Directory of Early Photographers in Suffolk, Studio Notes - Recent Findings

Thomas DAY

Thomas Day was a tailor, living and trading in St Peter's Street Ipswich in the 1850s. He was a well known local tradesman and in January 1853 his premises were used for the revision of the local voters' Register for Bridge Ward (Ipswich Journal - Saturday 29 January 1853) . By 1854 Thomas was in financial difficulties. The Suffolk Chronicle, Saturday 1 July 1854 p1 included in a list of insolvent debtors: "Thomas Day 13 St Peter's Street Ipswich, tailor and draper". Thomas survived the process, and later diversified into photography. The Suffolk Chronicle, Saturday 5 March 1859 p6, reported: INSOLVENT DEBTOR, To be heard before JOHN WORLLEDGE, Esq., the Judge of the County Court of Suffolk, at the Shire Hall, Ipswich, in the said County of Suffolk, on the 17th day of March, 1859, at the hour of Ten in the Forenoon precisely, Thomas Day, late of No. 3, Carr Street, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Milliner and Photograpic Artist; previously of No. 9, High Street, Ipswich, aforesaid, Milliner; part of the time having place of business in Saint Matthew’s Street, Ipswich, aforesaid, as a Photographic Artist; and formerly of No. 3, High Street. Ipswich aforesaid, Milliner. Rd. Fs. JENNINGS, Falcon Street, Ipswich, Attorney for the said Insolvent.

London Gazette, 30 June 1854 p2067, London Gazette March 1 1859 p986. London Gazette 5 April 1859 p1439.

George HEWETT / HEWITT

Suffolk Chronicle, Saturday 30 October 1858 p4 reported: " ROBBERY BY A PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST, George Hewett, an itinerant photographic artist, a stylishly dressed young man, was charged with stealing a hammer and chisel, the property of James Alfred Kettle, at Bildeston. Mr. Orridge appeared for the prosecution. It appeared that prosecutor, a plumber and glazier, at Bildeston, went to prisoner’s to have his portrait taken, and left his hammer and chisel outside the tent during the operation. After he got home he found he had forgotten them and sent to the prisoner for them, who denied having seen them; but information being given to Sergeant Haggar, and the property was found in prisoner’s possession. Prisoner then said his boy found the hammer and chisel two or three miles from Bildeston. Prisoner, who cross-examined the witnesses with considerable ingenuity, made a diffuse statement in his defence, declaring he was entirely innocent of the charge. He happened, he said, to want to use a hammer one day, when his boy brought him the one in question, stating he found it in Bildeston. Prisoner added, if it were the last breath he had to draw he should say there were not five words of truth in what the witnesses had said. He called William Wells, the boy mentioned, who said he found the hammer and chisel. Prisoner afterwards required hammer, and witness took him the one he found. Prisoner — Did I ask you where you found it? Witness—Yes, and I said “at Bildeston.” Then you asked me some more questions which I did not answer, but went after a policeman. George Hewitt, prisoner’s father, who is an excise officer, and of respectable appearance, corroborated the statement of the last witness. Mr. Orridge, in reply, pointed out to the Jury that the statement prisoner made to Kettle and Haggar widely differed from that made by the boy; and it was for the Jury to say which was the witness of truth. The Jury deliberated for some time, and ultimately found the prisoner guilty of receiving. He was sentenced to a month’s hard labour". Nothing further found on this itinerant photographer. There was a George Hewitt, an excise officer who joined the Excise in 1837 and was stationed in Hovingham, N Yorks in 1857.

References: George Hewitt, Hovingham North Yorks, Excise officer; 1857 PO Directory
TNA - CUST 116/19/30 entry papers for George Hewitt as an excise man 1837

C.F.PALMER

The Ipswich Journal, Saturday 1 January 1859 p2 reported: " Baptismal Ceremony at Culpho. FOR THE STEREOSCOPE. An interesting picture is just published, taken during a Baptismal Ceremony, the Rev. Samuel Collins officiating, in the Pool for that purpose at Culpho, near Grundisburgh. in the county of Suffolk. The Rev. Gentleman's Portrait, as well as those of a large number of the leading members of the congregation (among the hundreds present), are perfectly recognisable. This picture has been pronounced by first rate judges in the art to be a perfect chef d'oeuvre, and will be sent, post free, to any part on receipt of 18 postage stamps.- Address to C. F. Palmer, Photographic Artist, St Peter's, Ipswich." In a newspaper advertiement for J.Frost, Worm Extractor, is a list of Mr Frost's successes, one of which was; "Mr Palmer, St Peters St near the Rose Inn, photographic artist, voided a tapeworm of the great length of 12½ yards on Friday May 18th 1860." (Suffolk Chronicle 19 May 1860 p2)
Address given as 15 St Peter's St Ipswich in a letter sent to the Editor of the Ipswich Journal, 6 Oct 1860.

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