Marsh Gallery
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The Photographic Work of William Pankhurst Marsh (1850-1918)
Carte-de-visite Portraits W. P. Marsh of Bognor |
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[ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of "Mr. Gardener, the Evangelist" by W. P. Marsh of 4 Somerset Terrace, Bognor (c1875). This was one of a set of celebrity portraits of evangelists produced by W. P. Marsh in the 1870s ( See the cdv of "Mr.Rodway, the Evangelist", below). |
[ABOVE] The back of the previous carte-de-visite portrait which gives details of W. P. Marsh's first Bognor studio at 4 Somerset Terrace, Bognor, "Near the Railway Station" (c1875). |
[ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a young man in uniform by W. P. Marsh of Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1888). Negative No.3246..The design on the reverse of the above carte-de-visite is illustrated below [BOTTOM LEFT ] |
[ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a young boy in a sailor's outfit by W. P. Marsh of Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1888). Negative No.3478. |
[ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of "Mr.Rodway, the Evangelist", by W. P. Marsh of 4 Somerset Terrace, Bognor (c1875). This was one of a set of celebrity portraits of evangelists produced by W. P. Marsh in the 1870s ( See the cdv of "Mr. Gardener, the Evangelist", above). |
[ABOVE] The design on the back of a carte-de-visite by William Pankhurst Marsh of Waterloo Square, Bognor, which advises the public that the photographer had been given an "Honourable Mention for Excellence in Photography". | [ABOVE] The design on the back of a carte-de-visite by William Pankhurst Marsh of the Royal Marina Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor, which features the many medals he was awarded for "Excellence in Photography" (c1895) |
[ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a young child perched on a table by W. P. Marsh of Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1890). Negative No.4679 | [ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a young boy with a bucket and spade by W. P. Marsh of Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1889). Negative No.3360. | [ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a young woman by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marina Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1892). Negative No.10,336. The design on the reverse of the above carte-de-visite features the many medals Marsh was awarded for "Excellence in Photography". | [ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a young woman by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marina Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1895). Negative No.12,300. The design on the reverse of the above carte-de-visite features the many medals Marsh was awarded for "Excellence in Photography".[ SEE ABOVE RIGHT] |
In 1892, W. P. Marsh charged 2 shillings and sixpence for a single carte-de-visite portrait, but if additional copies were ordered, a customer would only have to pay 5 shillings for six copies and 8 shillings for a dozen cartes-de-visite. |
Midget Portraits by W. P. Marsh of Bognor
Midget Carte Photographs The "Midget Carte" was the smallest format available for commercial portrait photography. The "Midget Carte" format was introduced in the early 1880s, but these tiny photographs did not become widely popular until the 1890s. Measuring 3 1/4 inches by 1 5/8 inches, the "midget" portrait was much smaller than the carte-de-visite and was significantly cheaper than the other popular portrait formats. John H. Blomfield of Hastings was probably the first studio photographer in Sussex to advertise midget cartes. In 1883, Blomfield was offering "the new size, Midget Cartes" at 4s 6d a dozen. This was at a time when cartes-de-visite were sold for anything up to 10s 6d a dozen. In the early 1880s, twelve copies of a cabinet portrait would cost around 20 shillings. By the mid 1890s, the cost of portrait photographs had fallen. In 1894, a typical mid-range Sussex studio charged 10 shillings for a dozen cabinets and 5 shillings for a set of twelve carte-de-visite portraits. The same studio priced the Midget portrait at 3s 6d per dozen.
