstanton". On the reverse of the mount, made by Marion, Paris, is a folded corner design and spray of flowers, no earlier than around 1890, with the text "Portrait, landscape and equestrian photography from the Studio of William McLean and Son, March and Hunstanton". The design also incorporates a monogram of the letters WML surmounted by a crown. This carte is probably from the 1890s. It is not known at this stage how the March Studio was staffed or whether it was open full or part time.

References: England census 1851 -1901. We are grateful to Nick Smith for spotting the March connection and discovering the article on the successful athlete's prizes.

carte de visite of baby by W McLean, Hunstanton Reverse of William McLean of Hunstanton carte de visite.

cdv unknown man with beard by McLean

Name: MEAN, (Richard) William b:1873 Sawston Cambs d:
Address: 2 Fitzroy Street Cambridge
Working Dates: 1896-1904
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Richard William Mean was the son of a bread maker, John Mean. In 1891 Richard was living in Bradmore Street Cambridge with his father and two brothers; Richard was then listed as a baker. In 1901 Richard was listed as a photographer, living with his father at 2 Fitzroy Street Cambridge. In 1907 he married Iva Elizabeth (b:1885 Cambridge). Photography was not Richard's only occupation. He was prosecuted before the local magistrates for taking illegal bets in the street in East Road Cambridge in 1898. By 1911 Richard and Iva had a young daughter and Richard had become a turf accountant (bookie). The family were living at 29 Mackenzie Road Cambridge.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London 1896
Spaldings Directory of Cambridge 1898, 1901, 1904
Court Case Cambridge Independent Press Friday 02 December 1898

Name: MEARS, Thomas Edward b:1895 Downham Market, Norfolk d:1958
Address: Lower Flat, 1 Market Place, Wisbech, Cambs
Working Dates: 1950s-1960s
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In 1939 Thomas and his wife Rachel Ann (b 1894 Wisbech née Worlding d.1987), their son Anthony C Mears b.1931 and three other family members were living at 127 Lynton Road Harrow and Thomas was a photographic manager. The family later moved to Wisbech some time between 1946 and 1952. See below for a wedding photograph - 1950s? measuring 6 x 4.5 in, the rear of the photo is stamped "COPYRIGHT T.E.Mears, Lower Flat, 1 Market Place Wisbech Cambs, Folio 312/4" The photo is slotted into a cream card mount overprinted on the front "Thomas E Mears, 1 Market Place, Wisbech Cambs." Below this is a more recent wedding photograph from the 1960s. This 6.25 x 4.5 in print has a back stamp which omits the "lower flat" reference. The print is in a cream wrap-round card mount with the photographer's details printed on the front in silver. Derrick C Plume, who ran Studio Margaret in Wisbech mentions the firm of T.E.Mears in his book "Ramblings of a Wisbechian - 60 years of events in Wisbech of a local family from approximately 1924 to 1983. “We had just started wedding photography when this business opened; Mrs Mears, a former Wisbechian, had been an apprentice at the Reams. The Mears started a new innovation by proofing wedding photographs back to the reception in a few hours. In order to compete we revolutionised our darkroom to process films quickly and produce fast prints so that we could also proof back to one, two or even three weddings. We survived, but some rivals did not.” He added: "When Mr Mears died his sons, Peter and Tony, approached us to buy their surplus materials. We agreed and they sent us every wedding enquiry they got for three months as well as selling their entire stock of films, mounts, folders, albums and some cameras at reasonable prices. A plate camera became the head of our enlarger, which had been in use since 1950. When they closed we used their glass showcase on the wall facing St Peter’s church for displaying wedding pictures until the premises were demolished to build a bank."
See also WINFIELD-CHISLETT, L.A. and MEARS, T, which appears to be the version of the firm in existence in 1967
References: Appears at the above address, listed as a photographer, in the 1952 -1965 Peterborough telephone directories. Eastern Counties of England Trades Directory 1966-67.
Derrick C Plume, "Ramblings of a Wisbechian - 60 years of events in Wisbech of a local family from approximately 1924 to 1983" p38

Wedding photograph by Thomas E Mears, Wisbech

Reverse and mount - Thomas Mears

Wedding photograph, 1960s , by Mears

1960s backstamp, Thomas Mears Detail from 1960s card mount by Thomas Mears

Name: MEHEW, Hardingham Rushbrook b: 1873 Wisbech d:1913
Address: Lynn Road, Wisbech
Working Dates: 1896 - 1904
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Hardingham Rushbrook Mehew was one of 9 children of James Mehew, draper and silk merchant at Wisbech (b:1837 Huntingdonshire) and his wife Elizabeth Rachel (b:1846 Ely Cambs). The family lived at 12 Market Place Wisbech in 1881. By 1891 Hardingham, then 18 years old, was listed as a photographer - an employee. By 1901 Hardingham was still at the family home in Market Street, a photographer, then an employer. The catalogue of the National Archives http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14129947 lists an image of Grimsby Police taken by Hardingham Rushbrook Mehew in 1905. The catalogue lists his address as 41 Victoria Street West, Grimsby. In the 1911 census, Hardingham was listed as a photographer, married for just one year, at 54 Woolwich Rd, Belvedere, Kent with his mother and one of his sisters. He might have been living there or could possibly have been a visitor - his wife not being present.

