Publications | Down Survey | 2001 Issue Contents

Down through the Lens
Victorian photographs from the Down County Museum Archive
M Lesley Simpson and Allen Thompson

The Invention of Photography
On 2 February 1839, the Downpatrick Recorder carried a report from London about newly invented photographic processes. A Frenchman, Louis Daguerre, had patented his photographic process in January of that year. He produced a permanent positive (but reversed) image by sensitising a polished silver-coated copper plate over a bath of iodine. After exposure, the plate was developed over a heated bath of mercury. These images were called 'daguerrotypes'. Daguerrotype portrait studios soon opened in most cities, including one in Belfast in 1842. The disadvantages of this method was that only one original was produced and it could not be seen from all angles.

An alternative method was invented by William Henry Fox Talbot. This involved the sensitisation of paper by silver salts and exposing this in the camera. By subsequent chemical development a paper negative was produced. Multiple positive prints could be made from this by contact copying on to sensitised paper. Although the types of camera and film have been improved, the method of taking photographs, invented by Fox Talbot, is still used today. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, another revolution is underway with the production and manipulation of digital images.

At first, photography was restricted to professionals or the wealthy, for whom it was a hobby, and the earliest photographs reflect the lives of the upper classes. It wasn't long before others, especially the rising middle classes, also began to record their family life in this way. By the end of the nineteenth century, the first box cameras were being produced for amateur use.

The photographs taken mirror the entire Victorian era, the politics and personalities, wars, home life, education and work, advances in science and technology and changing ways of life. All this was caught by the photographer's lens for posterity so that we can see for the first time in history, not only portraits of rulers, but of those they ruled and of the great events and day to day activities of their lives. One of the most significant developments was during the Crimean War, when for the first time, not only was an official war artist commissioned, but a photographic record was made. The best known photographer working in this area was Roger Fenton. Photography could be, and has been, used to change our view of the world.

The Down County Museum Archive
Down County Museum has a wide selection of images in its collection. This archive has been built up over the last twenty years mainly by copying prints lent to us by local people. Early photographs are represented by original examples of daguerrotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes, while images have been copied from the albums of families whose enterprising ancestors were among the first to experiment with the new process. By the end of the l9th century, when photography was in wider use, we can catch glimpses of the people of County Down, in their homes or at work, as well as in studio portraits. We have important collections of photographs covering the 20th century; of special note are those representing the work of three local photographers. Those taken by Thomas Gribben of Dinanew, Loughinisland, span the years from about 1912 to the 1930s and were taken of his own community. Pat Hudson, formerly of Kilkeel, photographed his home town and the South Down area in the 1930s and 1940s. Finally, the biggest collection is that of the late Daniel J McNeill (DJ as he was affectionately known), and covers the 1950s to 1980s. From 1981, the Museum has been adding to the archive with photographs taken by our own staff.

There are gaps in this record, which we are aware of and try to fill, especially when we are preparing for new exhibitions. We would certainly like more l9th century photographs, particularly any illustrating social and technological changes. More images from the early 20th century would be welcomed, specifically from the period of the First and Second World Wars, showing life in County Down at that time. Photographs of people at work, especially of women in offices and mills, would be very useful. We would also like to see the northern and eastern parts of the county better represented to provide more complete geographical coverage. If you think you can help, please let us know.

Early cameras and photographs in the Collection
No 2 Bulls Eye camera. This is one of the first Kodak roll film box cameras to be made in the United States, between 1895 and 1913. Over a quarter of a million of these were made. It used 101 roll film. DCM 1993-30.
Gift of the McNeill Family, in memory of D J McNeill.

Daguerrotype, ambrotype and tin-type photographs. All of the processes used here produced only one image. However, images on ambrotypes were produced on glass and laid on black velvet or coated with black shellac. They were therefore easier to see. Tin-types were the cheapest form of portraiture. In this case, blackened tin was coated with a wet collodion emulsion.
DCM 2001-140 to 146; 2001-147, 148; 2001-73. Gifts of Mr R J M Irvine, Carnlough, County Antrim; Mr James Taylor Rea, Clough; Mrs Elizabeth Lavery, Downpatrick.

