Collection: Fletcher Moss

Description

A collection of original prints showing country houses, castles, houses, cottages, churches, street scenes and townscapes. The emphasis is on Shropshire and Staffordshire with particularly good coverage of domestic timber framed buildings. Most of the photographs within the collection are reproduced in a series of 7 books privately published by Fletcher Moss (1843 - 1919) from his home at the Old Parsonage, Didsbury. Fletcher Moss was an Alderman of the City of Manchester and the President of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society. In the books, he chronicles the travels undertaken by himself and his friend (referred to as X), in which they visit old homes and buildings, describing the landscapes and people they encounter. X who took the photographs, is James Watts (of S & J Watts & Company) of Abney Hall, Cheshire and Kinder Scout, Derbyshire. Several views show the people including street scenes, children playing and school parties, and one view of Stokesay has a gravedigger in the foreground. Taken c1900 to 1920. Although none of the photographs are dated, it has been possible to date many fairly accurately from the date of publication of the books in which they appear. The seven books in the 'Pilgrimages to Old Homes' series were published between 1901 and 1920. Further dating evidence is available from two original photographic envelopes as supplied by the chemist and dated 1902 and 1915.

Modern copies of most of the prints are also available in the open access 'Red Box' collection. Additional material is held by Manchester Public Library.

Photography Type : Record/Investigator

Archival History

Received Via : Removed from "Originals", 1998 Provenance : Provenance No information regarding the original acquisition of the collection. Fletcher Moss compiled the collection, whilst the photographer was J Watts, of the Firm S and J Watts and Co., Manchester. His addresses are Abney Hall, CH and Kinder Scout, DR. Fletcher Moss was an antiquarian and author who lived at The Old Parsonage, Didsbury, GM. He was the author of "Pilgrimages to Old Homes", which includes photography by J Watts.

Content

Rights

Source: Historic England Archive