Brett Payne's Victorian & Edwardian
Home / Studio Index / England / Devon / Exeter / Charles Keeping
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Charles Keeping was born on 25 June 1842 at Little Becton, Hordle, near Lymington in Hampshire, the youngest of seven children of an agricultural labourer Stephen Keeping and his wife Margaret n�e Burry. He married Elizabeth Ann Hawkins in 1865 and they had two daughters and two sons before Elizabeth died on 16 September 1877. Elizabeth's daughter Lavinia may also have been Charles' daughter, but was born prior to their marriage. Charles remarried on 18 April 1882 to Ellen Jane Attwater at Barnstaple, and they had another seven children.
Charles KEEPING (b. c1842-43 Lymington HAM) m1: 1865 Elizabeth Ann HAWKINS (b. c.1840 Crediton DEV d. 1877 Exeter DEV) |- Lavinia "Minnie" HAWKINS b. c.1862 Torquay DEV |- Alice Kate KEEPING b. c.1867 Torquay DEV |- Alfred KEEPING b. c.1872 Exeter DEV |- Frederick KEEPING b. c.1874 Exeter DEV m2: 1882 Ellen Jane ATTWATER (b. c1859 Southampton DEV) |- Henry Charles KEEPING b. 1885 d. 1960 Coventry WAR |- Mabel A. KEEPING b. c.1887 Exeter DEV |- Thomas KEEPING b. c.1889 |- Frank KEEPING b. c.1891 Exeter DEV |- Edward W. KEEPING b. c.1897 Exeter DEV
Charles and Ellen Jane Keeping Undated, but probably taken c.1914-1918 Unidentified photographer Image courtesy of Pam Salzmann & Jacquie Neale |
Charles Keeping first worked as a photographer in Exeter in about 1870, setting up a studio at New Bridge Street, after moving there from Torquay between 1867 and 1870. The studio moved to 1, Exe Bridge in 1873. He appears to have had additional short-lived premises at the Esplanade in Sidmouth (c.1878), 12 Holloway Street, Exeter (1889), Exe Island (1890), 43 St Sidwells, Exeter and Belgrave House, Paignton. There were also branch studios at Waterloo Road (c.1870-1872) and 62 Regent Street, Weston-super-Mare in Somerset. By April 1881, the business must have been thriving, because the census of that year shows his step-daughter Minnie Keeping, sister-in-law Mary Hawkins and an employee Blanc (Blanche?) Treble, all working as photographic assistants in the shop. In the mid- to late 1880s, the business was known as the "Exonia Studio".
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Charles Keeping's studio at 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Undated print, unknown format Image © & Courtesy of David Cornforth |
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| Type I Used c. 1869-1870 Square corners Banner & Hanging Basket Design Gold ink on white card Border of stylized flowers & ivy |
Type IIa Used c. 1870-1878 Square corners Exeter Coat of Arms Black/red/purple ink on white/pink/pale yellow card Coat of arms, diagonal name & semi-ornate "P" |
Type IIb Used c. 1875-1880 Rounded corners Exeter Coat of Arms Black ink on white/buff card Coat of arms, diagonal name & two ornate initials |
Type III Used c.1879-1883 Stylised Ivy Design Rounded corners Diagonal name & stylised ivy Brown ink on buff card Four fonts |
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| Type IV Used c.1879-1883 Rounded corners Diagonal name with frame, stylised ivy, flowers & ornate initials Dark brown ink on buff card |
Type V Used c.1879-1885 Rounded corners Diagonal name, royal seal Dark brown ink on buff card Numerous fonts |
Type VIa Used c. 1884-1887 Rounded corners Bamboo, Fan & Swallows Red ink on white card Three fonts with ornate initials Manfd. for J.J. Atkinson in Berlin |
Type VIb Used c. 1885-1888 Rounded corners Bamboo, Fan & Swallows Brown ink on buff card Three fonts with ornate initials |
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| Type VIc Used c. 1886-1890 Rounded corners Bamboo, Fan & Swallows Brown ink on buff card Three fonts with ornate initials |
Type VII Used c.1890-1896 Rounded corners Classical artists, easel & cherubs Numerous fonts Reg. C.E. & C. |
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ID #: ckeeping01 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: C. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 2888 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 64.5 x 103 mm; Photo 58.5 x 95.5 mm) Card Type: Type I (gold) - Banner & hanging basket with stylized ivy & flowers border; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1869-1870 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Lower corners clipped, bottom of card trimmed. Marked "Keeping / Exeter" on front. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 30s or 40s, full length portrait with writing table and books |
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ID #: ckeeping06 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 5823 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 106 mm; Photo 58 x 96.5 mm) Card Type: Type IIa (red on white card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", and extra text; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1870-1872 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified girl, probably in her mid- to late teens, three-quarter length seated portrait with table and open book. |
