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Humphries and Baker Photographers 7 Hunters Lane Birmingham

caldwrj

caldwrj

New Member
Greetings from Maryland, USA.

Many years ago, at an antique flee market in Maryland, we purchased a damaged lap writing desk. Inside we found a treasure trove of items including pictures of a gentleman and his wife in Victorian era dress. The photos are in excellent condition for being so old. They were taken at Humphries and Baker, Hockley Studio at 7 Hunters Lane, Birmingham. We think they may be Mr and Mrs Harris. Does anyone know when the Hockley studios were in use so we can narrow down the age range of the pictures.
Thanks and regards
Richard
 
Hi Richard, welcome to the forum, I'm sorry for the late reply.

Humphries and Baker were at 7 Hunters Road between the years 1892 and 1900, this information is from Kelly's Directory of Birmingham for which not all years are available. There is no mention of the them in the 1890 directory or the 1905 directory. Did the photo actually have the address Hunters Lane ?
 
Hello Brummy-lad,
Thank you for the information. The photos do have Hockley studio at 7 Hunters Lane on the back. The lady and gentleman I think are Mr and Mrs Harris who lived 24 Lisson Road in London some time around 1849. He was a brewer. Why have the photos taken in Birmingham remains a mystery. His wife Charlotte Anne Spinks died in the US in 1906 according to the newspaper cutting found in the box. They moved to New England very late in life.
I am trying to return the artifacts found in an old lap desk we bought in Maryland to their rightful owner. They include a calling card from 1836, a book with hand written poetry dated 1849, his masonic apron, address book, and his personal seal. There is also a typed letter concerning the Collins Estate. The information spans about 100 years.
Thanks again for taking the time to research this information.
Best regards
Richard
 
We have a thread and see Mike’s post…

Post in thread 'Photography studio: T Humphries, Osborne Studio, Cattell Road, Small Heath'
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...io-cattell-road-small-heath.56512/post-796382


F

Thread 'Photography studio: F Humphries, Osborne Studio, Cattell Road, Small Heath'

Screenshot 2023-07-14 at 20.41.16.png

Just wondering if anyone has any information about this particular photography studio in Small Heath? Would have been active in the 1880s.
 
Can you upload a picture of the rear of the picture with the photographer’s name and address?
[It looks like a mistake by the Studio, it should read Hunter’s Road]
 
Could be way of mark here but there was a Charlotte Spinks that lived at Hockley Hill on the 1861 census, her son was a photographer.
 

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hi richard what an amazing find and it would be wonderful if any living family could be found..sorry i am late to this one and yes hunters lane became hunters road..i grew up 2 streets away..from memory no 7 hunters lane/road was demolished during 1970s but i think i do have a photograph before demo...
i wonder if you could post photos of any of the artifacts that you think may help us to trace the family for you the more info you can provide the better...we do have some very good researchers on this forum can you just confirm that you are looking for the harris family?
lyn
 
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I think Charlotte Ann Harris (nee Spink) died in February 1906 in Rhode Island. Husband was John.
Born England and Father Henry Spink
May not be the right person.
 
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caldwrj said:
Hello Brummy-lad,
Thank you for the information. The photos do have Hockley studio at 7 Hunters Lane on the back. The lady and gentleman I think are Mr and Mrs Harris who lived 24 Lisson Road in London some time around 1849. He was a brewer. Why have the photos taken in Birmingham remains a mystery. His wife Charlotte Anne Spinks died in the US in 1906 according to the newspaper cutting found in the box. They moved to New England very late in life.
I am trying to return the artifacts found in an old lap desk we bought in Maryland to their rightful owner. They include a calling card from 1836, a book with hand written poetry dated 1849, his masonic apron, address book, and his personal seal. There is also a typed letter concerning the Collins Estate. The information spans about 100 years.
Thanks again for taking the time to research this information.
Best regards
Richard
Click to expand...
Are you sure about it being Lisson /road in 1848. I ask as there is not listing of Lisson road in the 1841 or 1852 london directories, but is a listing in the 1841 London directory of a Lisson Grove North of a John Ray Brewer
 
pjmburns said:
I think Charlotte Ann Harris (nee Spink) died in February 1906 in Rhode Island. Husband was John.
Born England and Father Henry Spink
May not be the right person.
Click to expand...
Just had another look at this record and if it is the death referred to in post #3 then it can't be the Mrs Harris living in London in 1849.
The lady dying in 1906 was born in 1840 so wouldn't have become Mrs Harris by 1849.
So perhaps I have the wrong record?
 
Not sure I have the right people but on 1851 census both Charlotte Ann Spink and John Matthew Harris live in Lisson Grove. Each with their parents.
They married in 1858.
On 1881 census are living in Lennon Street Aston, Birmingham
He died in 1901 in Rhode Island - probate to widow Charlotte who died in 1906.
Will post records later.
So the Harris family living in London in about 1849 would seem to be the parents of John.
Is this correct Richard?
 
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