Henry Dunning, photographer

This collection of photographs were all taken by Henry Dunning a photographer who was born in Chester, but who settled in Usk, Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales. They are taken directly from glass negatives of various sizes. The name of the sitter is sometimes identified, often making it possible to find out a quite a lot about them from census returns. A map of the photo locations is below this gallery. (If no location is known the photo is located to Henry Dunning's studio.)

Henry Dunning was born in 1849 in Chester and cannot be positively identified on the census until 1891 when he appears as a photographer living and working at 12 Bridge Street. His wife Jane is from Cheshire and they have a daughter Emily aged 23 who is listed as a photographer's assistant. (She was born in Rock Ferry, suggesting the family lived on the Wirral at some time.) A second assistant, Margaret Harding (age 31) also lives at the house along with another boarder (Margaret Byrde) who was a Governess born in America.

In 1901 Henry, Jane and Emily are still at the same address, although Emily is not noted as having any employment.

In 1911 the three remain at Bridge Street and the unmarried Emily is once again noted as 'Assisting in the Business'. Henry Dunning died aged 71 in 1920 and appears to have been working until close to the date of his death.

Onn the reverse of his carte de viste Henry Dunning describes the business as being "Portrait, Landscape and Architectural Photographers".

Photos by Henry Dunning of Usk, Wales

Photographs scanned from glass negatives.

14 / 49

1904 Maud Symonds1

Studio portrait scanned from a glass negative by Henry Dunning of Usk, Monmouthshire. Her name was actually Alice Maud Symonds and she was born in 1880 in Usk to parents Alfred and Eliza. Her father was a gardener and her brother became a watch repairer. Maud was a dressmaker so it is likely that she is wearing one of her own creations and would have found the photographs helpful to show clients. She is certainly very fashionable with her built-up hair and V shaped blouse front with altenating panels of lace and fabric. Her parents orginated from Hereford and Gloucester and her brother was born in Yorkshire, but her father's brother had settled in Usk, so that may have influenced their choice of destination. At 1901 the family are living in Porthycarne Street, but have previously lived at othr addresses in the town

1900s date certain 1904 1916 Alice Maud Symonds Alice Symonds Bridge Street Dunning GB Henry Dunning Maud Symonds Monmouthshire Porthycarne Street Portrait Symonds Usk Wales blouse choker dressmaker fashion frill glass negative half length inside lace one person photograph ruffle smile stripes surname surname Dunning surname Symonds watch