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Historic photos come home
Historic photos of Victorian Tring, taken by the brother-in-law of the town's famous architect William Huckvale, are to be exhibited.
Possibly for the first time the photos, by Godfrey Bingley from the late 19th century, are to be shown in Tring.
The original images are stored at the University of Leeds as part of a 10,000- strong collection.
Tring and District Local History and Museum Society has 70 copies from the collection, which will be shown during a special viewing in Tring on Friday, December 8.
Chair of the history society Tim Amsden said: "About 150 of the photos in the collection relate to Tring.
"Some are commonplace shots - either the place hasn't changed much or there are lots of other similar photos.
"There is a good core of photos, which are extremely fresh and interesting, which will cast new insight into how the area looked in the 1890- 1900 period. There is a lot of very good stuff."
The photo collection at Leeds is stored as a research collection, which is open to view by appointment, but not on general display.
This means that many of the photos have only been seen by people with particular interest in Bingley.
Tring photographer Mike Bass has taken modern shots in the same areas of Tring to be shown alongside the old images.
William Huckvale was Nathaniel Rothchild's chosen architect and examples of his work can still be seen around the town, including the Louisa Cottages and the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum.
Bingley, a Yorkshire industrialist, would often visit his brother-in-law in Tring and took a number of photos on his visits, including shots of market days, street scenes and newly-completed buildings.
There are also photos of Aldbury and Wilstone.
Mr Amsden, a keen historian, discovered the photos of Tring during his own research of Huckvale's life. He had been tracking down relatives of the architect.
The collection of 10,000 images was donated to the University of Leeds in 1913 by Bingley himself and is an archive of his life's work.
The images held at the university cover a wide range of subjects spanning the years of 1884 to 1913. Sadly Bingley was forced to give up photography due to failing eyesight.
The University of Leeds said that in accepting the gift of photos in 1913, Professor PF Kendall described the archive as 'probably the most magnificent collection ever made of lantern slides, illustrating architecture, archaeology, geology and scenery in all parts of England, but especially Yorkshire'.
During the showing at Victoria Hall in Tring, Mr Amsden will give an introduction and money raised will go towards the opening of Tring Local History Museum.
Tickets cost 6 in advance or 7.59 on the door. For tickets call 01442 822695. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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