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[ABOVE] A midget portrait of a young man wearing a bow-tie by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marine Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1892). Negative No.11,213 | [ABOVE] A midget portrait of a young man wearing a white tie by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marine Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1892). Negative No.11,422 | [ABOVE] A midget portrait of a bearded man by W. P. Marsh of he Royal Marina Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1895). Negative No.12,318 |
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[ABOVE] Eleanor Osborn Powell (born 1877, Clapham, Surrey) photographed by William Pankhurst Marsh of the Royal Marine Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor. Eleanor Osborn Powell was the daughter of Clara Osborn and Edward James Powell, Chief Draughtsman to the British Admiralty. Eleanor's mother, Mrs Clara Powell, originated from Bognor, and Eleanor was probably in Bognor visiting relatives when this portrait was taken by W. P. Marsh. PHOTO: Courtesy of Mary Irish Daniels |
[ABOVE] A midget portrait of Eleanor Osborn Powell (born 1877), photographed by W. P. Marsh at the Royal Marine Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1890). PHOTO: Courtesy of Mary Irish Daniels |
Cabinet Portraits by W. P. Marsh of Bognor | ||||
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[ABOVE] An "Instantaneous Cabinet Photograph" of a young child holding a woollen ball by W. P. Marsh of Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1886). The development of "instantaneous photography" in the 1880s meant that the speedy exposure times could capture good images of fidgety children. | [ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of a family group by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marine Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1891). Negative No.2,277. From around 1890, W. P. Marsh's studio went under the name of the Royal Marine Studio, but by the end of 1892 the "e" had been replaced by an "a" and the studio became the Royal Marina Studio. |
[ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of a baby on a fur rug by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marina Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1894). Negative No.3,787. Before 1892, W. P. Marsh's studio went under the name of the "Royal Marine Studio", but by 1893 the "e" had been replaced by an "a" and the studio became the Royal Marina Studio. | [ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of an elderly couple with a pet dog by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marina Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1893). Negative No.3,303. Before 1892, W. P. Marsh's studio went under the name of the "Royal Marine Studio", but by 1892 the "e" had been replaced by an "a" and the studio became the Royal Marina Studio. |
The Wedding Group Portrait of James Oliver Long and Annie Gatrell by W. P. Marsh of Bognor |
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[ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of James Oliver Long, his wife Annie and his mother-in-law, Mrs Charlotte Gatrell, photographed by W. P. Marsh of the Royal Marine Studio, Waterloo Square, Bognor (c1889). Before 1892, W. P. Marsh's studio went under the name of the "Royal Marine Studio", but by 1892 the "e" had been replaced by an "a" and the studio became the Royal Marina Studio. This group photograph was probably taken to mark the marriage of James Oliver Long and Annie Gatrell, which took place in Barnham, West Sussex during the First Quarter of 1889. Annie's father, Michael Gatrell is absent from the picture, having died early in 1889, aged 71. [Photo: Courtesy of Jacqui May of Australia] |
Acknowledgements |
Thanks to Jacqui May of Australia for providing the cabinet portrait of James Oliver Long and his wife Annie Gatrell. Thanks also to Steve Long, the great grandson of James Oliver Long, for supplying additional information about the Long family. Steve Long's grandfather Alfred Edward Cecil Long (born 1904) was the youngest child of James and Annie Long. |
W. P. Marsh's Portraits of Mary Wheatland - Bognor's Celebrated Bathing Woman
William Pankhurst Marsh became well-known for his portraits of Mary Wheatland (1835-1924), the celebrated "Bathing Woman of Bognor." From around 1875, W. P. Marsh produced portraits of Mary Wheatland in both the carte-de-visite and cabinet formats. With the introduction of the picture postcard in the early 1900s, W. P. Marsh began to issue holiday souvenir postcards featuring Mary Wheatland, Bognor's most well-known "bathing woman". |
[ABOVE] A portrait of Mary Wheatland (1835-1924), the famous "bathing woman of Bognor", taken by W. P. Marsh around 1875. The rope held by Mary Wheatland was the safety-line she used when teaching novice swimmers and worn when she had to swim out to sea to rescue holiday-makers from drowning. It is reported that during her service as a "Bathing Woman", Mary Wheatland saved the lives over thirty men, women and children who got into trouble in the seas off Bognor. |
[ABOVE] "Mary Wheatland - Bognor's Celebrated Bathing Woman" featured on a postcard which has been embossed or blind-stamped "W. P. MARSH - BOGNOR". The original photograph was taken by William Pankhurst Marsh around 1905 and issued as a picture postcard the following year. On the front of her blue serge outfit, Mary wears two of the medals awarded to her for saving holidaymakers from drowning. |
Mary Wheatland
(1835-1924) Mary Wheatland was born Mary Norris around 1835 in the West Sussex village of Aldingbourne, situated about six miles east of Chichester. Mary Norris came from a poor family and around 1848 she was obliged to find work in the seaside resort of Bognor, which was about five miles south of her home village of Aldingbourne. Aged 14, Mary Wheatland went to work for Mrs Martha Mills of Cullver Street, who was the proprietor of bathing machines on Bognor's seafront. Mary was employed to assist bathers who were taken out to sea in the horse-drawn bathing vehicles. A strong and enthusiastic swimmer, Mary reportedly saved a man from drowning in her first season as a bathing assistant. Towards the end of 1857, Mary Norris married George Wheatland, a young agricultural labourer from Lidsey, a village north of Bognor. Over the next ten years, Mary gave birth to at least six children - George (born 1859, South Bersted), William (born 1860, South Bersted), Mary (born 1862, South Bersted), Sarah Jane (born 1864, South Bersted), Emily (born 1866, South Bersted) and Ellen (born 1868, South Bersted). Mrs Mary Wheatland worked as a "bathing woman" at Bognor from the age of fourteen until well into her sixties. (The 1901 census records Mary Wheatland as a sixty-five year old "Bathing Woman"). In a local newspaper article published in 1864, Mary Wheatland announced that she wanted "to inform the Ladies and Public generally visiting this town that she is now engaged by Joseph Ragless, whose machines are situated near the Beach Inn where she will pay every attention to those who may favour her with their support". Joseph Ragless senior (1813-1876) parked his bathing machines on the beach opposite Waterloo Square, Bognor, where local photographer William Pankhurst Marsh was to operate a photographic portrait studio from 1876 until about 1905. Around 1875, Marsh made the acquaintance of Mrs Mary Wheatland and persuaded her to pose for a photographic portrait in his Bognor studio. Some 30 years later, W. P. Marsh published a series of picture postcards featuring Mary Wheatland, who had become a local celebrity because of her long service as a "bathing woman", her reputation as an excellent swimmer and her acts of bravery (Mary had saved over thirty people from drowning).
