Women Of The Old East End
March 21, 2020
I have selected these portraits of magnificent women from Philip Mernick‘s fine collection of cartes de visite by nineteenth century East End photographers, arranged chronologically to show the evolving styles of dress and changing roles of female existence
1863
1863
1867
1860s
c. 1870
c.1870
c. 1870
1870s
1880
1880s
1880s
1884
1884
1886
1880s
1880s
1880s
1890s
c. 1890
1890s
1890s
c. 1900
c. 1910
c. 1910 Theatrical performer by William Whiffin
c. 1940 Driver
Photographs reproduced courtesy of Philip Mernick
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From the formidable to the fiesty to the graceful. A lovely collection of female faces from the past. Eacb one with her own unique story. Listen and you might find it.
Amazing – and lovely to find images of all these strong and redoubtable ladies in my email instead of yet more terrifying news of the corona virus. They remind me – each one of them – of the strength of the human spirit, especially that of women, from all walks of life. God grant women all over the world now the strength and determination to get through this crisis unscathed and to help everyone around them to do so also. Stay well Gentle Author. Paddyx
These Victorian costumes leave me in awe all over again again of women’s achievements in that era. Including Elizabeth Garrett Andersen and Millicent Fawcett who grew up in my mother’s house in Aldeburgh; and those faces! What a terrific set of photographs.
Oh, to know about the lives they led outside the studios , the stories they could tell.
I have many family photographs taken by W. Wright ‘Artist’ Bethnal Green Road.
I know that the reality for my most of my own family was quite different to what was depicted in those staged portraits. However, I can appreciate that those photographs gave them an appearance of dignity and am grateful to W.Wright for that ….as I gaze into their faces all these years later.
I find these endlessly fascinating. There is so much to see in the detail and to have them in chronological order reveals even more. One trend seems to be how the sitter relates to the camera. Before the 1890s all of the women are either looking away from the camera or at a point to just one side of it – it’s classic ‘sitting for a portrait’ style where the sitter may have had to endure hours of posing. After that time the women are looking straight at the camera. It is much easier to look straight at the photographer for a few seconds than it would sitting for a portrait for hours on end. The times had changed.
Some amazing faces.
Was hoping to see my grandmother there. Sara
We draw from the well of stoicism and courage when we look upon these women.
Fascinating photos and also interesting to see the addresses of the photographers. You look at these photos knowing you’ve walked past where they were taken more than a hundred years ago.
These are fabulous the dresses are really interesting I wonder whether the photographer provided them. The faces are so familiar to me, some of the characteristics are still seen around the Eastend now. I wish we knew what their names are?
A great set of photos and particularly revealing to have them in chronological order. What incredibly elaborate dresses and frocks they wore for the occasion…
As usual I have been playing “guess the names” and here are my suggestions:
1) Aunt Gertrude – you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her!
2) Mrs Gwyneth Williams – she looks like she has just come from Chapel
3) Freda – she can’t wait to get out of her stays
4) Amelia – poor shy Amelia – she finds the whole thing very daunting
5) Mrs Allsopp – looking directly at the camera so she doesn’t miss a thing
6) Sophia – her lovely stripey dress is much too long – is it borrowed for the occasion?
7) Elizabeth – she could be in charge of the church flower rota (and/or the vicar!)
8) Dear Bertha – she insisted on wearing all her best clothes at once
9) Victoria – known as Vic. A very stylish modern girl, full of life
10) Rachel – she persuaded her father Solomon to give her all the buttons for her jacket
11) Elizabeth – but known to her family as Beth, a dear, sweet girl
12) Dorothea – known as Dotty, and she chose stylish her outfit to go with her name
13) Mrs Jenkins – she looks like she could become one of the first Suffragettes
14) Martha – she poses sideways in the hope we won’t notice her slightly dodgy left eye
15) Ursula – she looks exhausted, poor dear
16) Jeanette – she is half French and is known for her love of fashion
17) Minnie – she wears a tall hat to increase her diminutive mini stature
18)Margaret – a nice direct gaze, but what is she fiddling with? Hair? Fur??
19)Aunt Ethel – she remembers when ringlets were all the rage when she was young
20) Zena – a plain but sensible girl
21) Sarah – proud to be photographed in her maid’s uniform
22) Cressida – real name Anne, but she wanted to sound more interesting. Her steam punk style outfit wouldn’t look out of place in Camden today.
23) Daisy – looking as fresh as one on her precious bicycle. And there are even daisies in the background…perfect!
24) Waistcoat Winnie – she has a different waistcoat for every one of her acts
25) Patricia / Pat. Proud to do her bit for the war effort.
Thanks GA for a very enjoyable half hour spent in their company!
Fascinating! It’s interesting to see some hints of professions in some of the photos: theatrical performer (actress?); maid; WWII driver. Or hints of the modern: riding a bicycle, for instance.
The early ones are indeed formidable; somewhat terrifying in the formality of such weighty clothes & hair do. So stern & plain, some look more like men in drag. Thank goodness to Edwardian era.
Amazing Clothing of Vintage Era. Very Lovely, but they don’t look very comfortable!!?????????
Wonderful photos.
I loved Jill Wilson’s comments too. Absolutely spot on!