Henry Berlon

Henry Berlon formed a business partnership with Thomas William Appleton and they operated under the name Appleton & Co

The earliest advertisement that can be found for the company operating a photographic business is in the Richmond and Ripon Chronicle 1st Dec 1855, it reads as follows.

"Appleton & Co. Photographic Artists, Beg to apprise the Gentry and Inhabitants of Ripon, that as their stay is drawing to a close, they will feel obliged to those parties who wish for one of their life-like portraits , to favour them with an early call. Gallery opposite Proctor's Hotel in Market Place, open 9am to 4pm"

It was 1854 when Desderi introduced the carte de visite format which made portrait photographs affordable by the general public, so it was a perfect time for Appleton and Berlon to start their business. 

The post office directory of 1857 shows the business to be operating from Skell Bank, Ripon and in 1858 from Western Hill, Durham. An advertisement in the Durham Chronicle 2nd April 1858 indicated that Thomas was working with H Berlon from Sunderland. Henry Berlon was a member of the Palatine Lodge (No.114) in Sunderland and he transferred his membership to the Lodge of Hope (No.302) in Bradford in April 1859, which would seem to indicate that he had decided to settle there. His occupation in the ledger shows that he was an artist.

Shortly afterwards an advertisement appeared in the Bradford Review 28th May indicating that Appleton & Co were operating from the bottom of Horton Lane and that their stay was drawing to a close. They asked for particular attention to be drawn to their 'Finely finished paper pictures' and that they were having a clearance of their stereoscope slides before leaving. 

It would appear therefore that Thomas and Henry Berlon were operating from a number of locations before deciding to set up a permanent base in Bradford. A statement on the reverse of many of Appleton's carte de visite suggests that the business was established in 1859.  Other sources suggest the business started in 1853 or 1856 but these must refer to the two men operating from other locations. 

The business's permanent base in Bradford was at the top of Manor Row, on a site where the old Yorkshire Penny Bank still stands, they also opened a studio at 7 Horton Lane.    An advertisement appeared in the Bradford Observer 1st Dec 1859.

"Photographic Establishment - Bottom of Horton Lane

In order to meet the requirements of their increasing business and at the solicitation of numerous Patrons Appleton & Co have decided on a considerable enlargement of their present premises, so as to give increased comfort and accommodation. The alterations they hope to have in a few days. " 

Appleton's photographic business continued in Horton Lane for nearly 50 years but the partnership between Henry Berlon and Thomas Appleton was not to last.

Perry's Bankrupt Gazette 19th Dec 1863 reported that the partnership based at Horton Lane and Manor Row had ceased on the 21st Nov 1863. Berlon made an announcement in the Bradford Observer on the 7th Jan 1864 which said. 

'Mr Henry Berlon (late Appleton & Co) respectfully informs his numerous friends and the public that, since the dissolution of partnership, he continues the PHOTOGRAPHIC BUSINESS, at the top of Manor Row, on his own account and will endeavour to merit a continuance of the patronage he has hitherto enjoyed' 

In the same publication Appleton announced that he had bought the freehold of some land at the bottom of Horton Lane and contracted for the erection of an establishment 'which for extent and perfection of its arrangements and appointments shall be second to none in the provinces' While the new studio was being constructed he moved his Gallery to the bottom of Manchester Road. There is just a hint here that the gallery may have been portable, and maybe this was the same gallery that had used in Ripon. Most probably a wooden structure that could be most probably pulled by horse. This was not unusual, other photographers such as Oliver Sarony operated in a similar way in the 1850s.

The reason for the breakup of the partnership with Berlon is not known but the timing of the purchase of land at the bottom of Horton Lane and the statement by Appleton regarding how prestigious his new studio would be might just suggest that the reason may have been related to this move. Clearly from the evidence on the back of the photographs both the Horton Lane site and the site at the Top of Manor Row were operating for some years alongside each other. After the partnership broke up Henry Berlon took the site at the Top of Manor Row and Thomas Appleton the site at Horton Lane. The first time Berlon's studio was shown in a local directory in his own right was in Whites Directory 1866. 

Interesting example from the studios

Here is a very rare example of two carte de visite showing a portrait of William Huntriss (1804 - 1883), one print by Appleton and one by Berlon. The rarity is with the fact that the same negative number is shown on both cards and has possibly been written by the same hand. The Appleton card shows the original hand written name on the back of the card whereas in the case of the Berlon card the name has been written some years later possibly by a descendant of Mr Huntriss. Because the Appleton print has both addresses it must have been produced before 1864 and the Berlon one printed afterwards. The Appleton print has survived rather better than the Berlon one and this could either by due to the success of the printing process, or the way in which the photograph has been stored or handled over the last 150 years. As for William Huntriss, he was born in Sowerby Bridge in 1804. In 1836 he established the first steam powered worsted spinning textile mill in Halifax. The mill was Stone Dam Mill in Well Lane, a building which still stands today. He later went into business with his brother George as a wool stapler operating under the name The Huntriss Brothers, and following that in partnership with a Mr Illingworth, worsted spinning. William took an active part in the town’s affairs throughout his life. He was a constable (an important position at that time) – and during that period had to deal with the Chartist riots in Halifax.

Henry had applied for British Citizenship in 1864. his application was supported by fellow Masons Christopher Pratt, Upholsterer,; Alfred Marston Matthews, Dentist and future brother in law; Thomas Hill, Builder; and also Michael Rogerson Chemist and Druggist. All of them were members of the Lodge of Hope in Bradford.  Christopher Pratt's grandson, also called Christopher Pratt would become a well known amateur photographer. His collection of photographs are held by the Bradford museums.

