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| William
Nathan Statham
was born c. 1863 in Matlock, Derbyshire, the youngest child of grocer,
chemist and druggist, Abanathan "Nathan" Daffin Statham (1823-1874) and
his wife Sarah Robinson (1823-1896). His father died when he
was
in his early teens, and his eldest brother Luke Robinson Statham took
over
the family grocery in Matlock. By the age of 17 William had
started
working as a china painter/artist, but in the late 1880s he appears to
have set up a photographic business at Matlock Bridge (Kelly,
1891).
He described himself in April 1891 as a "photographer/art master".
In 1891 William married Alice Sophia Wigg, daughter of an Inland Revenue supervisor William J. Wigg of Claines, Worcestershire. William and Alice had at least three children, including sons Percival Joseph (born 1894) and Leonard Nathan (born 1899) who may have later joined the business. Between c. 1900 and 1908 the premises moved to Dale Road in Matlock. The firm operated until at least 1940 (Bradley), and the latter years' directory entries (1932, Kelly) as "W.N. Statham & Sons" suggest that his sons were then assisting in the studio. John Bradley provides a very interesting account of Statham's career and an colourful contemporary description of the studio in his article "The Snapshot & the Postcard" presented on this site. As an interesting post-script, Bernard Alistair Storey (1921-2002), a grandson of W.N. Statham, although he trained as a teacher and taught in Matlock for most of his life, was with the RAF as a front line photographer during the Second World War. |
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This large John Valentine photo from John Bradley shows Matlock Bridge, with a glimpse of WN Statham’s studios just over the top of the bridge. You can see his name in big letters and the three skylights he has inserted in to the roof to light his studio. |
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| Portfolio |
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Unidentified
group by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the late 1880s Format: Cabinet card Size: Mount 108 x 167.5 mm Photo 102.5 x 144.5 mm Image ©
& collection of Brett Payne |
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John
A.
Potter (born
c. 1865) & George Potter (born c. 1863) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, taken c. 1890 Size: 145 x 103 mm (photo), 165 x 107 mm (mount) Format: Cabinet Card, glossy black with bevelled gilt edges Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter Notes: (DP) John
emigrated
to western Canada c. 1913 with his wife Marie (nee Bower) and two
children,
Leonard and Kathleen. According to a note Leonard wrote on the back of
another picture, George was later the father of Mildred, Connie, Hilda,
and Audrey Potter. (BP) Mike
Spencer believes that the bikers
may be posing for this photo on a
cycling track no longer in existence, but formerly situated on the side
of the River Derwent, off Dale Road in Matlock. |
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Unidentified
woman by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the late 1880s Format: Cabinet card Size: Mount 107 x 166 mm Photo 103 x 144 mm Image ©
& collection of Brett Payne |
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Selina
Taylor (1847-1878) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, produced c. 1891 but probably originally taken c. 1859-1862 Size: 144 x 100 mm (photo), 166 x 109 mm (mount) Format: Cabinet Card, pale grey mount Image © & courtesy of Margery Whitham Notes
by MW: Selina Taylor was
born
on 23rd July 1847 at Castle Top Farm, Matlock (between Cromford and
Lea), daughter of William and Mary Taylor. William's
ancestors had farmed at Castle Top since 1630 and possibly earlier.