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ID #: ckeeping26 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Steve Massie Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter & Hope Villa (Opposite the Station), Weston-super-Mare Negative No. 6052 Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type IIa (red on white card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", and extra text. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1870-1872 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified family group portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping09 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter & Waterloo Road, Weston-super-Mare (Gloucestershire) Negative No. 7639 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 106 mm; Photo 56.5 x 96.5 mm) Card Type: Type IIa (red on white card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", two studios listed, and extra text; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1870-1872 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 20s, three-quarter length seated portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping08 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter & Waterloo Road, Weston-super-Mare (Gloucestershire) Negative No. 9069 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 106 mm; Photo 56 x 97 mm) Card Type: Type IIa (violet on pale lilac card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", two studios listed, and extra text; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1871-1873 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 40s, three-quarter length seated vignette portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping10 Source: Collection of Roger Vaughan Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter & Waterloo Road, Weston-super-Mare Negative No. 10295 Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type IIa (violet on pale lilac card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", two studios, and extra text; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1871-1873 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified young woman, perhaps in her late teens, three-quarter length seated vignette portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping14 Source: Collection of Leonie Cousin Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter & Waterloo Road, Weston-super-Mare Negative No. 16943 Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type IIa (red on white card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", two studios, and extra text; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1873-1876 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Young man, probably in his 20s, head-and-shoulders vignetted portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping07 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 16943 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 101 mm; Photo 56 x 95.5 mm) Card Type: Type IIa (red on buff card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", and extra text; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1873-1876 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 20s, three-quarter length seated portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping05 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of Esplanade, Sidmouth, & 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 673 Size: Carte de Visite (Mount 63.5 x 103.5 mm; Photo 54 x 93 mm Card Type: Type IIa (black on yellow card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", two studios, and extra text; single line frame around photo. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1874-1876 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her mid-20s, head-and-shoulders cameo portrait in raised oval. |
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ID #: ckeeping04 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 101 mm; Photo 56 x 97 mm Card Type: Type IIa (black on yellow card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", and extra text. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1876-1878 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Top of card trimmed. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her early late 20s or early 30s, head-and-shoulders cameo portrait in oval frame. |
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ID #: ckeeping13 Source: Collection of Leonie Cousin Artist: Chas. Keeping, of Esplanade, Sidmouth, & 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 26462 Size: Carte de Visite Card Type: Type IIa (black on yellow card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, three fonts with semi-ornate "P", two studios, and extra text. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1876-1878 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified young woman, probably in her late teens or early 20s, three-quarter length seated portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping02 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Mount 63.5 x 89.5 mm; Photo 55 x 95 mm Card Type: Type IIb (black on buff card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, four fonts with two ornate initials, and extra text. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1876-1878 Notes: Thin card. Rounded corners. Lower corners cut. Trimmed at bottom. Subject: Young girl, probably in her early to mid-teens, three-quarter length portrait. Unidentified, but probably the same girl, Annie Lewis, (or a sister) as identified in photo below (#ckeeping03) |
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ID #: ckeeping03 Source: Exeter Album, Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Mount 63 x 100.5 mm; Photo 55 x 95 mm Card Type: Type IIb (black on buff card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, four fonts with two ornate initials, and extra text. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1876-1878 Notes: Thin card. Rounded corners. Lower corners cut. Reverse inscribed "Annie Lewis." Subject: Annie Lewis, probably in her early to mid-teens, head and shoulders portrait in oval frame. Probably the same girl (or sister) as in photo above (#ckeeping02). She is probably the Anna/Annie Lewis born c.1860 in Exeter, daughter of a tailor's shopman, John Lewis and his wife Hannah, who married James Doeg Venn (1861-) in 1885 and had two children. They lived in Exeter, where her husband worked as an accountant, eventually becoming the chief clerk at the Town Clerk's office. |
