CHARLES WILLIAM CRAXFORD: A VICTORIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

By Alan D Craxford and Ivor Craxford

INTRODUCTION

Charles William Craxford

Charles William Craxford was born in September 1862 in Debyshire but could trace his ancestry back to the village of Barrowden in Rutland. His grandparents (Robert Craxford and Harriett Cotterill) had seven children and Charles' father, William was the older of two sons.

Much of his father's short life (he died of smallpox at the age of 31 years) is told in letters reproduced in another article on this site ("A LETTER TO HENRY CRAXFORD"). He had served in the navy, become a baker and then moved to Derby to work on the railways. Charles had a sister, Lizzie, born in 1870. After their father's death Charles went to stay with an uncle in Birmingham while Lizzie continued lived with her mother in Derby until she subsequently remarried. The children were renuited around 1874 in Leeds.

THE CRAXFORD FAMILY IN YORKSHIRE.

Charles married Emily Jane Turner in 1886. He became a hairdresser working in a salon in Leeds. Kelly's directory of 1888 shows his working address to be 16 Bridge End (West Side). The census return of 1891 (he is listed as Chas W Croxford) finds them living at 112 Fenton Street with their seven month old daughter, Florence. Twins (Henry and Nellie) were born in 1894 and by 1901 the family had moved house to 13 Winfield Road in Leeds.

Bridge End, Leeds 1904 © Leeds Library and Information Service reproduced with kind permission	Florence, Henry and Nellie Craxford. About 1915

The photograph above was taken on December 1st 1904 during the Swinegate and Sovereign Street Improvement. The view taken from Leeds Bridge westward shows number 16, Craxford hairdressers and number 18 Samuel Wainwright, cricket bat manufacturer, Bridge End as well as the backs of Nettleton joiner and Henderson plumber on Tenter Lane. These premises have wooden outbuildings on piles into the River Aire.

The memorial, St Laurence, Kirby Misperton, N Yorks	Detail from the memorial

The photographer in his natural habitat

Tragedy struck in February 1902 when Emily died. Charles re-married (Elizabeth Robson) in 1904 and continued to work in the city as a hairdresser. He died in 1937 aged 74 years.

All three of his children subsequently married: Florence to Frank Field in Wrangthorn in 1914; Nellie to Frederick Gaunt in Leeds in 1921 and Henry to Elsie Dickson in Knaresborough in 1926. Henry worked at the hall at Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire. He saw service in the first World War and this is commemorated on the memorial at St Laurence's Church in the village.

CHARLES; THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Charles was an enthusiastic photographer and has left behind a wealth of portraits and studies of his family (particularly his children) as well as many pictures of the town and countryside of Yorkshire. He particularly seemed to enjoy the woods and hills of the Yorkshire dales. There is also a series of scenes (not features here) around York.

Considering the prevailing conditions when these photographs were taken (the encumbrance of the equipment, the paucity of transport) they represent a treasure trove of images of a bygone era.

The following is an album of just some of his work.

The railway station, Pannal, near Harrogate (now closed). There is no indication that any of the near family worked here.	A study of the local church

Charles, with his daughter Florence.	Elizabeth at home with Florence and Nellie

The children are happy swinging on the gate. We believe this also shows Charles second wife, Elizabeth

He also took many portraits of his children, Henry, Florence and Nellie, especially in the woods and fields around their home. Click on the little pictures to obtain a larger image of the photograph.

Florence with Henry	Florence in the bluebells	Florence, Nellie and Henry: A woodland scene	Henry and Nellie at play	Henry with his niece Christine Field

REFERENCE:

1. Bridge End, Leeds, 1904 (photograph no: 1971); Leeds Library and Information Service

Added: September 4th 2005
Updated: January 3rd 2007