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| Biography of B.W. Botham
by David
Simkin :: Brighton
Photographers 1841-1910 Benjamin William Botham was baptized at Halesworth, Suffolk on 2nd December 1824, the son of Benjamin Botham (b. c1802 Southwold d. 1877 Halesworth), a tailor and habit maker, and Frances Botham, née Whiting (b. c1803 Great Yarmouth). He came from a family of tailors and in the early 1850s he was working as a linen and woollen draper and living in Bridge Street, Halesworth. On 20th April 1853, Benjamin married Ellen Bedwell (born 1831 Halesworth), the daughter of Sarah and John Bedwell, also a tailor. A son and daughter were born in Halesworth, but around 1857 Benjamin Botham set off on his travels as an itinerant photographer. He reached Derbyshire that year, and according to advertisements in the Derby Mercury, was operating as a photographer from premises at London Road, Derby between 1857 and 1858. The Botham's third child, Frances Rosetta Botham, was born at Derby in 1858. Advertisements in The Matlock Bath Advertiser indicate that B.W. Botham also visited the Matlock area in order to take photographic portraits in September 1857. On the first three Tuesdays of September 1857, he took portraits in a temporary studio in Museum Parade, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. By the end of 1859, the Bothams had returned to Halesworth in Suffolk, where their son John Andrew Botham was born. By the time of the census in April 1861, Benjamin W. Botham was living with his wife and four children at 23 Egremont Place, Brighton and gave his occupation as a photographic artist. Later that year, Botham was taking carte-de-visite portraits at 59, North Street, Brighton, the former photographic studio of Robert Farmer (1823-1859). By 1862, he was listed as a photographic artist at 43 Western Road and 33 Clarence Square, Brighton. Botham remained at these premises until the summer of 1868, when he sold his photographic business at 43 Western Road to Charles Nathaniel Wootton of Cambridge. B.W. Botham then became the proprietor of The New Oxford Theatre of Varieties in New Road, Brighton. His new venture was a success, but around 1874 he became seriously ill. On 18th December 1877, Benjamin William Botham died at his residence, 6 Marlborough Place, leaving "a widow with two sons and two daughters." Mrs Ellen Botham took over the running of the music hall after her husband's death. Ellen and her sons were involved in a court case at the end of 1881, arising from the tragic death of a 15 year old boy, who was killed by a magician's cannon during a performance at the New Oxford Theatre. Her two sons, Benjamin Clayton Botham and John Andrew Botham were the proprietors of the Oxford Theatre of Varieties from 1887. Clayton worked as an architect and designed the Brighton Empire music hall. Initially, John Andrew Botham had a career in the music hall business. Benjamin William Botham's four children were as follows:
Sources & Acknowledgements David Simkin would like to acknowledge the assistance of Debbi and Pete Botham of Braintree, Essex, who provided details of B.W. Botham's early life in Halesworth. Pete Botham is descended from the brother of B.W. Botham's grandfather. |
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Unidentified
young woman taken by B.W. Botham of Brighton Undated, but probably taken in the late 1860s Format: Carte-de-visite Image © & courtesy of David Simkin Nothing
further is known about this photo |
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Unidentified
young woman taken by B.W. Botham of Brighton Undated, but probably taken in the late 1860s Format: Carte-de-visite Image © & courtesy of David Simkin Nothing further is known about this photo |
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Unidentified
young man taken by C.N. Wootton & Son of Western Road, Brighton (successor to B.W. Botham) Undated, but probably taken c.1868-1869 Format: Carte-de-visite Size: Mount 62.5 x 105.0 mm Photo 55.5 x 91.5 mm Image ©
& collection
of Brett Payne |
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| References
Images and information provided by Brett Payne & David Simkin Adamson, Keith I.P. (1997) Professional Photographers in Derbyshire 1843 - 1914, The PhotoHistorian, No. 118 Supplement, September 1997, ISSN 0957-0209. Courtesy of John Bradley. |
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