Family life

Henry married Emily Teresa Matthews from Manchester in June 1866. Her father Samuel Matthews was a registered surgeon.  Emily's brothers followed in their fathers footsteps. In the 1871 census William Clarence Matthews is shown to be a Surgeon-GP and Alfred Marston Matthews was a Dental Surgeon. Alfred had moved to Bradford in the 1840s as an assistant to Mr Rodgers who was at the time the only dentist in Bradford. Alfred set up on his own account in 1846 and his membership of the Lodge eventually resulted in him being  appointed Grand Master.  Henry Berlon had joined the Lodge of Hope in 1859 at the same time as Christopher Pratt.

 Between 1867 and 1881 Henry and Emily had seven children, Max, Helen, Ida, Alfred, Adolf, Beatrice and Mabel. By 1873 the family had moved to 51 Southfield Square, Bradford, from where Emily offered piano and singing lessons. By 1881 they had moved to 7 Wilbury Drive. 

In the register of electors in 1868-9 Henry's address is shown to be North Parade, Bradford. 

The end of his photographic career.

Henry's business as a photographic artist continued at Manor Row/North Parade until 1873 when he went bankrupt. The London Gazette announced that a creditors meeting had been called on 30th April 1873  and that all creditors were summoned to the offices of Henry Berlon’s attorneys Berry and Robinson, 1 Charles Street, Bradford. 

Desperate for money Henry attempted to sell an 'old' waggonette.  He placed an advert in the Bradford Observer 19th Nov 1873 as follows 

' Waggonette (old) to be sold. Cheap, could be made with little expense into a good conveyance' Apply H Berlon, Photographer, top of Manor Row' 

 A waggonette is an four wheeled wagon pulled by horse that can be used for a variety of reasons. It is assumed from this that Henry had used this for his business. With him describing it as 'old' one must ask the question does it date back to his earlier partnership with Thomas Appleton. Did they use it in their days at Durham, Ripon and during their early visits to Bradford? 

On the 19th July 1874 another advert appeared  which sounds very much like Henry selling all his business stock and fittings and eventually giving up his career as a photographer. The advert doesn't actually say this is Henry Berlon's equipment but the chances are that it is.

'To Photographers &c. Messrs Hardwick, Best and Young will sell by auction , at their sale rooms, Piccadilly, Bradford on Wednesday next, July 15th at 11 o'Clock in the forenoon.  All the stock of apparatus and material belonging to a photographer. Comprising lenses by Dallinger, Vogel, and other makers; cameras, head rests, posing chairs, and studio furniture; large rolling machine, 21 by 14; a large four-wheeled photographic van, with lamps; also many thousands of portrait negatives, and several hundred views; negatives of the different castles and abbeys in Yorkshire; gilt moulding for frames; photographic chemical, and a variety of other material used in the photographic business.'

Other examples from the Berlon studio

Because Henry only operated in his own right between 1864 and 1873 then any Carte De Visite photographs with the Berlon logo must date from this period. 

Some examples are shown below. Around this time it was common practice for full length portraits to be taken, although vignettes were also popular. In the two pictures of the ladies it can be seen that the same chair is used as a prop but a different backdrop is used. Studio props were also used sometimes to steady the sitter and prevent movement during long exposures, a head rest may have also been used and sometimes these were hidden from view by curtains. During the 1860's exposure times could have been about 10 seconds, although in winter months when the daylight was not as good the exposure times would have been a great deal longer.. 

 Henry numbered the back of some of his photographs and the above photographs are numbered between 2036 to 3422 and with the letter B. The numbering of the photos would aid reordering of prints and this information would presumably be entered into a ledger along with the sitters name. Its wasn’t normal practice by most photographer to write the sitters name on the back of the photo but in the case of the second photo from the left the gentleman is named as Mr Singleton. Here are some examples of different card designs. Two of the cards are dated. One dated 1865 and the other 1871.

You will notice that there is no mention of the Horton Lane studio, as this was operated under the Appleton name. There is however mention of Manningham Lane and North Parade. In fact these could actually be the same place as part of Manningham Lane nearest to Bradford was referred to as North Parade. Later North Parade became an entity in itself.

A photograph of the actress Amy Sedgewick is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum. The picture itself has been removed from its backing card but Henry Berlon is mentioned against this picture. The photo was part of the Guy Little collection. 

During the period when the photographic studio was operating, in 1868, Henry was also secretary to the Art Union of Glasgow. He probably acted as a local agent to promote the Union.  An advertisement for the Art Union was placed In the Bradford Observer of 4th June 1868. The object of the Art Union of Glasgow was to aid in extending a knowledge of fine arts by distributing among its members meritorious Works of Art.  A subscription of One Guinea constituted membership for the year. The notice says 'The whole subscriptions, after deducting the necessary working expenses, are devoted to the purchase of paintings, drawings, sculptures, engravings and other works of art, each member being entitled to the presentation work for the year of subscription and a share in the annual ballot of prizes. '

After his business failed he still had to make a living and in May 1875 he was appointed as district agent for the London and Lancashire life Assurance Company. He is shown as being an Agent in the 1881 census.  The Yorkshire Gazette 20th Oct 1888 reported that Henry Berlon, Commission Agent from Bradford had gone Bankrupt.    

Henry died on 7th May 1891 at the age of 67. He may have not been the greatest businessman, or maybe he was just unlucky, but he did produce some fine photographs and he will be remembered for that reason. He is buried in an unmarked family grave at Undercliffe Cemetery with his daughter Helen aged 7, plot Con C424.

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