Victorian & Edwardian Photos 3

The photographs below were left to me by my Nanna, Nellie Onions. On the basis of probability the people shown belong either to the Holland, Thomas, Onion or Paddy families. I'm still trying to work out approximately when they were taken but have included a rough estimate for each based on what clues I currently have. Many of the photographs were contained in a Victorian family album. The dating I have attempted has been on the basis of a very useful website maintained by Roger Vaughan and an equally informative book published by the National Archives by Robert Pols called "Family Photographs 1860 - 1945". I would be particularly interested if anyone viewing them here was able to give a more accurate view. Please contact me on hollandfamilyhistory@btinternet.com if you can.

		This photo is a Carte de Visite and would appear to date to around 1870. It was produced by the studios of the Liverpool & London Photographic Company of 12a Lord Street, Liverpool.
C 1870

		This is probably the most puzzling photograph in the album produced by the studio of Thiele & Carl Bolz of Wihelminen Strasse 6 in Darmstadt, Germany. There are absolutely no clues as to his identity.
C1890-1900


		This Post Card photograph is from the studio of George Ritchie Mackay who worked from 25 North Bridge Street in Edinburgh in the period between 1907 - 1919.
Anyone for Golf?

		Just as puzzling as the photograph from Germany above is this portrait from the Tadema Studio located in Newton, Auckland, New Zealand. Further research is ongoing to date the photo and identify the sitter.
New Zealand Portrait

		This photograph has few clues as to its date or sitter save for the style of dress which looks to be around 1900.
Unknown Gent

		This picture of my Grandfather Richard Holland pictured on the right of this group gives a fairly clear idea of how a typical working class man would have dressed for everyday activities. It's possible that the two men pictured with him were his brothers or perhaps just workmates. The date of the photo will be around 1905.
Richard Holland

		Richard Holland my Grandfather is pictured here again in a group of workmates (middle row centre with moustache). Richard worked in engineering all his life and this picture was probably taken during his time at the Hydraulic Engineering or Rust Proof Metal Window Companies both located in Chester.
At Work C1920

		This picture, also from about 1905, shows my Grandmother Nellie Holland (nee Onions) 2nd from the right on the back row of a group of fairly disconsolate looking female workers. The 1901 Census had her occupation as a dressmaker in Chester however there is no record for which employer she worked.
Nellie Onions at work

		This picture of my Great Aunt Kit can be dated to around 1908/9 when the Parisian Studio operated from 27 Church Street in Liverpool. Kit worked in the fitting department of Vincent Williams a ladies outfitters in Chester for many years and never married. She died 30/12/1978
Katie Holland born 1891

		This picture shows Eva Onions (born 27/5/1901) at the Lyceum Theatre in Newport, South Wales. The picture appears to date about 1918 as the postage stamp was still at the 1/2 pence rate (it went up to a penny in 1919!)
A Thespian

		A slightly more glamourous pose for the budding actress Eva Onions shown left pictured at the studios of Davies & Thornton from London dated to the mid 1920's.
Eva Onions

		This picture of my Great Aunt Emily probably dates to around 1910 based on Trade Directory data for the photgrapher Percy William Luton who had his studio at 34 New Cross Road, London. It is known that Emily worked as a nurse but like her sister Kit she never married and died in Chester on 23/12/1968.
Emily Holland born 1884

		This picture is one of those that you wonder why it was taken and why it has survived all this time. The children are unknown but such is the quality of the original photo the records hanging on each bed reveal that the Doctors attending these two children were a Mr Cyril Dobie and Mr Trubshaw. The bed on the left has a plaque advising that the "Cot" was donated by the RAOB (Royal Antediluvian Order Of Buffaloes) in 1921. The spotless & highly polished wooden floor is a reminder of how hospitals used to be cleaned in the UK. The Hospital pictured is probably the Chester City Hospital which was demolished in the 1960's in favour of new housing.
Hospital C1921

		Jessie Trevor (born 1890) married my Great Uncle Frank Onions. This rather bizarre photograph was unearthed recently showing Jessie (far left) and friends in Welsh national costume. The photo itself has not survived the test of time very well and there is no obvious reason why Jessie, who was English, should attire herself in this way. I enjoyed looking at it so I hope you do to!.
Jessie Trevor C1908

		This is probably the oldest family photograph I have in my possession. Known as an Amborotype photograph it was produced on a glass plate and was common between about 1851 and the early 1860's. The family look reasonably well to do if not particularly cheerful!
Family Group C1855 -1860