The Original Me?
I was doing a bit of research into the mysterious columns that adorn the end of Lonsdale Gardens where it meets Mount Pleasant when I came across something rather strange that took me off onto another tangent, it was a photo of the columns from 1930 and more specifically the person who took it.
It was taken by David Johnson (1862-1945), who was a member of the Tunbridge Wells Amateur Photographic Association, and in particular the rather interesting Record Section. This section of the Association was set up in 1930 to record buildings before demolition or alteration, something that I do today (currently best illustrated by my Cinema Project).
The Association, housed at 14 Calverley Park Gardens, was set up in 1887 as a result of a lecture given by Ralph Winwood Robinson, son of the famous Henry Peach Robinson, who both set up the Association together with the patron Sir David Salomons. The Association was later renamed the Tunbridge Wells Photographic Society but alas doesn't seem to exist today (if anyone knows different then please leave me a comment).
David Johnson was born in London Road and lived as a child in what is possibly my favourite building in the entire town, York Villa on Mount Sion. He owned a photographic business on the High Street, which is now an elegant florist's shop. But perhaps the most interesting part of Mr Johnson's style of photography is his inclusion of long detailed historical notes on the back of the photographs which provide great information for historians.
Mr Johnson lived later on in life at 59 Mount Sion, which is of course the subject of one of his beautiful photographs, and strangely this image doesn't have his usual historical notes written on it but has the handwriting of another person: "Mr David James Johnson resided here until his death, June 16th 1945".
The more I read about Mr Johnson the more I come to realise that perhaps we are the same person. He loved to photograph the town, especially Mount Sion; he wanted to document the town for future generations; he made a point of writing about his images, although he wrote on the back of his whereas I write on this blog; and finally, he was a darned talented picture-maker :) OK, that last one is perhaps a tad subjective. All I need to do now is get hold of York Villa somehow.
His collection is now in the local museum, although not on display. But you can make an appointment to see the pictures if you want to. I know I am.
John, yet again you make me smile with such a lovely comment, thanks very much and I hope you both had a nice Sunday together :)
”Comment left by Anke on February, 07 2010
What I love about your blog is that it makes you look again at places in town which you might not have ordinarily have 'looked' at. In fact Im going to look at York Villa this afternoon on my way to my mothers to tell her about the TW pied wagtails you have both noticed!
And you are far too modest about your photograpy!
”Comment left by John Hayes Fisher on February, 07 2010
Many thanks for the e-mail, Steve. Youre exactly right. Thanks for stopping by and reading the blog too :)
”Comment left by Anke on February, 05 2010
Nice one. I like to take similar photographs, documenting a place as we see it day to day.
I'm not very creative or technically perfect, but the value of such photographs doesn't become apparent until in later years buildings change, or are altered or are taken over by new people or companies. The 'face' of our surroundings are changing all the time.
Taking similar shots over the years can be quite repetitive, but the value of doing it comes when you compare the photographs to earlier photographs or postcards.
Keep up the good work
”Comment left by Steve on February, 05 2010
Not bad to find the original self, good luck in the coming days.
”Comment left by FX 初心者 on February, 03 2010