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".