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This photograph belonged to my
grandfather, Thomas Godfrey, who came from
East Hanney, Berkshire, to Canada about 1888.
It is possible that this couple were William
Godfrey (born 1831 whose first wife was Mary
Herman) with his second wife, Sarah Ashfield,
née Bunce (born about 1841) who were married
in 1874. However, they could also be other
members of the Godfrey, Herman or Bunce
families. |
No wedding ring can be seen on her left hand, so
it is not clear if the couple in this photograph, who
appear to be in their late 40s or early 50s, are
married or just brother and sister. However, because
it was found among Thomas Godfrey's effects, it does
seems likely that they are all related and this
picture was taken sometime prior to Thomas Godfrey's
departure for Canada in the late 1880s.
Her best plain woollen dress chosen for the visit
to the photographer's studio consists of a matching
close-fitted bodice and separate pleated skirt. The
boned and lined bodice is trimmed with toning satin
round the neck, in two wide strips either side of the
row of shiny buttons and cuffs on her long straight
sleeves. The only washable part of the outfit is a
fashionable white 'piecrust'frill tacked inside her
neck-band. She appears to have a small brooch at her
throat.
His comfortable, but unfashionably buttoned up,
three piece suit. has a low-waisted morning coat with
stitched edges, a single breast pocket and close-fitting
cuffs. The front edge of the skirt curves back so
that the bottom button cannot be fastened. The
'Gentleman's Magazine' had said in 1886 that it was
fashionable to leave coats unbuttoned or fastened
with a single button only but this had obviously not
reached all levels of Berkshire society. His wide
spotted cravat is tied under a turn-down white collar.
This is a well-arranged example of the classic
Victorian photographers' pose of a couple apparently
disturbed while studying a book together. The out-of-focus
lower background seems to be some sort of wall and
she is seated in an elaborately carved wide wooden
chair.
The photographer Walton Adams had an "Art and
Science Studio" at 29 Blagrave Street, Reading,
from 1886 until he retired in 1922. Born Arthur
Walton Adams in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1843, he
acquired his photographic skills from Dr Richard
Leach Maddox, a keen amateur photographer and
inventor of the dry gelatin plate which from the late
1870s revolutionised photography.
Adams lived in Southampton from at least 1867 and,
with his London-born wife Annie and seven children,
was recorded in the 1881 census as a photographer. At
least two of his sons, Marcus and Christopher, later
joined him in the business. Although the Blagrave
Street premises were sold to Pelham Crowe in 1922 it
continued to operate under the name "Walton
Adams". In 1969 the business changed hands again
and moved to 1 Prospect Street, Caversham where it is
still listed as "Walton Adams & Sons Ltd".