See below for a carte de visite of an unknown lady, with locket and ruffled collar, on a mount printed for Hardingham Mehew's predecessor, Alfred Drysdale, overprinted "H.R.Mehew" on the face and the reverse. The design on the rear of the carte is of a lady in a garden. The edge of the mount is gilt and the mount is by Marion, Paris. From the change of studio ownership we can date this to around 1896. Next is an 8in x 6in print from the author's collection by Mehew of five young men – the mount is printed “Hardingham R. Mehew, Lynn Road Wisbech”. Next is a carte de visite c.1900, on a grey mount with white gloss print and white gloss chamfered edges, depicting an unknown lady in a dress with leg of mutton sleeves. On the face of the mount is a monogram of the letters HRM and "H.R.Mehew Lynn Road Wisbech". On the reverse is printed "Hardingham R Mehew Art Studio, Lynn Road, Wisbech. Negatives kept, copies or enlargements can always be had". The mount is by Marion, Paris. Below that is a later cabinet photograph with gilt writing on the face and red print on the rear "Hardingham R Mehew Art Photographer and Picture Frame Maker, Lynn Road, Wisbech" This Lynn Road studio, originally opened by Valentine Blanchard, was later operated by Alfred Drysdale. Lilian Ream started her photographic career as a young pupil of Alfred Drysdale. The studio was later taken over by Hardingham Mehew and Leonard Smith. Around 1909 Lilian Ream took over the Studio and Mr Smith became the assistant.

References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London 1896, 1900, 1904.
Powell, Roger and Bell, Robert, Britain in Old Photographs – Wisbech, Budding Books 2000 p99 (1898)
See also entry on this site for photographer John Thomas GOODE, to whom Mehew was related.

Group photograph, HR Mehew

Reverse of Mehew Cabinet photograph Cabinet photograph by Mehew

Name: MELBOURN PHOTOGRAPHY (Hilary HULFORD) b: d:
Address: 23 Dolphin Lane, Melbourn
Working Dates: c.1995-1998
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information:
References: Cambridge Yellow Pages 1995, 1997, 1998

Name: METCALFE, John Lucas b: 1843 Wakefield, Yorkshire d: 1894, in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
Address: 7 St Edwards Passage, Cambridge
Working Dates: c.1871
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1871 census John is listed as a "Photographer's Commercial Manager" at the above address. He was living with his wife, Susannah M. b:1845 Denbigh Wales and daughter Minnie Maude b:1870 Northampton. In 1881 John and his family were in Dover Kent at 171 / 172 Snargate Street, where John had a fancy goods repository. Living with the family were three young women described as servants / assistants. One of these, Marianne Bassett, b: 1864 Rochester, Kent, later became John's wife or partner in Australia. It is not known at this stage who John worked with in the photographic business while he was in Cambridge.
References: England Census 1871, 1881.

Name: METCALFE'S
Address: 12 Trinity Street Cambridge, corner of Green Street
Working Dates: 1867
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: The Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, Saturday 26 January 1867 p5 carries an advertisement for Metcalfe's bookselling, stationery, printing and photographic establishment, 12 Trinity Street, corner of Green St Cambridge. The advertisement included in the long list of services and items for sale: "Photographic views of the Colleges and other public buildings" and "Sole agents for Frith's celebrated universal series of photographic pictures". It is possible that Metcalfe's photographic activities did not extend beyond being a retailer of photographic views. Metcalfe's were still at this address and trading as booksellers as recently as 1939, but references to photography can only be found for 1867/8.

MIDDLETON, ANTHONY ABIPP – see A M PHOTOGRAPHIC

Name: MIDLANE, Allan T b:29/9/1883 Newport Isle of Wight d:
Address: 1911 and 1921 at 39 Elizabeth Terrace Walsoken, near Wisbech, 1939 at Carrisbrook, Mount Drive, Wisbech
Working Dates: c.1939
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Allan started his photographic career in his native Isle of Wight. In 1901 he was an assistant photographer living with his parents at 4 Linden Terrace, Clarence Road, Newport, Isle of Wight. His father, Harry Midlane b: 1847 Newport, was a carriage painter. In 1911 Allan was a photographer's assistant living at 39 Elizabeth Terrace Walsoken, near Wisbech, with his wife Ada. They had a lodger, William Skayles b:1880 Great Yarmouth, a hairdresser. In the 1921 census Alan was living with his wife and 9 year old child at 34 Elizabeth Terrace, Walsoken. He was a photographer working for March photographer Alice Askew. In the 1939 Register Allan was listed as a photographer living at Carrisbrook, Mount Drive, Wisbech. At the same address were Ada H Midlane b: 31/3/1884, Edith M Bickley b: 15/5/1893, housekeeper. Alan was the manager of Lilian Ream's Borough Studio in Wisbech, dates for this not currently known.
References: 1939 Register. Lilian Ream: a life in photography, Kim Bowden, Cambs CC 1992.

