Wingrave photos from 1860s

If you can withstand being bombarded by adverts the Telegraph has published some of the earliest photos of Coventry taken by Wyatt Wingrave in the 1860s. Snapshot of Coventry life 150 years ago The Shakespeare Birthday Trust has this document which apparently contains as many as 64 plates by this photographer.

I saw the Telegraph article - but was confused when I found this reference to Joseph Wingrave And doing some research Vitruvius Harold Wyatt Wingrave (b.1858) was son of Joseph Wingrave - so I guess Joseph took the photos and Wyatt was his son (poor Telegraph reporting again, I wonder?) [Wyatt was Joseph WIngrave's wife's maiden name, and it featured in several of their children's christian names] [Thread title amended to exclude "Wyatt"]

This image, which is not as clear as this in the Telegraph article, shows Wingrave's chemist shop in High Street

Something I'd forgotten to do previously, but now rectified - my very small personal collection of Wingrave CDVs.... ../robs_pics/index.php?q=Wingrave

Ahh if only there were more.

To me image 5 listed High St looks more like Butcher Row from Trinity Lane end. What do you think Rob?

Prof: they state "High Street" as that was Wingrave's shop address

You're quite right of course Prof, but as Midland Red said above, it was Wingrave's address, and several of the CDVs are labelled 'High Street' - which must've been confusing for people buying the cards without that knowledge!

Thanks Midland Red and Rob for clarifying my query! It is a wonderful collection.

Are Wingrave's images the earliest known ones of Coventry? The archway I posted in the More mystery photos thread appears to be 1858 according to Anne's terrific newspaper research. Anyone know any earlier?

Wingrave's are the oldest I can identify of the city. The Fourtoes image of Spon Street was 1868 but of a better quality. The Francis Frith seem to start in the 1880s. There maybe earlier ones out there because there were other photographers capturing Warwickshire but I don't know them. Taking the camera outside would have been be risky which explains a dearth of earlier photos. It seems that photographing the Queen's arch was tempting enough to lure Wingrave to start capturing the city, although it might have been later than the actual visit. It looks like the demolition has started.

Just found this interesting piece about Wingrave's son Vitruvius (aka Wyatt) which includes a couple of rare images of him - one in his very final days.

A good find NY. It is pleasing to find something of relevance in an unexpected source.

Tut, tul, Neil - link.

Ahh sorry Derek - I'd missed that on your site for some reason. Good work as ever