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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: LizzieW on Saturday 12 January 08 15:10 GMT (UK)

Title: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: LizzieW on Saturday 12 January 08 15:10 GMT (UK)
I have posted a photograph on the Photograph Restoration board and printed on the back are the words

"From the Photographic Studio of James Brown, 41 Oxford Street, Corner of Portland Street and 8 Lower Mosley Street, Manchester" 

All this has been put on the back of the photo at the studio.  I can't find any record of this photographic studio.  Can anyone help?  At a guess the photo was taken at the end of the 1800s/beginning of the 1900s

Lizzie
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: wheeldon on Saturday 12 January 08 18:42 GMT (UK)
Hi lizzie, you could try the search facility on The National Archives, as there might be some business records held there.

Or possibly better is the Manchester city archives

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries/arls/

Good luck

 :)
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: bursy on Saturday 12 January 08 20:15 GMT (UK)
Hi Lizzie,

 In the Manchester 1873 Directory,

James Brown
Photographer
8 Lower Mosley St,
Manchester

In 1913, he is at 3 Piccadilly,

Hope this helps in some way
Regards, Dave
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: Lincsbabe on Saturday 12 January 08 20:23 GMT (UK)
I am a Manchester lass and know the town center well. From the addresses it looks as though the business was doing well as a move to a Picadilly address is right in the center of town.   I don't know if you know Manchester at all but both Mosely Street and Picadilly are much thesame on a map of today.  Lincsbabe ;)
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: LizzieW on Saturday 12 January 08 22:47 GMT (UK)
Thanks for all your replies.  The date of the move to Piccadilly helps me to date the photograph to some extent.

Lincsbabe - Although I was born in Manchester and lived in Hale, Hale Barns and Bowdon until I was 21, my memory of Manchester is a little rusty.  In fact the last time I went there was around 1972/3.  I could place the roads as they were in the 1950s, in relation to Deansgate which is where I used to get off the bus.  I know when I worked off Deansgate I sometimes got a train to Knott Mill station and walk up Deansgate as that was quicker than getting the bus.  I seem to remember someone told me Knott Mill station is no longer there.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: tony h on Sunday 13 January 08 02:39 GMT (UK)
Down memory lane ;D
http://therailwaystationgallery.fotopic.net/c735870.html

Cheers
Tony
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: Lincsbabe on Sunday 13 January 08 10:10 GMT (UK)
Great link Tonyh thankyou... Lincsbabe :D
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: LizzieW on Sunday 13 January 08 12:20 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the link Tony, I've put it into my favourites.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: Mr. MIGKY on Sunday 13 January 08 12:45 GMT (UK)
By 1929 the shop had changed useage
Migky ;)


Images removed as it may infringe copy rights
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: LizzieW on Sunday 13 January 08 16:21 GMT (UK)
Hi Migky

Thanks for that.  I know where we are talking about now.  One of my uncles managed a pet shop in Tib Street after WW2, maybe even before for all I know, I wasn't born at the time. ::) ::)

Lizzie
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: tony h on Sunday 13 January 08 16:34 GMT (UK)
You've done it now Lizzie ::) Pet shops on Tib St ;D  that will start a few walks down memory lane. There used to be about 5-6 of them, perhaps more. After the baths or cinema on sat mornings we used to walk into 'town' to look around the toy shops - wistfully :( but the day was never complete without a trip to Tib St to look at the puppies, kittens, budgies parrots :o and all sorts of exotic creatures - sigh! life and pleasures were so simple then. I can smell the sawdust and hay even now 8)

thanks for that memory

cheers
Tony
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: LizzieW on Sunday 13 January 08 16:37 GMT (UK)
Hi Tony

Glad Tib St brought back some happy memories.  I've also looked on a thread re Manchester Maps that Migky started and now remembered the layout of Manchester as it used to be in the 1950s/60s. Thanks Migky.  ;D

Oddly, I never went to the pet shop my uncle managed, although when we used to go round to visit, I did help him with his book keeping.  I loved arithmetic when I was young and so he gave me all the additions in his ledgers to do.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: tony h on Sunday 13 January 08 16:44 GMT (UK)
Hi Lizzie,
What was his name, was he a Smith or was he Walter ;D

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/pages/common/imagedisplay.php?&irn=62157&reftable=ecatalogue&refirn=45057&size=600x454

cheers
Tony
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: LizzieW on Sunday 13 January 08 16:52 GMT (UK)
Hi Tony

Thanks for the photograph, I do know that website but didn't think to look there.  Now you've confused me -  not too difficult.  I don't think the shop was called Walter, more like something like X X (initials or name) Smith but I can't be sure.  As far as I remember my uncle ran the shop, so I assume he was a manager.  He did have a Ford car rather like the one in the photograph which he drove at a very slow speed.  We went to Wales in it one day in the 1950s from Cheshire and the usual 4 hour or so journey took us about 6 or 7 he drove so slowly.

Lizzie

ps.  Going off line for today.  I've been on jury service all week and still have to catch up on the ironing.  :'( :'(
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: tony h on Sunday 13 January 08 16:56 GMT (UK)
  He did have a Ford car rather like the one in the photograph which he drove at a very slow speed.  We went to Wales in it one day in the 1950s from Cheshire

thought you were going to say the 1960's ;D

cheers
Tony
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: Aulus on Monday 14 January 08 09:30 GMT (UK)
I seem to remember someone told me Knott Mill station is no longer there.


Knott Mill Station is still there and still operating, but it's now called Deansgate Station.

Nice coffee shop, with the twee name Love Saves the Day, just outside at street level (turn left on leaving the station entrance).
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: wheeldon on Monday 14 January 08 20:30 GMT (UK)
I'm 37 and when I was little my Gran used to take me to the Barrers and then on to the pet shops on Tib Street, there was only two or three then but I still remember the smell of sawdust :)

There are only two fruit and veg 'barrers' left now  :(

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread.

 :)
Title: Re: Manchester - Photograph Studios, where were they?
Post by: G_Feather on Thursday 22 February 24 19:41 GMT (UK)
I was looking through some very old family photos with this same business card like backing.
From the Photographic Studio of James Brown
41. Oxford Street
Corner of Portland St and Lower Mosley St
Manchester
The GPS on google maps seems to be in this area here.
53.476398, -2.242365