Heslop Woods

Heslop Woods the son of John Woods and Jane Crossling was born in the small village of Staindrop Durham in 1848. His father was a Plumber and Glazier. His unusual Christian name came from his Grandmother who was Elizabeth Heslop. The census shows that in 1861 the family were living in Darlington but by 1871 they had moved to 31 Belgrave Street Leeds with the exception of the eldest son Thomas who stayed on in Northumberland.

In the 1871 Census Heslop’s father John Woods, aged 58 is shown as an Hydraulic Engineer and Heslop Woods, aged 22, a Photographers Assistant. It is not known which Photographer Heslop was working for at the time. By 1881 John is described as a retired Ironmonger and Heslop a Photographer.

In 1878 Heslop was the treasurer of the Leeds Debating Society. The Leeds Mercury reported on the annual meeting of the Society saying that Heslop Woods had been re-elected as Treasurer and C H Braithwaite another Leeds Photographer was elected as one of the Vice Presidents. Frank Curzon of the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics Institutes was chosen as President. This is interesting because it may be that Heslop could have worked for Braithwaite and learnt his trade from him. Charles Henry Braithwaite was a well established photographer and one of the first photographers to open a studio in Leeds in 1856.

Frank Curzon was an interesting character, he was an Artist, Poet and Orator and was appointed secretary of the Yorkshire Union in 1871 having had previous success with the Warrington Mechanics Institute and the Huddersfield Mechanics Institute. He was secretary of the Huddersfield Mechanics institute and during his term of office it had the largest night school in the world.

The Leeds Biographer published in 1892 provides an interesting insight into the work of the Mechanics Institutes and Frank Curzon “when he became secretary of the Yorkshire Union the Institute had dwindled to 57 and the aggregate membership was under 12,000. By now the Institutes number had increased to 290 and the members were nearly 62,000. The books In the Yorkshire Village Library had reduced to 1700 volumes, not a book had been bought for six years, and not a book had been issued for two years. Now the Library contains 34,000 volumes, and more than 200 villages receive every quarter a box of books containing 50 volumes. Whilst the Union Examinations which had practically ceased when Mr Curzon renewed the work, has now 20 departments of examinations with upwards of a 1000 candidates, besides the 18,000 students in technical or other instruction at various district centres.”

Heslop’s advertising would indicate that he opened his own Photographic studio at 12, Kelsall Street in 1887 however some of his early sittings were the gents featured in William Smiths book ‘Morley Ancient and Modern’ which was actually published in 1886 and in the book Heslops address is shown as Kelsall Street. Heslop took portraits of George Webster chairman of the Morley Fire Insurance Co, William Dodgshun, Richard Borrough Hopkins Solicitor and Town Clerk for Morley, Alderman Joseph Schofield First Mayor of Morley, Rev Ambrose Shepherd Minister of St Mary’s Congregational Church. The portraits that appear in the book are of the Woodbury type, a process commonly used during this period and one which was extremely successful in retaining the quality of the images for well over one hundred years.

In May of 1888 the following year he was commissioned to produce a picture of John Parker with 60 of the members of his society class at the Woodhouse Lane Methodist New Connexion Chapel. The picture ‘A fine specimen of photographic art’ according to the Leeds Times was presented to Mr Parker as a testimonial of the high regard in which he was held.

Heslop took regular small ads in the local newspapers and describes his studio to be near to the Marsden Statue.The Marsden Statue was moved at some stage and in actual fact now stands on Woodhouse Moor, as shown here. Henry Rowland Marsden was a philanthropist and apparently one of the most popular Mayors of Leeds

In July 1891 Heslop took a group photograph of Liberals at the home of Sir James Kitson Bart. Sir James had invited members of the Liberal 200 to the beautiful grounds and park of Gledhow Hall, a building which still stands today. The party numbered about 300 and after a meal which was had in a tent under the great trees near the lake the party climbed the hill to Gledhow Hall and Heslop took the photograph in front of the house. James Kitson was an important figure in Leeds his business was the Monkbridge Iron and Steel Works. He was created a Baronet in 1886, was elected as a Member of Parliament in 1892 and became the first Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1896. In 1860 his father James Kitson Snr had also been Mayor of Leeds. He was also the President of the Leeds Mechanics Institute and Chairman of the Leeds Northern Railway. James Snr had developed a successful locomotive manufacturing business and even had George Stephenson as one of his customers.

