Photographers 1840 – 1940 Great Britain & Ireland

Richard John Luesley    1858 – 1924

Born 23 December 1858 in Strood, Kent

Baptized 6 February 1859 at St. Nicholas Parish Church, Rochester, Kent

Died 1924 in Fulham Registration District, London

 

Photographic Business

Richard first advertised a studio Rochester in 1887. By 1902 he was advertising in Barnes, London SW and stopped advertising in 1905.

 

 

Census

 

1861	Cage Lane Court, Strood, Kent	2
1871	Newark Street, Strood, Kent	12	Scholar
1881	2 Margaret Terrace, Paddington, London	22	Tailor
1891	23 Cazeneuve Street, Rochester, Kent	32	Photographer
1901	16 Hillensdon Avenue, Barnes, Surrey	42	Photographer
1911	3 Cleveland Gardens, Barnes, Surrey	52	Photographer

Richard was born to Joseph and Sarah Luesley on the 23 December 1858 in Strood, Kent and was baptised on the 6 February 1859 at St. Nicholas Parish Church in Rochester.

Little is known about his early life in Strood but, according to census records, by 1881 he was working as a tailor in Paddington in London.

In February 1885 he married Mary Ann Edwards (born 16 Oct 1863 in Sheerness, Kent) at St. Nicholas Parish Church, Rochester and by September of that year their first child, Richard Joseph Henry, was born followed by Violet May in January 1887.

The first indications of him becoming a photographer were all in 1887. Although his home address was 3 Nags Head Lane, Rochester (taken from the baptism record for his daughter Violet) he advertised his photographer’s studio as being at 214 High Street Rochester. Also, Violet’s baptism record stated his occupation as ‘Photographer’.

He does not appear to have advertised his High Street, Rochester studio after 1887 (people did not necessarily advertise every year).

In 1891 he was definitely living at  23 Cazeneuve Street, Rochester, Kent and listed in the census as working as a photographer and Richard’s wife was recorded as a photographer’s assistant.

Further children followed, Clarence St Clair in 1893, Agnes May in 1895 and by 1896 when Lily Winifred was born the family appears to have moved to Luton, Kent as she was born in Luton.

By 1901 Richard had moved to 16 Hillensdon Avenue, Barnes, Surrey and was still listed as a

Photographer working on his ‘own account at home’ i.e. self employed.

By 1902 he advertised his studio at Station Road, Barnes (in Surrey but also part of London SW). He advertised this studio at that address until 1905.

Richard and Mary’s daughters Hilda Averil (1904) and Christina Elizabeth M (1910) were both born in Barnes.

By 1911 Richard was still working as a photographer but was working from his new home in Barnes at 3 Cleveland Gardens. Interestingly, Richard had a ‘photographer’s  assistant’ boarding with him – a Leon Watson, aged 19, who was born in Rochester where Richard had previously come from.

Richard died in 1924 in Fulham Registration District, London.

 

 

 

Family  

Father – Joseph Thomas Luesley born c.1829 in Rochester, Kent

Mother – Sarah Elizabeth Luesley (nee Turner) born c.1835 in Strood, Kent

 

Married

17 Feb 1885 at St. Nicholas Parish Church, Rochester, Kent to Mary Ann Edwards (born 16 Oct 1863 in Sheerness, Kent)

Child	Richard Joseph Henry	5 Sep 1885	Rochester, Kent
Child	Violet May	31 Jan 1887	Rochester, Kent
Child	Clarence St Clair	9 Jan 1893	Rochester, Kent
Child	Agnes May	21 Feb 1895	Rochester, Kent
Child	Lily Winifred	1896	Luton, Kent
Child	Hilda Averil	28 Apr 1904	Barnes, Surrey
Child	Christina Elizabeth M	1910	Barnes, Surrey

Compiled by Ron Cosens © 2009

Thank you to family historian Kim Ulysses (great, great, grand-daughter) k.ulysses@btinternet.com for providing most of the information above.

 

Sources

Trade directory information courtesy of Sandy Barrie

 

Richard John Luesley – Gallery

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