SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: A chance letter to Croydon Minster has sparked an investigation by DAVID MORGAN into a briefly thriving Victorian era photography studio on North End. But who is the mystery priest?
Family visit: Bertie, the Prince of Wales (left) with Princess Alexandra and the King of Greece, as photographed by the Southwell Brothers in 1863
Almost everyone today can take a good photo, thanks to the sophisticated technology contained within our smartphones (although there’s plenty of really bad selfies taken, too).
But back in Victorian times, a trip to the photographic studio, for those who could afford it, was pretty much the only way of having a moment in their lives captured on film. Many of these photos were turned into “cartes de visit”, visiting cards, which the sitter could distribute to friends and family.
One such photographic studio in Croydon, Southwell Brothers, operated out of 27 North End. Town directories didn’t list the business until 1878. It had gone by 1886.
The photography business shared No27 with many other tenants over the years. The variations reflected the diverse use of office and shop space in what was then a busy and bustling centre of a Surrey market town, bringing together the affluent suburbs of London and the farmers of the North Downs.
In 1878, 27 North End had space for Madame Worrell, court dressmaker; Nicholls and Co, Watchmakers; and Fred West, Architect and Surveyor.
In 1880 there were Radley Bros, accountants; Thomas Rigby, contractor; Hubbard and Co, Bicycle and sewing machine depot.
In 1882 there were Madame de Courley, milliner; the Croydon Conservative Association; and Saxelby and Faulkner, solicitors. The records show that Mr Saxelby was the Conservative Association’s secretary.
Centre of trade: the business directory for North End Croydon shows what a busy and vibrant place the town centre once was
In 1884 there were M Spink, milliner; the Croydon Conservative Association; and Saxelby and Faulkner, solicitors.
Well-established: the Southwell Brothers’ photography business was not to last very long in Croydon
If you’d gone along to 27 North End to have your photograph taken by Southwell Brothers almost 150 years ago, after posing for the flash and loud bang of the exposure and patiently waiting for the plate to be developed, you will have collected your finished photograph, maybe a box of “cartes de visit”, and printed on the small folder into which your photograph would have been slotted was the wording: “Southwell Bros, Photographers Royal”.
This appelation alone would have been an incentive for many, for them to be able to say that they had their photograph taken by someone who had worked for members of the Royal Family.
The wording can be traced to around three years after the business began.
Thanks to the research of Dr Margaret Debenham, whose late husband was a descendant of one of the Southwell sisters, we are able to uncover the history of the business.
William Southwell, who decided not to go into the family business of piano making and tuning, opened a photography studio at 16 Baker Street, in central London, in 1857.
A year later, the firm began to operate in other ways, in addition to the studio portraiture which became their mainstay. This included taking pictures of microscopic objects, sporting animals and even portraits of the dead – “momento mori” photography.
By royal appointment: the Southwell Brothers’ card, provided with all of their photographs
In 1860, Southwell was invited to Buckingham Palace to photograph Queen Victoria and other members of the Royal Family. A selection of these were published later in the year as cartes de visit.
Southwell expanded the business, opening new premises at 22 Baker Street in March 1862, with the trading name changing to Southwell Bros. William had two younger brothers, Frederick and Edwin, who both joined him in the business.
Newspaper reports from the following year stated that the Prince and Princess of Wales, together with the King of Greece, visited the Baker Street studio to have their portraits taken. Shortly after this, the firm announced that in future, the studios at No16 Baker Street would be used for photographing children, while adults would be sent to No22.
A court circular of 1864 stated that Southwell attended Marlborough House, the home of the future Edward VII and Princess Alexandra, to take further photos.
By May 1869, a third studio was opened, at the very fashionable 64A New Bond Street. Everything seemed to be on an upward trajectory. It was reported that the Southwell Brothers had daily earnings averaging between £70 and £100 – £14,000 in today’s money – at this time. Up to three guineas – £3 3s, worth almost £500 at today’s values – was being charged for a dozen photos.
Tragedy was to strike in September 1870. William Southwell died of heart problems. The 1871 census recorded Frederick Southwell living at 22 Baker Street with his family, with Edwin living there as well.
The death of William heralded a decline in the fortunes of the firm.
The remaining brothers quickly descended into financial difficulties and in 1872 proceedings were begun in the courts to appoint a receiver to oversee the liquidation of the assets. Despite this action, the business limped on for a few years before the London studios were sold off.
In 1876, the Baker Street studios were bought up by Frederick Burrows and Joseph Colton. Two years later the business was sold on to Messrs Boning and Small. After two more years came the announcement that this photographer intended to destroy all the negatives from the Southwell business.
Thankfully, the important printed portraits of the firm survived in family collections and official records. The Victorian and Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery both have samples of the Southwells’ work today. The 1863 photograph of the Prince and Princess of Wales together with the King of Greece is in the National Portrait Gallery.
After the London studios were sold off, the second Southwell brother, Frederick, opened the Croydon business, plus another branch at 23, Oakfield Avenue, Penge. Money troubles followed, even here.
According to The London Gazette in 1877, a second set of bankruptcy papers were served to Frederick Southwell, with the two south London addresses included. Frederick Southwell must have gone bust shortly after opening up these studios. The businesses were bought up by Richard P Staines.
Priestly portrait: but who is this young clergyman?
An indication of the financial difficulties in which the business found itself could be seen in the will of William Southwell, the brothers’ father, who died in 1880. He left just a nominal amount of money to surviving brothers, Frederick and Edwin, with the will specifying that the sons were released from any debt obligation remaining at the time of his death, suggesting he had been paying off some of their debts after the bankruptcy.
A correspondent to Croydon Minster triggered this investigation about the (briefly) fashionable Victorian photography studio in Croydon by sending in a picture of an unnamed priest. It had been carefully kept in its original folder, with the Southwell Brothers’ name on it. A date of May 29 1884 had been written on it. But frustratingly, not the name of the priest.
Was this the date he had his photograph taken? Was Croydon his first clerical appointment? The young priest must have had other copies made. Have any others survived? The young priest may not be linked to Croydon Minster, but to another church.
If anyone does recognise the priest in the picture, it would be marvellous to put a name to the face.
The 1884 date is a curious one, though.
Frederick Southwell died in 1883, so the photograph almost certainly couldn’t have been taken by him. Frederick did have a son, Frederick Victor Richard Southwell, who did eventually become a photographer. In 1884, though, he would have only been 17. Was he already involved in the work of his late father’s studio?
There must be many Southwell Brothers photographs and cartes de visit in boxes in the garden sheds and attics of homes across Croydon and further afield. Start searching!
David Morgan, pictured right, is a former Croydon headteacher, now the volunteer education officer at Croydon Minster, who offers tours or illustrated talks on the history around the Minster for local community groups
If you would like a group tour of Croydon Minster or want to book a school visit, then ring the Minster Office on 020 688 8104 or go to the website on www.croydonminster.org and use the contact page
Some previous articles by David Morgan:
- Surrey Street’s Pightling holds unique place in WWI memorials
- 180-year-old business that’s still ticking over in Croydon today
- Croydon churchwarden’s outstanding service in war and peace
- The church fire that consumed a thousand years of history
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
My grandad had his photo taken in the Howard King Studios in Croydon in 1917 or so before he went to war. Would you like to see a pic? He and my grandmother were Croydon born and bred. I see through the magic of a Googleisation that Howard King’s work is in the National Portrait Gallery.