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Warner Gothard History
Warner Gothard was born in Littleport, Isle
of Ely, Cambridgeshire in 1835. He was one of five children,
William, born 1830, James, born 1831, Charlotte born 1844 and Ann
born 1849. After studying photography he started his photographic
business in Great Grimsby with his older brother William in
1852.
In 1866 Warner Gothard moved the business to Wakefield after
the birth of their second child and traded from King Street.
According to the Kelly's Directory of 1881 he was listed as
a photographer now trading at Wood Street, Wakefield.
Warner Married Annie Howlett and they had 12
known children according to census data naming his first son
after himself.
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Warner gothard Jnr
Portrait photograph
of Warner Gothard Jnr who was responsible with the
assistance of his brothers and sisters for the famous montage
postcards depicting events and disasters from 1905 -
1916.
Warner Jnr never
married and lived over the studio moving to better
accommodation as his income increased. He ceased trading at 6 Eldon Street, Barnsley in 1924. Warner was one of 12 children.
Thirza Born 1864 in Grimsby - Died 1866
Grimsby
Warner Jr Born 1865 in Grimsby - Died 1940 in Barnsley
Ruth Born 1867 in Wakefield - Emigrated to Canada
Joseph Born 1869 in Wakefield - Died 1921 in Leeds
Lily Born 1871 in Wakefield - Died 1930 on the Isle of Man
Annie Born 1873 in Wakefield - Died 1957 on the Isle of Man
Bertha Born 1874 in Wakefield - Died 1874 in Wakefield
Arthur Frederick Born 1876 in Wakefield - Died 1948 in Barnsley
Flora Born 1878 in Wakefield -Emigrated to Canada
Edith Born 1880 in Wakefield - Died 1927 in Hemsworth
District
Ethel Born 1882 in Wakefield - Emigrated to Canada
Ernest Henry Born 1885 in Wakefield - Died 1955 in Barnsley |
In 1893 he moved his business to Barnsley
but according to the 1901 census Warner Gothard was also trading
at 166 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale where he lived with his wife Annie and
children Arthur Frederick, Ernest and Ethel. A studio at
John Street, Rochdale is also mentioned on the reverse of a
CDV. His name is also associated with No 50 Clarke Street,
Rochdale which is just an ordinary terrace house. More
research and information is needed on the Rochdale connection.
CDV From the 166 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale Studio.
The main studio was at 6 Eldon Street,
Barnsley with the works located at 3,5 and 7 Wesley Street,
Barnsley. Business grew rapidly and more photographic
studios opened at: 11 Park Row, Leeds - Victoria Chambers,
Westgate, Dewsbury and 21 Bull Green, Halifax.
Warner Gothard must have been an
accomplished photographer because part of his impressive
portfolio included the Royal Family. Warner Gothard continued the business expansion with
the help and support of his four sons. It is also noted that
Warner Jr's daughter Ethel who was born in 1884 was skilled as a
photographic re-toucher.
The famous montage postcards were actually
accredited to his sons though it could also be possible
Warner Jr's daughter also played a part in their design and
development.
One of his sons Joseph had previously
been trading as a photographer in his own right from 45
Plumstead Road, Woolwich, London from 1899 to 1904. He
returned back to the family business after his
fathers retirement in 1902 and he was able to put into
practice some useful knowledge and photographic techniques
he mastered in London.
Joseph Gothard Cabinet Card from his studio at 45 Plumstead Road, London
The first montage postcard was
produced in 1905 recording the railway accident at Cudworth.
This early example was a little crude and basic compared
to the later more artistic styles and could be compared more
to a multi-view postcard. But this was only a starting point of what was to become
a series of pioneering montage postcards that
captures the imagination even to this day.
Their natural
artistic talents allowed them to experiment more and more
until they fine-tuned a design technique that could be
utilized to cover any event from Royal Visits to major
mining, railway and shipping disasters.
The early montage
postcards all circulated around the local Barnsley area but
when an incident they wanted to cover happened hundreds of
miles away they had to use agents or local photographers to
do the initial work for them because time was such an
important factor. They had to compile all the information
and publish the postcards while the event was still fresh in
the minds of the buying public.
The image below shows the Warner Gothard Photographic Team
with Warner sitting in the middle and possibly his brother
Frederick standing immediately behind him with the
moustache. Warner's daughter Ethel, a photographic re-toucher
would probably be on this image but we are not sure which
one. Other family members could also be on this image though
need to be identified.
It is not known the reason for the large time gaps in the
montage series production. 1908 and 1909 were the peak years
of production with only one event produced in 1910 and then
a long wait for the next one in 1912. Due to the work
involved and overheads to cover they had to charge a premium
for their postcards to return a profit so they were more
expensive for the retailers and public to buy.
Many of the
montage postcards remained unposted possibly because of
their cost and were just purchased as souvenirs of historic
events and were never destined to enter the postal system.
Their decline is certainly a mystery and maybe
covering national events was just not financially viable
anymore which could be the reason for later postcards being
more local to the area. It is also noted that many of the
later events were covered with just one postcard which may
back-up the financial theory.
Warner Gothard died on the 10th July 1909 though the sons
continued with production until the last known montage
postcard was produced in 1916. Warner Gothard Jnr ceased
trading at 6 Eldon Street, Barnsley in 1924. He never
married and seemed to have good business sense because he
purchased significant amounts of land in the Barnsley and
Wakefield areas.
He purchased Seckar Wood near Wakefield
from A.V. Eyre who was a colliery manager. His plan was to
build a house next to it, however this never happened except
for a summerhouse and ornamental pond. The ruins still
remain of this venture.
Warner Gothard Jnr was a very generous person and donated
land he owned at Moorthorpe near Wakefield to the local
authority and in his will he left Seckar Wood to the
councils of Wakefield and Barnsley for the use of the
general public.
Any further information on Warner Gothard history would
be very much appreciated. Many thanks to Ken Keen, Brian Lund
and Peter Curle for their assistance in compiling this information.
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