The 1861 Census shows her aged 13, living at Castle Top with her
parents. Selina married Samuel Wright on 2nd October 1866 and
there were five
children of the marriage, the youngest being Samuel, born on 7th July
1878. Selina died a week after his birth and was interred at
St. James, Bonsall on 15th July 1878. |
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| Notes by BP: I am confident from the style of the mount that this particular copy of the photograph was produced in the early 1890s. However, several aspects suggest that it was a copy of a pre-exisiting, and much earlier photograph. I would estimate from the look of the girl, and her size in realtion to the height of the back of the chair, that she is in her early-teens. The pose, the centre-parting and tied-back hair are characteristic of a much earlier time, perhaps the late 1850s to early 1860s. The short sleeves suggest that she is not an adult. I believe, therefore, that the photo is a c. 1890-1892 copy of a photograph originally taken roughly thirty years earlier, c. 1859-1862. Many photos at that time (1860s) were full portraits i.e. they included the entire body from head to toe. The later copy may have been trimmed from the original carte-de-visite to reflect the tastes of the 1890s, cutting her off just below the knees. Compare it with the cabinet card portrait of Hetty Porter lower down on this page. Alternatively, something about the tone of the photo makes me think that the original may actually have been an ambrotype, rather than a carte-de-visite. An ambrotype photograph from my collection (above right), taken c. 1860, shows a girl in almost exactly the same pose, with short sleeves, drawn-back hairstyle with centre-parting and possibly a hair net. A carte de visite dated at c. 1862 (at right) shows an almost identical dress, although with a slightly wider neckline to that worn by Selina! |  |
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Catherine
Potter (b. c1839) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, taken c. 1891 Size: 144 x 100 mm (photo), 166 x 109 mm (mount) Format: Cabinet Card, pale grey mount Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter Hetty was one of seven children of Charles and Catherine Potter. |
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Henriette
"Hetty"
Potter (b. c1871) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, taken c. 1892 Size: 85 x 56 mm (photo), 103 x 63 mm (mount) Format: Carte de Visite, pale grey mount A very thin tissue paper dust cover with a spiderweb design (right) and inscribed PERCY LUND & Co BRADFORD (SO) is glued to the top edge Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter Hetty was one of seven children of Charles and Catherine Potter. |
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Henriette
"Hetty"
Potter (b. c1871) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, taken c. 1892 Size: 146 x 100 mm (photo), 165 x 108 mm (mount) Format: Cabinet Card, pale grey mount Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter Hetty was one of seven children of Charles and Catherine Potter (see previous image) |
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Alexander
Robertson
(1830-1916) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, Undated, but probably taken in the early 1890s Format: Carte de visite Image © & courtesy of Jean Baloo Notes by JB: This is my great grandfather Alexander Robertson (1830-1916). It must have been taken (1890's?) when he was visiting his daughter Anne (1873-1947), my grandmother, who married Arthur Whittaker of Matlock Bath and Starkholmes. Alexander was a shepherd and Annie was brought up in a stone croft on Rannoch Moor, Perthshire, Scotland. |
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Two
photos, probably
of George Potter by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, both taken on the same occasion, probably in the early 1890s Left (Cabinet Card): 144 x 100 mm (photo), 165 x 109 mm (mount) Right (Carte de Visite): 84 x 53 mm (photo), 103 x 64 mm (mount) both with pale grey mount, matte finish Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter George was one of seven children of Charles and Catherine Potter |
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Charles
Herbert
Potter (b. c1869) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, taken in the early 1890s Size: 138 x 96 mm (photo), 165 x 109 mm (mount) Format: Cabinet Card Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter Charles Herbert was one of seven children of Charles and Catherine Potter |
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Gertrude
Statham (1882-1961) and Lilian Statham (1886-1959) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the late 1890s Format: Carte de visite Size: Mount 63.5 x 105.5 mm Photo 58.5 x 96 mm Image ©
& collection of Brett Payne |
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Henry
Statham (1853-1937) & Ann Jane Statham née Wass (1853-1937) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the late 1890s Format: Cabinet card Size: Mount 107 x 166.5 mm Photo 102 x 150 mm Image ©
& collection of Brett Payne |
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Unidentified
young man by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the early to mid-1890s Format: Cabinet card Size: Mount 110 x 166 mm Photo 102.5 x 149 mm Card Mount by Marion Imp. Paris Image ©
& collection of Brett Payne |
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William
Doxey (born
April 1894) by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge Taken in late 1894 Format: Cabinet card Size: 165 x 105 mm Image ©
& courtesy
of John
Palmer Nothing further is known about this photo. |
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Leonard