A picture postcard of Mary Wheatland, published by W. P. Marsh around 1907, when the veteran bathing woman was 72 years of age, attached the text of an article about 'Bognor's Mermaid' : "A little old woman stands on the parade of Bognor looking out to sea. She is clad in a rough blue serge costume on the bodice of which two lifesaving medals are pinned. A battered sailor hat, bearing her name in gold letters, is tied under her chin with black ribbons. The weather beaten face is crumpled up into a network of smiles." The "two lifesaving medals" which Mary Wheatland proudly wore on her chest had been presented to the bathing woman for her acts of bravery and courage in rescuing holidaymakers who were in danger of drowning. Two medals and accompanying certificates had been presented to Mary Wheatland by the Royal Humane Society. Another medal had been awarded to Mary for saving the lives of six girls who had got into difficulty while swimming out to sea. It is recorded that in total Mary Wheatland saved over 30 people from drowning. Mary once remarked that "the saving of life was as much the work of a bathing woman as the rinsing of a bathing dress." Mary Wheatland was a strong swimmer and a keen diver. She is believed to have been the first woman to provide swimming lessons in Bognor. It is reported that she enjoyed diving off Bognor Pier and swimming in the sea for periods of up to 90 minutes. It is said that even at the age of seventy, Mary would entertain the assembled holiday makers by doing hand-stands in the sea so that her boot-clad feet would protrude from the surface of the water. Mary Wheatland died at her home in Ivy Lane, South Bersted on 1st April 1924, at the age of 89. A procession of Bognor fishermen escorted her body to the Church of St Mary Magdalene, where she was laid to rest in the church's graveyard. |
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[ABOVE] "Mary Wheatland - Bognor's Celebrated Bathing Woman" photographed by William Pankhurst Marsh and featured on a picture postcard published around 1906. This picture postcard of Mary Wheatland has been blind-stamped in the lower right-hand corner "W. P. Marsh & Son, Chichester". PHOTO: Courtesy of Rendell Williams of Sussex Postcards Info |
Picture Postcards by W. P. Marsh of Bognor and Chichester William Pankhurst Marsh began producing picture postcards around 1905, shortly before he re-located from Bognor to Chichester. A picture postcard of Mary Wheatland, the celebrated "Bathing Woman of Bognor" was first produced by W. P. Marsh around 1905. As Rendel Williams has pointed out in his article on William Pankhurst Marsh and his picture postcards, the firm of W. P. Marsh & Son continued to publish cards featuring "Mary Wheatland - Bognor's Celebrated Bathing Woman" after William P. Marsh and his son William Lindsley Marsh, transferred their photography business to 39 Southgate, Chichester. Rendel Williams' Sussex Postcards Info website contains a gallery of picture postcards by W. P. Marsh of Bognor and W. P. Marsh & Son of Chichester. W. P. Marsh produced picture postcards of Bognor's seafront, public events and a series of cards featuring his famous photographs of "breaking waves" and "high seas" at Bognor.
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Click here to view a detailed account of the life and career of William Pankhurst Marsh |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
I am indebted to the research of Ron Iden of the West Sussex Record Office and in particular Mr. Iden's article "W. P. Marsh - Artist with a Camera", which first appeared in the Bognor Regis Local History Society's Newsletter No.11 in July 1984. I am grateful to Rendell Williams for providing information and illustrations relating to William Pankhurst Marsh and his picture postcards on the website Sussex Postcards Info. Thanks to Mary Irish Daniels for supplying W. P. Marsh's midget portrait of Eleanor Osborn Powell. Thanks to Jacqui May of Australia for providing the copy of the wedding group photograph by W. P. Marsh of Bognor. |