New Brighton 1889
Sefton Park 1889
While sorting out my lantern slides for further pictures of the Dingle to follow on from yesterday’s post, I noticed that the Sefton Park slide was dated February 11th, 1889. A few days too late for its anniversary, perhaps, but worth remembering that they had hard winters back then (and coped with them a lot better). The two photographs were both taken by N. Stephen, who also photographed the children carrying beer mugs in an earlier post. I have had difficulty pinpointing any real details about Stephen. The only match in Gore’s Directory (1910) is of a Nathan Stephen of 22 Russian Drive, Stoneycroft. Stephen is listed as a County Court officer, so was presumably relatively well-paid. Hand-held cameras had just been introduced in the late 1880s, so Stephen was an early proponent. The advent of hand-held cameras and roll film were to democratise photography. Even so, it still wasn’t a cheap hobby and it would take a further ten years or more before it became a truly mass medium.
If anyone has more information on Stephen, I would be grateful. It is good to give credit when due, however belatedly.
I especially like that dramatic view of New Brighton. Very fine.
Chris
1889
15th Jan – Coca-Cola Company incorporated in Atlanta Georgia, USA
20th Apr – Adolf Hilter born on the Austrian-German border.
6th May – Eiffel Tower opens.
8th Jun – Wall Street Journal published.
*** Jun – Vincent van Gogh paints Starry Night.
26th Aug – Prevention of Cruelty to, and Protection of, Children Act 1889
Is this 1889 image of The Fairy Glen in Sefton Park?
The bridge at the top of the photo looks like the iron bridge.