Bower by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, Undated but probably mid-1890s Size: 143 x 97 mm (photo) Format: Cabinet Card Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter Leonard Bower was probably a brother of Marie Potter née Bower, wife of John A. Potter and mother to Kathleen Potter (see below). |
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Sabine
Hay, near
Darley Dale by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, Probably taken in the late 1890s Size: 201 x 155 mm (photo), 303 x 254 mm (mount) Hand-tinted with cream coloured mount Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter "Sabine Hay" was the family home of Marie Potter née Bower. |
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Unknown
house by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Date unknown Format: unknown Image © & courtesy of John Bradley |
| Notes
by Mike Spencer:
This house (shown in at right) is on the A6
going towards Matlock Bath
and stands opposite High Tor, so it has a fantastic view of a sheer
cliff
face across the road and beyond the river. The building
hasn't
changed,
although its front and right hand side gardens have gone, to make way
for
a drive and car parking spaces. It is now a
B&B. It is
red bricked but has a stone extension added to it on its
hidden
left
hand side, I would imagine some time ago. The almost pointed
conifer
tree between the two chimneys is now an elegant giant. The
white
piece near right of the tree is a wall that has a roadway in front of
it
and that comes out at the bottom near the lamp post, which has now
gone.
The house does not appear on the 1847 Tithe map, but it is on the 1899
Ordnance Survey map. Image ©
&
courtesy of Mike Spencer
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Unidentified
elderly woman taken by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken around 1897-1900 Format: Carte de visite Size: Mount 63.5 x 106 mm; Photo 57 x 91 mm Image © & collection of Brett Payne Nothing further is known about this photo. |
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| Two
unidentified young men with bicycles, by W.N. Statham of The
Studio, Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the early 1900s Format: Cabinet Card Image © & courtesy of Mike Reeve |
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| "Viscount
Sidmouth and Sancho Panza, of Dean Hill", by W.N. Statham of The
Studio, Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken between 1900 and 1904 Size: 106 mm x 167 mm Format: Cabinet Card Image © & courtesy of Ian Ward Notes: This is an image of one of several photos contributed by Ian from a family album that he inherited from his aunt. The subject of the photograph always puzzled Ian, but the penny dropped when I sent him a 1901 Census extract for his grandmother! In April 1901, Mary Louisa Hinge (brother of Ashbourne photographer Henry Hinge) was employed by Margaret Harrison, of independent means, as a domestic housemaid at Dean Hill House, Matlock Bridge. One wonders how much of Mary Louisa's duties included walking the dogs? Mary Louisa Hinge married Tom Ward at Ashbourne in 1904, and photos of her may be viewed in the portfolios of J.L. Hart and Henry Hinge. |
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Three
young unidentified
women taken by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken around 1895-1899 Format: Cabinet card Image © & courtesy of Cynthia Maddock Nothing further is known about this photo. |
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Unidentified
yong woman taken by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the mid- to late 1890s Format: Cabinet card Size: Mount 108 x 167.5 mm Photo 102 x 148 mm Image © & collection of Brett Payne Notes |
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Unidentified
yong woman taken by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the mid- to late 1890s Format: Cabinet card Size: Mount 109 x 158.5 mm (trimmed at base) Photo 101 x 148.5 mm Image © & collection of Brett Payne Notes |
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Unidentified
yong woman taken by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Undated, but probably taken in the mid- to late 1890s Format: Cabinet card Size: Mount 109 x 166 mm Photo 102 x 145.5 mm Image © & collection of Brett Payne Notes |
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| Kathleen
Potter
(1902-1971), by W.N. Statham of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, taken in
the Summer of
1904 Size: 145 x 100 mm (photo), 165 x 108 mm (mount) Format: Cabinet Card, pale brown mount Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter Kathleen Potter was the only daughter of John A Potter and Marie Potter (née Bower), and the sister of Leonard Potter. The family emigrated to Canada c1913. Kathleen never married and had no children. She was later a nurse on Indian reservations in Alberta, Canada, then for the last few years of her life she turned to professional painting, concentrating mainly on portraits of native Indians and prairie scenes. |
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| Marriage
group,
by W.N. Statham of Matlock, Undated Format: Post card with "W.N. Statham Matlock" blind stamped in lower left corner Size: 140mm x 90mm Image © & courtesy of Graham Robinson Nothing further is known about this photo. |
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| Unidentified
baby,
by W.N. Statham & Sons of The Studio, Matlock Bridge, Undated
Format: Post card with "W.N. Statham Matlock" blind stamped in lower right corner Image © & courtesy of Graham Robinson Nothing further is known about this photo. |
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E.A.