Name: THE MIGNON SYNDICATE
Address: Wisbech
Working Dates: 1900?
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: The tiny portrait below of an unknown woman is mounted in a black heavy card mount 3.75 x 2.75 inches with serrated edges and embossed inner frame. Impressed into the bottom right hand corner is "The Mignon Syndicate Wisbech". The mount is reminiscent of mounts used for tintypes, although the photograph is not a tintype but an albumen print. The print itself measures 1 x 1.25 inches and barely fits the aperture of the mount, so although the backing card looks a similar colour to the card on the back of the mount it may not have been the original content of the mount.
References: So far nothing has been found on this photographer other than this chance survival.

Mignon Syndicate photo in mount

Detail of Mignon Syndicate mount

Name: MILLER, Kate, (later married name SEYMOUR) b: 21 Nov 1918 d:
Address:4 Pound Road, Chatteris
Working Dates: 1939
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1939 Register, Kate was listed as a photographer's assistant. She was a single woman living with Louisa Miller b: 19/3/1879 a widow and Edith E Murrills b:7/10/1910. Kate married Keith O Seymour in 1941.
References: 1939 register.

Name: MILL ROAD STUDIO
Address: 18 Mill Road Cambridge
Working Dates: 1957-60
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Premises previously used by Herbert MASON, later used by Campkins. 1960 Kelly's directory entry lists this as Mill Road Studio and Camera Shop 18 Mill Road, Cambridge.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992. Not clear whether by this point Campkins had taken over the studio, running it in the Mill Road Studio name or whether this was a separate business until taken over.
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire 1957,1960

Name: MILLS, Olan b: d:
Address: 18 Mill Road, Cambridge, also in 1990 and 1999 at the Photographic Studio, 559 Lincoln Road, Peterborough
Working Dates: 1990 - 1999
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Portraits
References: Cambridge Yellow Pages 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000. Peterborough Yellow Pages 1990, 1995, 1999

MILWARD, Eric see Britannia Studios

Name: MINSTER STUDIOS LTD (1971), MINSTER PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES (1986-)
Address: 11-13 Cross St Peterborough
Working Dates: 1964 - 1990
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Industrial, press, advertising, commercial, PR and ShowBiz. Photographers listed in 1986 were: Reg WILCOX Chief Photographer, Mike DAVISON, Senior Photographer, John TURNER Senior Photographer, Malcolm SPRINGETT Senior Photographer
References: Peterborough Telephone Directory 1964. Eastern Counties of England Trade Directory 1966/1967. D.A.Yales Directory of Huntingdon and Peterborough 1967/1968. Peterborough Yellow Pages 1971, 1974, 1986, 1990. No trace Companies House online database.

Name: MINTEN Alphonso b: 1869 Brabant Louvain Belgium d:
Address: 8 Lower Hill Street, Wisbech
Working Dates: 1921-1933
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Alphonso was a Belgian national. Little trace has yet been found of this photographer beyond the 1921 Census, directory entries between 1925 and 1933 and two illustrations of Wisbech subjects published as listed below. In 1921 Alphonso was living and working at 8 Lower Hill Street Wisbech where he was a boarder. Alphonso's landlady was Alice Elizabeth Rushbrook b: 1866 Norwich, a single lady running a sweet shop at 8 Lower Hill Street. Her unusual surname may suggest a family connection with Wisbech photographer Hardingham Rushbrook Mehew (above). Alphonso described his occupation as "Photographer, photographic paper etc for amateurs, dealers as well". Alphonso also took photographs outside Wisbech. The example real photo post card reproduced below is of Earlham Hall, Norwich, now part of the University of East Anglia, and dates from the 1920s (Dave Pilbrow collection).
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire 1925-1933
Powell, Roger and Bell, Robert, Britain in Old Photographs – Wisbech, Budding Books 2000 p64 (1920-37), 94 (c. 1920)
A.Minten is included in a "Directory of Cambridgeshire Postcard Publishers/photographers noted before 1914" by Michael Rouse in "Cambridge in Early Postcards", Oleander Press 1978.

RP Postcard by Alphonso Minten

Reverse of Alphonso Minten postcard

Name: MITCHELL W R b: d:
Address: 47 Newmarket Road, Cambridge
Working Dates: 1933-35
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: A brief period of working recorded in directory entries between 1933 and 1935. W R Mitchell of 1 Earl Street (who may or may not be the same person) was proposed as a new member of the Cambridge and District Photographic Society in 1924 (Society minutes 25 Nov 1924)
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
Spaldings Directory of Cambridge 1933-35

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