CDV of bearded gentleman for dating please

[JenB]

I'd welcome a date for this CdV, please?

Am I right in thinking he is sporting a 'Newgate frill' beard?

The photographer, Allan Ramsden, wandered the highways and byways of northern England and southern Scotland in his caravan, and seems to have had cardstock made for every place he visited.
Picture of the man himself and the caravan here http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=772732.msg6333268#msg6333268

Thanks for any help 

[jim1]

His beard may have started off as a Newgate frill but it's gone well beyond that now.
Older men are quite difficult to date as they didn't change styles much. However the pose & cardstock look mid - late 1870's, so 1875 -1880.
This was taken in a studio rather than a caravan.

[JenB]

Thank you jim. I'm pretty certain that Ramsden didn't have a permanent studio, so he must have 'borrowed' one from someone else, or possibly taken the photographs in the person's house 
Judging by the book he wrote he was on the road most of the summer. He speaks of his caravan being a 'photographic saloon'.  Would this mean he took some photos in the caravan?

A couple of his 'outdoor' photos will be coming this way soon 

[jim1]

He did have a permanent residence. In 1881 the closest date this was taken he was living at 157 Ramsden St. I kid you not.
Although this was Barrow-in-Furness which is a long way from Hexham.
1871 in Hunwick which is a bit closer.

[jim1]

OK I think I'm going to concede to him having a studio as it would say on the back.
I was looking at the skirting board which I wouldn't expect to see in a caravan.

[JenB]

He did have a permanent residence.

Oh yes, but he also had the caravan  His book 'Life in a Caravan' was originally written in 1888. He re-published it in 1908, and said it covered 'his caravan life', extending over a period of forty years down to 1908'. So he had been using the caravan for some considerable time. The book makes it very clear that he travelled all over the north of England and south of Scotland during the summer, pretty constantly on the move. I believe at one point he even took it over to Ireland.

The caravan had previously been used for transporting 'The Norfolk Giant' to various fairs. When 'the Giant' died in 1863 the caravan was converted into 'a photographic saloon' and was acquired by Allan Ramsden.