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ID #: ckeeping16 Source: Collection of Carol Franks Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge & 43 St Sidewell's, Exeter Negative No. 85 Size: Mount 63.5 x 104.5 mm; Photo 56.5 x 96.5 mm Card Type: Type IIb (black on buff card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, four fonts with two ornate initials, and extra text. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1876-1878 Notes: Thin card. Rounded corners. Subject: Full-length portrait of girl with hat. Carol Franks believes that an estimated date of 1876-1878 would correlate with this being her great-grandmother Lavinia Darch, who was born on 27 May 1866, and would therefore have been aged about 10-12 at the time this portrait was taken. Carol writes, "All of Lavinia's aunts and uncles on her mother's Snell side of the family emigrated to New Zealand and supposedly my Lavinia's mum and dad were going to follow with Lavinia when she was a young girl. Something happened to change that and instead the Darches moved from being farmers in the villages around Winkleigh to having a teahouse in Plymouth. I wonder if the photo might originally have been intended as a parting gift to Lavinia's grandfather Robert SNELL before the last of his family departed for New Zealand." |
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ID #: ckeeping30 Source: Collection of Norman Wedlake Artist: Chas. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge & 143 St Sidewell's, Exeter Negative No. 29731 Size: Mount 62 x 102 mm; Photo 57 x 97 mm Cameo frame 53.5 x 75.5 mm Card Type: Type IIb (black on white card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name, four fonts with two ornate initials, and extra text. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1876-1878 Notes: Thin card. Rounded corners. Subject: Head-and-shoulders portrait of young man with side whiskers and moustache. |
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ID #: ckeeping12 Source: Sellek Family Album, Collection of Marcia Penny Artist: Chas. Keeping, of Esplanade, Sidmouth & 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Unknown Date: Undated, probably taken c.1878 Notes: - Subject: Caroline "Carrie" Ellen Coxwell (1852-), half-length seated cameo portrait with shawl in oval frame. |
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ID #: ckeeping17 Source: Collection of Pam Salzmann Artist: C. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 104.5 Photo approx. 58 x 72 mm) Card Type: Type III (brown on white card) - Diagonal name with stylised ivy, four fonts. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1878-1882 Notes: Rounded corners. Inscribed "Mr. C. Keeping" on recto. Subject: Charles Keeping, three-quarter length seated portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping23 Source: Collection of Diana Burns Artist: C. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 34443 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 61.5 x 101 Photo approx. 56 x 97.5 mm in cameo frame 49 x 75.5 mm) Card Type: Type III (Red-brown & pale brown on buff card) - Diagonal name with stylised ivy, four fonts. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1878-1882 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man with beard, mid-20s, head-and-shoulders portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping20 Source: Collection of Diana Burns Artist: C. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 38807 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 104.5 Photo approx. 58 x 72 mm) Card Type: Type III (Red-brown & pale brown on buff card) - Diagonal name with stylised ivy, four fonts. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1878-1882 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified child, about 6 years old, full length seated portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping25 Source: Collection of Pam Salzmann Artist: C. Keeping, of 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type III. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1879-1883 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Charles Keeping, head-and-shoulders portrait in cameo frame. |
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ID #: ckeeping31 Source: Collection of Brett Payne by kind donation of Diana Burns Artist: Charles Keeping, of Exe Bridge Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 107 x 164 Photo 87.5 x 140 mm) Card Type: Type IV (dark brown on pale grey card) - Diagonal name with frame, stylised ivy, flowers & ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1879-1883 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, three-quarter length seated portrait with photo album. |
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ID #: ckeeping24 Source: Collection of Jenny Mukerji Artist: Charles Keeping, of Exonia Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 49229 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 105.5 Photo 59.5 x 95 mm) Card Type: Type V (dark brown on buff card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name & two ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1880-1883 Notes: Rounded corners. Inscribed "Emily Jane Legg with love to her Aunt" on verso. Subject: Emily Jane Legg, three-quarter length standing portrait. Emily was born in Gosport, Hampshire around August 1852, and married in 1883. |
