Albert Sachs Studios

The Studios

According to the Royal Photographic Society’s (RPS) Photo Historian supplement Albert Sachs operated from the following addresses.

· 151e Westgate 1857 – 1877

· 20 Manningham Lane 1877 – 1881

· 20 North Parade 1881

· 1 Manor Street 1881 – 1889

· 8 Manningham Lane 1883 – 1922

Since Albert would only have been 14 in 1857 it is unlikely that this date is correct unless he was an apprentice to another photographer. The address 151e Westgate is interesting.The RPS document shows the following.

151e Albert Sachs 1857-1877

151d Frank Dore (From Huddersfield) 1879-1881

151 Anglo American Photograph Company 1881

151d Sutcliffe & Holmes 1883

151 Richard C Clifford 1884-1894

151d Miss Francis Raper 1887

151c Alex Philip 1897

Although the address is shown 151, 151e, 151d,151c it is likely that this was the same studio as all the dates of occupation run sequentially.

Another list of Bradford photographers produced by K Kenzie is based upon local directories and Albert Sachs’s business is shown to be at the following addresses.

· 1877 Kellys 20 Manningham Lane and 151 Westgate

· 1879 Byles 20 Manningham Lane

· 1881 Kellys 20 Manningham Lane and 1 Manor Street

· 1887 Slaters 8 Manningham Lane

· 1891 Post Office Directory 8 Manningham Lane

· 1893, 1898 and 1900 Byles directory 8 Manningham Lane

In 1873 Albert announced in the local press that he had opened a studio the at 151 Westgate. In June 1876 he announced that he was opening a studio at 20 Manningham Lane and retaining his studio in Westgate. (Ref Bradford Observer 21st June 1876)

What is not apparent from this information is that in approximately 1880 the properties in Manningham Lane were renumbered and No20 became No8 so if fact the studio never moved. Also the reference to 20 or 20a North Parade may also refer to the same property. Looking at the 1851 ordnance survey maps reveal that Manningham Lane extended further into the town centre than it does today and the properties on one side of Manningham Lane for quite some distance were referred to as North Parade. This must have created some confusion and in 1880 or thereabouts Manningham Lane was cut short and started where it does today and the section of road nearest town was renamed North Parade.

The Post Office Directory for 1879/80 shows Albert Sachs at 20, Manningham Lane

For the same year the Electoral Roll shows Albert Sachs at 20a North Parade and then by 1881/2 his address in the Electoral roll is shown as No 8 Manningham Lane

So the best estimate for the dates of Albert Sachs’s studios is as follows:

1873 - 1877 151(e) Westgate, Bradford