Brett Payne's Victorian & Edwardian
Home / Studio Index / England / Derbyshire / Matlock, Matlock Bank & Matlock Bath / Frederick & W.H. Barber
|
 |
Frederick Barber was born on 28 March 1838 at Sheffield in Yorkshire, one of six children - three sons and three daughters - of John Barber and Ann Skelton, the Barber family being originally from Bradwell in Derbyshire. He married Emma Harvey at Derby in 1864 but they returned to Sheffield prior to late 1865, and he is first shown in White's 1868 trade directory working as a photographer from premises at 61 West Street. Frederick Barber's cousin Joshua Evans (1831-1907) - son of his father's sister, Sarah Barber - was also working as a photographer at this time, i.e. circa 1869, although in the village of Bradwell.
Frederick and Emma had at least three children: a son William John who died young, daughter Sabina Ann (who later married Richard Kinchant), and son William Harvey, who was born in 1870. At this time they were living at Primrose House, Walkley, near Sheffield, and had studio premises at 1 East Parade. The census taken in April 1871, however, indicates that they had moved to 2 Townend Street, Sheffield, and through the remainder of the 1870s they moved house several times, although the studio remained at the same address. The 1881 census shows the family living at Upper End in Baslow-with-Bubnell, west of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, with Frederick describing himself as a photographer. It seems likely that he only spent a brief period in Baslow, perhaps cashing in on trade associated with the Baslow Hydropathic Establishment, which had been opened earlier that year. White's 1884 directory shows Frederick back in Sheffield, living at 25 Moor Oaks, and with a new studio, The Castle Photographic Rooms, located at 17 Castle Street. In 1887 and 1888, the studio had moved to 1 Orchard Street, while the family was now living at 23 Aldred Road.
By April 1891, Frederick, Emma and William Barber had moved to Matlock, and were living at The Beeches in Church Street. Frederick's nephew John Charles Barber, in the mean time, had moved into their old house at 23 Aldred Road. Frederick described himself as an "Artist & Photographer", while William was now working as a photographer's assistant.
By 1895 (Kelly) William H. Barber had taken over the running of the studio, now on Bank Road, Matlock Bank, from his father, and continued to operate it until at least April 1901, when his father was shown in the census as a "photographic dealer." W.H. Barber was briefly in partnership with a photographer named Smith, as shown by a single cabinet card (see below) from the early 1900s. It is possible that he also either employed or was in partnership with a Joseph Drake, who was living a few doors away at the time of the 1901 Census. Joseph Drake was born c. 1864 at Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and by April 1891 was already working as a photographic artist in Matlock, although it is not clear who he worked with or was his employer at that time.
The following timeline for Frederick and William Harvey Barber's studios is provided to enable easier tracking of their operating dates.
| 1867-1871 : | 61 West Street, Sheffield | followed Edward Clarke & Co. (1863) followed by Charles Halpin (1871) & G.W. Taylor & Son (1871) |
| late 1860s/ early 1870s? : |
77 South St., Moor, Sheffield | followed Joseph Wilkinson (1856-1864) |
| 1871-1884 : | 1 East Parade, Sheffield | |
| 1881 : | Upper End, Baslow-with-Bubnell | possibly visiting trade at the Baslow Hydropathic Establishment |
| 1884 : | 17 Castle Street, Sheffield | trading as The Castle Photographic Rooms (Frederick Barber, proprietor) |
| 1887-1889 : | 1 Orchard Street, Sheffield | followed by J.J. & S. Johnson (1893) |
| 1891-1895 : | Bank Road, Matlock Bank | F. Barber, F. Barber & Son (The Matlock Studio of Art Photography) |
| 1895-1901- : | Bank Road, Matlock Bank Moor, Matlock Bath |
W.H. Barber (The Matlock Studio) |
| 1905-1906 : | Smedley Street, Matlock Bank | W.H. Barber (The Matlock Studio) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Type I Used c. 1864-1868 Arrows on shield device Red ink on white card 5 lines of text |
Type II Used c. 1867-1872 Garter + initials device Black ink on white card 6 lines of text |
Type III Used c. 1870-1873 Hand + candle device Black ink on white card 4 lines of text |
Type IV Used c. 1872-1878 Signature + ribbon Black ink on white card 4 lines of text |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Type V Used c. 1877-1879 Signature + ribbon Red ink on white card 5 lines of text |
Type VI Used c. 1880-1883 Diagonal sig + ornate initial Brown ink on white card 7 lines of text |
Type VII Used c. 1882-1884 Diagonal sig + coat of arms Brown ink on white card 8 lines of text |
Type VIII Used c. 1872-1878 Diagonal sig + coat of arms Red ink on white card 9 lines of text |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Type IX Used c. 1889-1894 Diagonal sig + coat of arms Brown ink on pinkish card 9 lines of text |
Type X Used c. 1890-1895 Classical vases + plants Brown ink on buff card 10 lines of text |
Type XI Used c. 1889-1895 Blank reverse Gold ink on glossy dark green card |
|
 |
 |
||
| Type XII Used c. 1898-1902 W. Harvey Barber Purple-red ink on grey card |
Type XIII Used c. 1906-1908 Barber & Smith Gold ink on light brown card |