(Lena) Cross taken by W.N. Statham of Matlock Bridge Undated Format: Mounted oval print Size: Mount 110 x 152 mm Photo 51 x 70 mm Image © & collection of Brett Payne; courtesy of David Simkin Notes: Inscribed on the front,
"gratefully
yours, Lena Cross"; Inscribed
on the reverse, "E A Cross,
The Home Close, Matlock" and "My
father (Dr. A.
Hartley) saved her life
from drowning" |
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William
Rhodes &
Ada Mary Oxspring, taken by W.N. Statham of Matlock, on the occasion of their marriage on 10 August 1929 at Wirksworth Format: Post card with "W.N. Statham Matlock" blind stamped in lower left corner Image © & courtesy of Graham Robinson Nothing further is known about this photo. |
| References
Images and information provided by Marilyn McMillan, Brett Payne, Cynthia Maddock, David Simkin, Mike Reeve, Ian Ward, Jean Baloo, Margery Whitham, Graham Robinson, Mike Spencer, John Palmer, John Bradley & Denis Potter Obituary of Bernard Alistair Storey (1921-2002) - University College Chester Alumni 1841, 1851, 1861 & 1871 Matlock Census Transcripts - Ann Andrews' Matlock & Matlock Bath Pages 1881 UK Census - online from the LDS church 1891 UK Census - online from Ancestry.com 1901 UK Census index - online from the PRO FreeBMD International Genealogical Index - online from the LDS church Anon (1855) The Post Office Directory of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Rutlandshire, pub. Kelly and Co., London, pp.107-109, Ann Andrews' Matlock & Matlock Bath Pages White, F. & Co. (1857) History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Derby. Transcribed by Neil Wilson. Anon (1864) The Post Office Directory of the Counties of Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutlandshire, ed. E.R. Kelly, M.A. pub. Kelly and Co., London, pp. 277-279, Ann Andrews' Matlock & Matlock Bath Pages Anon (1876) The Post Office Directory of the Counties of Derby, Leicester, Rutland and Nottingham, ed. E.R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. pub. Kelly and Co., London, pp. 141-144, Ann Andrews' Matlock & Matlock Bath Pages Anon (1891) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland & Nottinghamshire, Kelly & Co., London. University of Leicester's Digital Library of Historical Directories Anon (1895) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, Kelly & Co. Limited, London. Anon (1895) History, Topography, and Directory of Derbyshire, T. Bulmer & Co. - by kind courtesy of Sonia Addis-Smith Anon (1908) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, pub. London, pp. 323-325, Ann Andrews' Matlock & Matlock Bath Pages Anon (1912) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, Kelly's Directories Ltd., London. Anon (1916) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, pub. London , pp. 327-330, Ann Andrews' Matlock & Matlock Bath Pages Anon (1932) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire 1932, Kelly's Directories Ltd., London. Craven, Maxwell (ed.) (1993) Keene's Derby, Breedon Books, Derby, pp. 200-202. - by kind courtesy of Sonia Addis-Smith |
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