When the publication The Leeds Biographer was compiled in 1892 the most prominent people in Public life in Leeds were asked to submit a Biography together with a cabinet sized photograph. It is interesting that of the 48 portraits that were published 14 came from the Heslop Woods studio together with 5 from Donald Mac Iver, 7 from Charles Henry Braithwaite and a variety of others including Roxby, Graham Glen, Cunliffe and Dinnie. The Yorkshire Post in an article dated 22^nd December 1892 describing Christmas shopping in Leeds said the Principal Photographers of the day were, Heslop Woods, Braithwaite, Donald Mac Iver, Roxby, Nettleton, Dinnie, Glen and Rosemont. So this ties up very well with the information from The Leeds Biographer. Other noticeable portraits in the Leeds Biographer were those of Col Harding JP, Frank Curzon (shown above), and Doctor Spark, Leeds Borough Organist. Even though only a small number of Photographers were mentioned in the Yorkshire Post article and featured in The Leeds Biographer there were no fewer than 50 listed in the 1894 Whites Directory of Leeds. So there no shortage of competition although it must be said that the location of Heslop’s studio in Kelsall Street, now Merrion Street must have put him at an advantage.

The following portraits by Heslop Woods were used in the publication.

Sir James Kitson Bart JP

Herbert J Gladstone MP, Member for Western Division of Leeds and youngest son of William Gladstone.

Rev Canon Edward Jackson MA, Hon Canon of Ripon.

Rev George Stringer Rowe, Governor of Headingley College.

Rev Charles Hargrove, Minister of Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel.

Rev John S Banks, Professor of Theology Headingley College.

Mr David Forsyth MA DSC, Principal of the Higher Grade School.

Rev Canon John Scott MA, Vicar of St Johns, Leeds.

John Harrison, Town Clerk.

John Lawson Walton QC, Liberal candidate Central Leeds.

And Thomas Richmond Leuty, Liberal North Leeds Candidate.

Councillor Gordon.

Mr Thomas Dawson FRHS

Rev Frank Wells, Pastor of Blenheim Baptist Chapel.

An advertisement dated 2^nd Nov 1895 quotes the Art Editor of the April edition of the Photogram. “From the beautifully fitted studio… the people of Leeds get some of their best photographic work". The Photogram was produced by Henry Snowden Ward and his wife Catherine Weed Barnes Ward. Henry had been born in Bradford and had worked for Percy Lund, having founded and edited the Practical Photographer magazine. After he left Percy Lunds employment he had started the Photogram. Although the endorsement from the Photogram would have meant something to those in photographic circles, because of Henry Snowden Wards reputation, it is doubtful if this meant anything to the general public to whom the advertisement was pitched. There is an interesting article on Henry Snowden Ward on the Notesonphotographs website.

The National Portrait Gallery in London holds a portrait of Edward Stuart Talbot which is attributed to Heslop Woods. Edward Talbot was the Vicar of the Leeds Parish Church from 1889-1895. In 1895 he was appointed the Bishop of Rochester. In fact the Leeds Times reported on 19^th Oct 1895 that they had seen photographs being taken of Mr Talbot. “Passing the vicarage of Tuesday morning I had the pleasure of seeing the Bishop Designate of Rochester seated before the door in the centre of a band of young clerical helpers who shared his labours here in Leeds, while Mr Heslop Woods was just diving under the focussing cloth of his camera. It should make a pleasing group and Mr Woods should have many applications for copies of the photograph from friends who wish to have an appropriate memento of the late vicar.”

Besides the well known residents of Leeds Heslop took many portraits of the ordinary people of Leeds and here are a few examples of Carte De Visites showing the various card designs that he used.

