HELP!! I'm hoping that someone could give me more info on Richard Beard's studio addresses, dates in particular. I'm also looking for info on Beard & Foard's Photographic Institutions. I have not had much success online! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
DSGulledge
Comments
Beard had a studio at 8 York Place in Scarborough, which opened in June 1842 and ran until 1845. For more info, see the excellent Photographers in Mid Nineteenth Century Scarborough by Anne and Paul Bayliss.
There is a useful article about Beard by the Heathcote's in History of Photography, Volume 3, Number 4, October 1979. Good background on Beard but the list of studios is the same as in their book ( identified by Michael below). For further information about Beard's activities at The Regent Street Polytechnic suggest you see The Education of the Eye: History of the Royal Polytechnic Institution 1838-1881, by Brenda Weeden.(2008). .This includes several pages on Beard and his studio.The building is now part of the University of Westminster and Weeden is their archivist.
Douglas - The Heathcotes book provides the best and fullest listing of Beard studios and patentee studios there is!
To Michael Pritchard: Thanks for the info, your source basically covers only the Beard patentee photographers at Bromley House in Nottingham. I was looking for maybe a listing of his, Beard/partners in his studio locations! Thank you and I'm sorry for my slow response!!
This might just be a wild rumour, in the early 1970s there was a glass house on top of what was then the Regent Street Poly, then Poly of Central London, then University of Wesminister. When I saw it in 1973, the walls and roof had numerous broken blinds. I was told by the techies that it was Beard's studio. Subsequently demolished with the building. From memory it was 217 Regent St W1.
I have done some detailed research on Beard's licensee in Nottingham, Alfred Barber. There is an ongoing project at the studio which is at Bromley House Library, Angel Row, Nottingham. The studio was in the attic but there is little physical evidence left. Would you like to be put in contact with the current project manager.
The best source on Beard and Beard patentee addresses is B V and P F Heathcote's A Faithful Likeness: The First Photographic Portrait Studios in the British Isles 1841 to 1855.