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Derbyshire
Photographers' Profiles by Brett Payne, of Tauranga, New Zealand Louis Bosworth Twells (1829-1885) of Ashbourne |
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| Louis B. Twells probably worked as a photographer in
Ashbourne only briefy, during the early 1870s. |
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| Louis (or Lewis) Bosworth Twells
was born in 1829 at Castle Donington, Leicestershire, son of Thomas
Twells and Mary Bosworth (1802-). His father died when he was
young, and his mother supported him and his younger sister by working
as a boot and shoe maker. The 1851 Census shows him living with
his aunt in London, and working as a perfumer, presumably learning the
trade. He must have settled in Ashbourne, Derbyshire shortly
afterwards, as an 1855 directory shows him there, working as a
hairdresser. In early 1857 he married Theresa Snelson
(1829-1903), daughter of a schoolmaster from Ashby-de-la-Zouch -
between then and 1877, they had six children. Census records and
trade directory entries between 1857 and 1884 various show him as a
hair cutter/dresser, perfumer, jeweller, silversmith, watch maker,
importer of general fancy goods, sponges, &c., and a proprietor of
"large show rooms for glass, china, and earthenware." Louis B.
Twells died at Ashborne in 1885. His wife and son Louis B. Twells
junior continued with the shop until 1903, when Theresa Twells died. No directory or census entries showing L.B. Twells working as a photographer have been found. However, a single carte de visite (see below), tentatively dated at c. 1871-1875 is known, suggesting that he did this as a sideline, at least for a brief period. |
| Portfolio |
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Unidentified
man with beard by L.B. Twells of Church St, Ashbourne Undated, but probably taken c. 1871-1875 Format: Carte-de-visite Image © & courtesy of Jo Bevan Notes |
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| References
Images kindly provided by Jo Bevan 1841-1901 UK Census - online from Ancestry.com FreeBMD International Genealogical Index - online from the LDS church Anon (1855) The Post Office Directory of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. University of Leicester's Digital Library of Historical Directories White, F. & Co. (1857) History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Derby. Transcribed by Neil Wilson. Anon (1861) Gazetteer & Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland. University of Leicester's Digital Library of Historical Directories Anon (1863) History, Gazetteer & Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland. University of Leicester's Digital Library of Historical Directories Anon (1870) Harrod & Co.'s Postal & Commercial Directory of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland & Staffordshire. - from University of Leicester - Digital Library of Historical Directories. Wright C.N. (1874) Directory of South Derbyshire, Third Edition, October 1874, Derby. Anon (1884) Business Directory of London, University of Leicester's Digital Library of Historical Directories Anon (1891) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland & Nottinghamshire, Kelly & Co., London. University of Leicester's Digital Library of Historical Directories Anon (1895) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, Kelly & Co. Limited, London. Anon (1895) History, Topography, and Directory of Derbyshire, T. Bulmer & Co. - by kind courtesy of Sonia Addis-Smith Anon (1899) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland & Nottinghamshire, Kelly & Co., London. University of Leicester's Digital Library of Historical Directories Anon (1912) Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire 1912, Kelly's Directories Ltd., London. Adamson, Keith I.P. (1997) Professional Photographers in Derbyshire 1843 - 1914, The PhotoHistorian, No. 118 Supplement, September 1997, ISSN 0957-0209. Courtesy of John Bradley. |
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