| PORTFOLIO | Contribute a Photo |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber15 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of 61 West Street, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type I Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1864-1866 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 20s or 30s, vignetted half length seated portrait. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber01 Source: Collection of Brett Payne Artist: F. Barber of 61 West Street, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 61.5 x 106 mm; Photo 58.5 x 88.5 mm) Card Type: Type I Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1866-1868 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 20s, full length seated portrait with curtain, painted backdrop, chair, ornate table and urn. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber21 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of 77 South St., Moor, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 104.5 Photo 57.5 x 90.5 mm) Card Type: Type II Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the late 1860s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified older woman, probably in her 50s or 60s, vignetted half length seated portrait with table. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber18 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of 77 South St., Moor, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 104 Photo 58 x 91 mm) Card Type: Type II Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the late 1860s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman with book/album, probably in her late 20s or 30s, full length portrait with painted backdrop, curtain and patterned carpet. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber12 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of 77 South St., Moor, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 105.5 Photo 58.5 x 89 mm) Card Type: Type II Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early 1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified bearded man, probably in his 30s, half length vignetted portrait. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber16 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of 77 Moor, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 61.5 x 103.5; Photo 57.5 x 86.5 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early 1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified young woman, probably in her 20s or early 30s, full length standing portrait with painted backdrop, patterned carpet and high-backed chair. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber14 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of 77 Moor, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62 x 103; Photo 57.5 x 90 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early 1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified elderly man, probably in his 60s or 70s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber22 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of Church Gates, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 104.5 mm; Photo 59.5 x 93.5 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early to mid-1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified man, probably in his 60s or 70s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber17 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of Church Gates, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 105 mm; Photo 60 x 94 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early to mid-1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 30s or early 40s, vignetted half-length seated portrait. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber20 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of Church Gates, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 105.5 mm; Photo 60 x 93 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the mid-1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 30s or early 40s, three-quarter length seated portrait with chair. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber02 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of Church Gates, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the mid-1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified bearded man holding book, probably in his 30s or early 40s, three-quarter length seated portrait with chair. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber19 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of Church Gates, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 106 mm; Photo 60 x 94.5 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the mid- to late 1870s Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 20s or early 30s, three-quarter length standing portrait with chair. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber04 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of Church Gates, East Parade, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 64.5 x 105.5 mm; Photo 56.5 x 91.5 mm; Internal cameo frame 44.5 x 56.5 mm) Card Type: Type V Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, possibly December 1878 Notes: Thin card. Square corners. Subject: Unidentified young girl holding book (possibly Marian Barber, born 1874), probably aged 3-4 years, three-quarter length seated cameo portrait. |
