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Hertfordshire Postcard Artists, Photographers, Publishers, etc. Thomas Benwell Latchmore of Hitchin |
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Thomas Benwell Latchmore (1832-1908) was the eldest son of a Quaker family who ran a grocery business in the High Street. He was educated at Isaac Brown and Benjamin Abbott's Academies in Hitchin and then at Ackworth, the Quaker school in Yorkshire. At first he assisted his father but an interest in chemistry led him to study photography. About 1865 he built a studio in Bancroft and set up in business. He had experimented with daguerreotypes and the collodion process but after 1871 successfully adopted the use of the dry plate method. His business thrived and enabled him in 1870 to buy out an earlier photographer, George Avery, who had worked from the Old Town Hall yard in Brand Street. On their completion, he moved into more commodious premises with a studio on the roof' and resided at 11 Brand Street until his death. |
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4060 (showing a choir master) has same back - ? reprint of Avery photo? 7783 & 19379 have same back as above, in purple ink |
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These two CDV have identical backs, the one of the lady having at reference "331 cab" suggesting that negatives for cabinet cards had a different numbering - and this CDV was taken from a negative originally intended for a cabinet card. The other card shows a small boy about 4-5 years old has the number 17127. It was sent by Jackie Embury who initially thought it could be John (Jack) Christy, who was born in 1911. However John grandfather was a John Christy who in 1881 was a farmer and draper employing 12 men. living in Ashwell. The census shows a 4 year old son Harry Oakley Christy (who became Jack's father in 1911) and he would be an obvious candidate for this picture. Not only do the numbers fit - but John Christy senior could clearly have afforded to have his son photographed - and Hitchin is the nearest town to Ashwell. |
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While it would be nice to get some more datable cards the above numbers suggest that Thomas was taking about 1000 portrait per year, or something like four a day.
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This cabinet card is owned by Carol Primett Beeton and the young couple are believed to be George Payne and Annie Elizabeth Primett, who married in 1901. The problem is the negative number 6147 which does not fit into the number series above. Could this be an earlier family marriage, between William Primett and Elizabeth Weeden that took place in 1870. My feeling is that the clothing (particularly the man's suit) suggests the later date, in which case Latchmore must have started a new series of negative numbers? |
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There are many pictures taken by T. B. Latchmore in the book |
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Real photograph post card of three soldiers in uniform. If taken by T. B. Latchmore (rather than his son) it must have been taken no later than 1908. The simple divided back suggest circa 1905 or later. (After Thomas's death trade directories describe the business as T. B. Latchmore and Son., but the 1911 census lists his widow, Mrs. T. B. Latchmore as a photographer, employer, and head of household.) |
Buttons
?? Lion and unicorn with shield and crown?? |
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(identical post card back to the above) |
The above school play is one of six such photographs probably taken in about 1906 at an unknown school in the Hitchin area - tell me if you can identify the school, or even better any of the pupils. |
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Recorded as T.B. Latchmore & Son, Brand Street, Hitchin |
Old Meeting House, Tilehouse St., Hitchin. Real photograph of drawing or print. |
I have seen some later cards which are marked "Latchmore, Photographer, Hitchin" which are presumably by his son |
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8 cards with similar backs
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If you know of dated cards by T. B. Latchmore with negative numbers please tell me as this will make it possible to relate negative numbers to the dates the photographs were take. |
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