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ID #: ckeeping28 Source: Collection of Sylvia Wedlake Artist: Charles Keeping, of Exonia Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 50165 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 64 x 105.5 Photo 59.5 x 94 mm Arched frame 50.5 x 80 mm) Card Type: Type V (red-brown on buff card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name & two ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1880-1881 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: William Northcott, half length portrait. William was born at South Zeal, Devon in 1857, and by 1881 he was a carpenter living in Drewsteignton. In July of that year he married Ada Cann in that village. They later settled at Okehampton, where he was the estate carpenter and wheelwright at "Oaklands," the estate of General Holley. |
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ID #: ckeeping29 Source: Collection of Norman Wedlake Artist: Charles Keeping, of Exonia Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 50513 Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 103.5 Photo 60 x 94.5 mm) Card Type: Type V (dark brown on buff card) - Coat of arms, diagonal name & two ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1880-1883 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman (Clark family), three-quarter length standing portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping18 Source: Collection of Pam Salzmann Artist: Chas. Keeping, of Exe Bridge Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 103 Photo 59.5 x 98 mm) Card Type: Type VIa (red on white card) - Bamboo, fan & swallows, three fonts with ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1882-1885 Notes: Rounded corners. Inscribed "Mr. C. Keeping" on recto. Subject: Charles & Ellen Jane Keeping, three-quarter length seated portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping21 Source: Collection of Diana Burns Artist: Chas. Keeping, of Exonia Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 51569 Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type VIb (Brown on buff card) - Bamboo, fan & swallows, three fonts with ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1884-1888 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, mid- to late 20s, three-quarter length seated portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping22 Source: Collection of Diana Burns Artist: Chas. Keeping, of Exonia Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 51570 Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type VIb (Brown on buff card) - Bamboo, fan & swallows, three fonts with ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1886-1888 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man, early to mid-20s, head-and-shoulders portrait in arch-shaped frame. |
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ID #: ckeeping11 Source: Collection of Roger Vaughan Artist: Chas. Keeping, of Exonia Studio, 1 Exe Bridge, Exeter Negative No. 59086 Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type VIc (brown on buff card) - Bamboo, fan & swallows, three fonts with ornate initials. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1890 Notes: Thick card. Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified young woman, probably in her 20s, three-quarter length standing portrait. |
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ID #: ckeeping27 Source: Collection of Susan Doherty Artist: Keeping, of Exonia Studio, No 1 Clinton Terrace, Exmouth Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type VII - Classical artists, easel and cherubs. Date: Undated, probably taken c.1890-1896 Notes: Thick card. Rounded corners. Published by C.E. & C. Subject: Unidentified young man, probably in his early 20s, head-and-shoulders vignetted portrait. |
Historical Directories from the University of Leicester
Indexed 1871- 1901 Census Images from Ancestry.com
1881 Census Transcript & International Genealogical Index (IGI) from the LDS Church's web site FamilySearch
Partial Transcript of the GRO Index from FreeBMD
Photographers in Devon 1842-1939 : a brief directory for photograph collectors, by C.G. Scott, 1985, The PhotoHistorian Supplement No. 101, ISSN 0957-0209
Trade Directory entries
History, Gazetteer & Directory of Devon (1878-79)
- Keeping Charles, photographer, Exe bridge (betw 14 & 16 New Bridge Street), Exeter
- Keeping Charles, photographer, Esplanade, Sidmouth
Kelly's Directory of Devon (1889)
- Keeping Charles, photographer, 1 Exe bridge & 12 Holloway street, Exeter
Kelly's Directory of Devon & Cornwall (1893)
- Keeping Charles, 1 Clinton ter. Exmouth
Besley's Exeter Directory & Business Guide (1906-11)
- (1906) Keeping Charles, photographer, 32 Poltimore Square, Exeter
- (1909) Keeping Charles, photographer, 25 Longbrook Street
- (1910) Keeping Charles, photographer, 25 Longbrook Street
- (1911) Keeping Charles, photographer, 25 Longbrook Street
Post Office Directory of Exeter & Suburbs (1912)
- Keeping Charles, photographer, 25 Longbrook Street
Besleys Directory of Exeter & Suburbs (1915)
- Keeping Charles, photographer, 55 Ladysmith Road
Besley's Directory of Exeter and Suburbs (1916-19)
1916 - Keeping Charles, photographer, 55 Ladysmith Road, Exeter
1917 - Keeping Charles, photographer, 55 Ladysmith Road, Exeter
1918 - Keeping Charles, photographer, 55 Ladysmith Road, Exeter
1919 - Keeping Charles, photographer, 55 Ladysmith Road & 96 Paris Street, Exeter
Many thanks to Norman Wedlake, Sylvia Wedlake, Susan Doherty, Steve Massie, Jenny Mukerji, Diana Burns, David Cornforth, Pam Salzmann, Carol Franks, Jacquie Neale, Francis Payne, Leonie Cousin, Marcia Penny & Roger Vaughan for kind contributions of images and information.