Photographs of Bourne in 1861

It was the habit of the Lincoln Diocesan Architectural Society to hold its annual meetings at various locations around the county and in 1861, Bourne was chosen to host the event which was held on Wednesday and Thursday, 5th and 6th June.

Visitors came by rail from all parts of Lincolnshire, the numbers attending swelled by local people. The event was ticket only and the committee promised those staying in the town overnight that due provision would be made for their comfort as well as on the journey and at table and also in securing well-aired and comfortable beds.

We know of the elaborate arrangements made to ensure that the event was a success because they were reported by the Stamford Mercury which detailed the street decorations that had been put up by the local organisers. The newspaper said:

The visitors received a hearty welcome from the inhabitants who erected no less than four triumphal arches, all profusely decorated with foliage etc. That at the entrance to the railway station contained the inscription “Welcome to Bourne” and that at the entrance to the Castle Meadow “Castle of Brunne”. The others were erected across the two roads near the [Ostler] memorial fountain [in the market place, now the town centre].

The photographs below were taken on that occasion, the first showing the triumphal arch in West Street, the second in North Street and the third showing the decorated frontage of the Bull Inn [now the Burghley Arms] where many of the guests stayed or called in for hospitality during the event.

Apart from the newspaper description of the scene, there is another indication of the date on which the photographs were taken because they were originally owned by Mrs Letitia Barsby who arrived in Bourne to live in West Street during March 1861, the year the event was staged. The elaborate arrangements she witnessed must have made an impression on an 18 year old girl from the country because in later years, when she bought a photograph album for her family portraits, she included copies of these photographs which were no doubt purchased locally.

The identity of the photographer however is not certain because several were operating in Bourne during the 19th century, notably Joseph Flatters, the Glendening Brothers, Benjamin Wyles, Richard Bertolle and William Redshaw. Although Redshaw's stamp is on the reverse of the pictures, he would not have taken them because he was only five years old. Only a few photographs survive from the Glendening Brothers, Bertolle and Wyles, but these date from later years.

The most likely photographer therefore is Joseph Flatters who had premises in North Street, but he emigrated to Canada in 1871 by which time the young Redshaw was taking an interest in photography and, spurning the wishes of his father, John Redshaw, to join the family saddlery business, set up on his own as a photographer at the age of 18. This would have needed some capital but as his father was a prosperous businessman, it seems likely that he was given financial assistance to take over the premises in North Street vacated by Joseph Flatters.

By 1874, the family business founded by Thomas Redshaw (1793-1874) had considerable property and business interests in North Street with a fancy goods department run by John's wife, Elizabeth, and so a shop dealing with photography, then in its early stages of development, would have been a natural addition. In this event, the stock accrued by Flatters, including the plates of the photographs, would have passed to him which would explain his stamp on the back when they were printed for re-sale and bought by Letitia Barsby.

We are indebted to her perception in keeping a record of these events because these three photographs are among the earliest taken in Bourne showing the town as it was almost 150 years ago.

WRITTEN DECEMBER 2007

NOTE: These photographs were discovered in a family album compiled by Mrs Letitia
Barsby (1842-1921) and are reproduced courtesy of her great grandson, Chris Kettle.

See also     Report of the annual meeting of 1861    

William Redshaw     Benjamin Wyles     The Barsby family