Images from the collection
These are just a few of the images which were used in our exhibition about Victorian life, 'Hard Times, Great Expectations', which was initiated, researched designed and installed by our Museum staff, in 2001, to commemorate the death of Queen Victoria one hundred
years ago.

1. Group in the garden at Old Court, Strangford 1877. Standing at the back, from left to right: Miss C Kerr, Lady K Coke and Lady de Ros. At the front, from the left: Miss S Coke, Hon M F de Ros, Hon A Dawson, Miss Kerr and E Boyle

This is one of a number of images copied from a family album. They include Georgiana, Lady de Ros, daughter of the 4th Duke of Richmond. At the age of 17 she attended a ball given by her mother, on the night of the Battle of Waterloo, in 1815. She married William Lennox Lascelles, 23rd Baron de Ros in 1824. Their son, Dudley Charles, 24th Baron de Ros, was Extra Equerry to Prince Albert, 1853-1861, and to Queen Victoria, 1862-1868, Equerry 1868-1874 and Lord-in-Waiting 1874-1880, 1885 and 1886-1892.

William, Elizabeth and Martha McDowell, nee McMechan, about 1873. Martha was married to Robert McDowell, of Donaghadee, a tailor, whose waistcoat is in the collection.^{1 The combination of objects and photographs, with background information about the people behind the objects, forms the basis of our collection}

Banbridge Board of Guardians, photographed at the Workhouse, 1890a. Mr Loughlin of Dechomet is standing at the back, extreme right. This is an important reminder of social improvements being made in the late 19th century

Killough Cycling Club, on their annual summer outing, to Comber in 1896. Back row: ? , ? , ?, Edith Seed, Edward Seed, Jane Napier, ? , Wilemina Isobella Jane Todd. Middle row: William Chamber.r, Catherine Lewis Todd, ? Porter, Sarah Seed (later Cave), Moses Porter, Mary Jane Stitt (later Stockdale). Front row: Sarah Anne Stitt (later Moore), Alfred Moore, Mary Seed, Robert Seed? This photograph shows the increased involvement of ordinary people, and of women, in sport

Fulton's blacksmith forge, Ballybredagh, Killinchy about 1895. Left to right: James Fulton Senior, his son James and brother IZobert. This provides a useful contrast to other photographs in our archive, such as W J Hurst, owner of Drumaness Mill, or J Stevenson, second manager of the Northern Bank, Downpatrick, 1853-1883

Ned Kinnet, known locally as 'Ned Nod' or 'Glary Oxters'. He lived in lodgings in Bridge Street, Downpatrick during the 1880s - 1890s. Ned collected bull rushes from the marshes around Downpatrick, for sale for home decoration. This is one of the most striking portraits in our collection

Postscript
Two years ago, I wrote a note for our yearbook about paintings by Richard Douglas Perceval. The following year I was selecting objects for an exhibition about 'Local Identities' and realised that two medals given as part of the D J McNeill Collection, were awarded to Mr Perceval. These add to our picture of him, as an amateur photographer as well as an artist, and illustrate how objects, photographs and information, coming into the museum from different sources and at different times, all contribute to our knowledge of the people of County Down.

1. Medal, silver, circular. Obverse:
'PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF IRELAND' Reverse: 'CLASS H OPEN TO AMATEURS RESIDENT IN IRELAND ONLY R Douglas Perceval 1910'. Diam 50 mm. In presentation case.

2. Medal, silver, rectangular. Engraved on one side only: 'Photography The ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY for all CAMERA USERS Awarded to R D Perceval' . 50 x 76mm. In presentation case.

DCM 1995-85 and 86
Gift of the Family of the late D J McNeill, Downpatrick

Lesley Simpson, BA PgDip, is Keeper of Collections and Allen Thompson, ABIPP is Technician at Down County Museum.

DCM1986-480. DCM 1995-40.