| Notes by FW: I think this might well be my great-grandmother, Marian Barber (the photographer's niece) on the occasion of her christening which took place in December 1878 when she was 4 (at the same time as her sister, Florence who was a couple of years younger). There isn't a (surviving) photo of both girls though, and I suppose that it could be of Florence, not Marian, or even of someone else altogether! The main reason that I think it is more likely to be Marian is that in later life her husband, when talking about their grand-daughter Christina who was then a toddler, compared Christina to a photo he had seen of his wife Marian when she was a baby/girl. This photo is the only one from Marian's album that fits and does look like photos of my mum (the Christina mentioned above) as a toddler. To be fair though, it's still a guess that it is Marian and the occasion of the christening is also a guess, but might explain the pale dress (although not really dressed for winter, but perhaps in an indoor studio it didn't matter!), curled hair and holding a book (a bible/prayer book?). |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber03 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: Fredk. Barber of 1 East Parade, High St, Church Gates, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 105 mm) Card Type: Type VI Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early 1880s Notes: Square corners(?) Subject: Unidentified woman with hat, probably in her 20s, three-quarter length standing portrait with table and basket of flowers. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber05 Source: Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Fredk. Barber of 1 East Parade, High St, Church Gates, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 105 mm Photo 57.5 x 97 mm) Card Type: Type VI Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early 1880s Notes: Square corners. Subject: Unidentified boy, probably about 12-14 years old, three-quarter length standing portrait with fur-covered chair. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber13 Source: Collection of Fiona Wilson Artist: F. Barber of 1 East Parade, High Street, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 105 mm Photo 57.5 x 97 mm) Card Type: Type VII Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken in the early to mid-1880s Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man with pince nez glasses, provisionally identified by FW as John Gray Richardson (1849-1924), probably in his early 30s, head-and-shoulders vignetted portrait. |
 |
ID #: fbarber08 Source: Collection of John Bradley Artist: F. Barber of 61 West Street, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Stereoscopic card Card Type: - Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1866-1870 Notes: Square corners. Subject: Residential street scene at unidentified location, with horse and carriage. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber06 Source: Collection of John Palmer Artist: Fredk. Barber of 1 Orchard St, Church Street, Sheffield Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 107 x 165 mm) Card Type: Type VIII Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, possibly copied in the mid- to late 1880s from an original taken in the early 1880s. Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Eliza Dorothy Doxey n�e Howe (1807-1888), probably in her early to mid-70s, three-quarter length seated portrait. Further information about Eliza Doxey and her family, may be found on John Palmer's Wirksworth web site. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber10 Source: Collection of John Palmer Artist: Fredk. Barber of Bank Road, Matlock Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 105 mm) Card Type: Type IX Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1890-1894. Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man, probably in his late 20s or early 30s, head-and-shoulders vignetted portrait. |
 |
 |
ID #: fbarber11 Source: Collection of John Palmer Artist: Fredk. Barber of Bank Road, Matlock Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 105 mm) Card Type: Type IX Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1889-1895. Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Grand Drawing Room, Smedley's Hydropathic Establishment, Matlock Bridge. |
 |
|
ID #: fbarber09 Source: Collection of John Bradley Artist: Fredk. Barber of The Matlock Studio, Bank Road, Matlock Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type X Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1889-1895. Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Grand Drawing Room, Smedley's Hydropathic Establishment, Matlock Bridge. |
 |
ID #: fbarber07 Source: Collection of John Palmer Artist: Fredk. Barber of Matlock Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 107 x 165 mm) Card Type: Type XI Card Thickness: - Date: Taken 1889. Notes: Rounded corners, dark green, glossy card with gilded, bevelled edges. Subject: Alfred Doxey (1865-1933), full length portrait with bicycle. |
|
ID #: whbarber01 Source: Collection of John Palmer Artist: W. Harvey Barber of Bank Road, Matlock Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 107 x 165 mm) Card Type: Type XII Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1898-1902. Notes: Subject: Annie & Lucy Doxey, half/three-quarter length vignetted, seated portrait. |
|
ID #: whbarber02 Source: Collection of John Palmer Artist: Barber & Smith of Bank Road, Matlock Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 107 x 165 mm) Card Type: Type XIII Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1906-1908. Notes: Subject: Jack Doxey (b. 1903), full length seated portrait with chair and plant. |
Historical Directories from the University of Leicester
Indexed 1841- 1901 Census Images from Ancestry.com
Partial Transcript of the GRO Index from FreeBMD
Many thanks to John Palmer, John Bradley and Fiona Wilson for kind contributions of images and information.