[Sandra Smith]

Hi – I bought a very old framed b & w photo of a little girl, posed in a ballet position from a charity shop because it appealed to me. The photo
has the name Britannia’s Portraits underneath where it is mounted. There is a fly sheet behind the photo ‘A Portrait by JW Young, Hencotes, Hexham. Furthermore There was also a pencil-written note stating the name and address of Mrs Stanley, 395 Lincoln Road. The photo was framed by Boots. I am intrigued
to find out about the history of this little girl, if I can. If this information strikes a chord with anyone, I would love to hear from you.

[Jennifer Britton]

I can’t help with the identity of the girl I’m afraid, but I can help pinpoint the exact location of the photographic studio.

I see that the photographer James Wilson Young was living, as a boarder, in Hexham in 1921. In 1923 he married Amy Nicholson and their daughter Jean was born the following year.

He died in October 1938 (apparently as the result of an accident) and was buried at Hexham Cemetery. His address was 17 Hencotes, Hexham.

The address is significant because this was the location of a photographic shop/studio set up, probably in the very late 1800’s by Thomas McAllan, a well known Hexham shopkeeper and photographer. The premises passed to another photographer, Thomas Edwards, in the early 1900’s and he was definitely still using it by the time of the 1921 census.

I’m unclear exactly when James Young might have taken over the premises, but his widow and daughter were still living at 17 Hencotes in 1939.

So, if the photo was indeed taken by James Young, as the note on the back indicates, it must have been taken before 1938.

I hope this is helpful.

Jennifer Britton

[Author]

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