It seems Heslop had close links with the Liberal party and was a member of the Leeds Liberal Council of 1896.

Heslop goes bankrupt

A receiving order was placed on the estate of Heslop Woods on 2^nd July 1896. His liabilities were £688 7s 11p and his assets were £129 17s. There was a great furore when Heslop appeared before the Registrar a Mr T Marshall at the Leeds Bankruptcy Court. It seems Mr Marshall didn’t have a great respect for those that had gone bankrupt. Heslop was required to take the oath and kiss the book, the holy bible presumably but at first he would not comply, he wished to affirm, which was quite within his rights. Mr Marshall asked Heslop to Kiss the book. “It is good enough for one in the position of a bankrupt” he said. Heslops replied whist holding the book in his hand. “ It is simply a book to me and nothing more”. Marshall was not amused. “ Kiss the book” he said “It wont do you any harm” Heslop raised the book to his lips but did not kiss it. Mr J Bowling the official receiver intervened and said “ Kiss the book, you have not kissed it yet” Heslop complied and the examinations proceeded. Heslop put his failure down to competition and bad trade, along with heavy advertising expenditure. It was pointed out that Heslop had been solvent three years ago but two years previous his liabilities and had exceeded his assets by £247.

Reports of the ‘Kiss the book’ incident by the local press prompted this letter to Editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Sir, It seems scarcely credible that the language of the learned registrar (Mr T Marshall) can be reported with perfect accuracy in this evenings Post, as the account seems open to no other interpretation than that an unfortunate trader has no right to hold any conscientious scruples, and that disregard alike of his feelings and his legal rights is consistent with the courteous and impartial character of a deputy judge. Your report states that “The bankrupt intimated his wish to affirm. The Registrar (Mr T Marshall): “ Kiss the book. It is a good enough for one in the position of a bankrupt”. Mr Heslop Woods (the debtor) had an undoubted right under recent legislation to refuse to take the oath, upon the ground that according to his belief, it is wrong to swear. If an insolvent trader is to be supposed to be utterly unscrupulous it is a profane farce to require him to kiss the Gospels as a guarantee of good faith or as an appeal to his pious fears. If Mr Marshall has actually as reported insisted upon over reading Mr Woods’ reasonable and lawful claim there can be no doubt that he has exceeded his powers. As to the good taste exhibited in his remarks, the less said the better, Yours &c., J Greevz, Fisher Chapel Allerton 11^th Aug 1896

Heslop’s eldest brother Thomas Woods had stayed on in the North East when the rest of the family moved to Leeds possibly because he was in the Military and was a conductor of the Military Brass Band. He worked with many local Bands with considerable success in competitions.

The move to Scarborough

Heslop moved to Scarborough and lived with two of his sisters Elizabeth Jane Woods and Annie Duncan and his nephew Robert Sanderson Woods. Heslop and Robert are described as Photographic Artists in the 1901 census. Robert was Heslop's brother John William’s son and had previously been Heslop's assistant along with Mary Woods Heslop's sister ^{(1891 Leeds Census)}. The 1911 census described both Heslop and Robert as Professional Photographers.

The Photographers Woods & Co are listed in the RPS Photo historian supplement for the Yorkshire Coast. The dates of the studios are 1899 no19 Esplanade Scarborough and 1899-1915 York Chambers, Westborough, Scarborough.

Further research kindly provided by Gordon Jackson has revealed that Woods & Co was indeed Heslop and Robert's business as these entries in local directories show them to be at 40/41 Westborough in 1905/6. Thanks also to Gordon for providing a copy of the photo below taken at the Espanade studio.

Occupiers List, Central Ward Polling District 1905/6 Studio Joint over 40/41 Westborough, Heslop Woods and Robert Sanderson Woods

H Woods, 40a Westborough, Scarborough Almanac 1910

Woods & Co, York Chambers, Westborough, Scarborough Directory (Trades) 1910

Heslop died in 1921 aged 73.