Arthur was born in 1827, in Pakenham, the son of James and Mary Elsden. In 1851 he was working in Shoreditch as a carpenter, married Fanny Vincent in 1853, and their first son, Arthur Vincent, was born in Shoreditch in 1854. Their second son, James Vincent, was born in Hertford early in 1857. By 1882 he was trading as Arthur Elsden & Son, and operating from both North Crescent and Mill Bridge (12 Bridge Street). By 1886 the North Crescent address had been dropped. In 1887 Arthur died and the business was continued by his son Arthur Vincent Elsden from the Bridge Street address until Arthur junior died in 1929.

Patronised by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales Established 1857 ELSDEN Photographer North Cresent Hertford Copies may be had at any time by Sending the Name   These two cards come from a collection of carte de visite of pupils at Haileybury School. Pupils and Masters at Haileybury, 1867-1871

Circus Elephants in Fore Street, Hertford A photographic slide by Arthur Elsden circa 1880 From the HALS Collection Hertfordshire Memories  [link to larger version of picture] Note the large steam traction engine following the elephants. It was normal for circuses to have parades to attract customers to the performances.

	Hertford Castle & North Road, Hertford Posted 1903
Bengeo Church & Hertford from Brym Alt, Bengeo	While these cards has no publisher identification all aspects of the cards are identical to the Elsden post card of Port Hill, below, and it is almost certain that they are Elsden cards.

The Prince and Princess of Wales at Hertford July 23rd 1906

In September 2007 Mr Baden Browne gave a talk on "The Elsden Photographs of Hertford" at the Hertford Museum.

December 2009:  Mike Elsden.(mike @t elsden.com) of Caernarfon, Gwynedd, writes:  I was very interested in your web page on my great great grandfather Arthur Elsden. I am descended from Arthur Elsden's second son, James Vincent, who went on to forge a career as a Geologist and Military Trainer.  .

Page created October 2009 - Updated. with correction, December 2009

In 1857 he set up business in Hertford, initially living and working in North Crescent. /// 1827 Baptised 2 september at Pakenham, Suffolk, son of James and Mary /// 1851 census he was a carpenter living in Shoreditch /// 1853 he married Fanny Vincent in Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales /// 1854 Arthur Vincent Elsden birth registeded Shoreditch area /// James born registered Hertford, early 1857 /// 1861 Census North Cresent / Arthur 33 Photographer / 1866 Arthur Elsden, photographer, North Crescent /// 1871 Census, North Crescent, Hertford / Arthur Elsden, 43, photographer,.born Pakenham, Suffolk with wife Fanny, 43, born Hessingham, son Alfred Elsden, 16, Photo Assistant, Born London, James 14, scholar, born Hertford, and five other children born Hertford /// 1881 Census North Road, Hertford / Arthur 53, Fanny, born Hevingham, Norfolk, and some children including Rosa 16, Photographers Assistant and Emily 8 (not in previous census) / Arthur Elsden 26, Photographic Artist, with wife Emily, 31, born London, and infant son ///1882 Arthur Elsden & Son, photographers, Millbridge & North Crescent /// 1886 Arthur Elsden & Son, photographers, Millbridge /// 1887 Arthur Elsden died aged 60 /// 1890 Arthur Elsden & Son, photographers, 12 & 14 Millbridge (Arthur Vincent Elsden, 28 Queen's Road) /// 912, Arthur Elsden, photographer, 12 Mill Bridge (Arthur Vincent Elsden,27 Queens Road) /// 1922, 1926 Arthur Elsden, photographer, 12 Bridge Street (Arthur Vincent Elsden,27 Queens Road) /// Arthur Vincent Elsden died 1929 aged 74 /// 1929, 1933, 1937 (Mrs Elsden, 27 Queen's Road) /// In September 2007 Mr Baden Browne gave a talk on "The Elsden Photographs of Hertford" at the Hertford Museum.