Heritage Photography editor David Bryson FRPS heritage.editor@rps.org
Honorary Secretary Amanda Miller LRPS heritagesec@rps.org
Honorary Treasurer
David Bryson FRPS heritagetreasurer@rps.org
Web editor Jim Souper ARPS
Military Heritage and Distribution Shaun Parkes LDPS heritagemilitary@rps.org
Published by the Archaeology and Heritage Special Interest Group of the Royal Photographic Society, September 2024.
Copyright in all text and photographs are held by the credited authors, or as otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher.
Print ISSN 0958-0565
Online ISSN 2632-3346
The Lone Tree, Llyn Padarn, Llanberis Photographed for many years, the clear water creates the perfect reflection, and the tree is framed by the mountains of Yr Wyddfa on one side and the Glyders on the other. The lake is also the legendary location of Arthurian legend of Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake, Merlin and King Arthur. Misnamed, the Lone Tree is never really alone
Photograph: Natalie Hough LRPS
EDITORIAL
3 Perspective: I need more work to publish please! DAVID BRYSON FRPS
4 Chair’s Chat Hello from Heather HEATHER LAURENCE PhD
PHOTOGRAPHS
5 Facebook Favourites March and May 2024.
FEATURES
6-13 A look at three historical bridges in the UK.
TREVOR SADOWSKI LRPS
14-20 Classic cars from a bygone era preserved in India.
ASHOK VISWANATHAN
21-22 Selection from 50 for 50 years online gallery
23-24 5 decades of photography: personal reminiscences.
DAVID BRYSON FRPS 6 14 21 23
Perspective: I need more work to publish please!
DAVID BRYSON FRPS
Welcome to the September issue of Heritage Photography.
We start with a look at some bridges with Trevor Sadowski then at some classic cars preserved due to India’s climate from a Guest article by Ashok Viswanathan. This is followed by a few more photographs from the online digital collection for 50 years of our SIG.
Finally an article I have called “5 decades of photography: personal reminiscences”. I think as many members are older others can hopefully produce similar pieces.
This issue is the fourth one this year as we had the extra anniversary issue and at 24 pages it is the shortest for some time most have been 32 or 36 pages.
Please remember that this is your publication and without your photographs with or without writing I cannot put together great issues for our
membership.
I am working on a revised submissions document which I will send out shortly with an e-mail broadcast.
If you have any ideas for articles or series of photographs or would like to get feedback about an idea for a submission please contact me by e-mail. heritage.editor@rps.org
E-mail Reminder
Do remember to add and if necessary update your e-mail details on your RPS profile so we can contact you through the RPS’s Broadcast system.
Facebook
Our private facebook group is at https://www. facebook.com/groups/rpsah
Iced up waterway and traditional house colours in Copenhagen.
Chair’s Chat: Hello from Heather
HEATHER LAURENCE PhD
Hello Folks, It is a huge honour to be here as chair, in our 50th anniversary year. I wonder just how many moments, we as a collective have captured during the last ten years, let alone the last 50.
As we battle the elements in archaeology, it has been an increasingly difficult year to get out and take photos, and I wish you luck in your photographic endeavours for the rest of the year, let’s hope for a late summer and fabulous autumn.
It is not the weather that has hampered my own project this year, we have been inhibited by the presence of Giant Hogweed on the site. This leads me to think about what plants we have, that we would consider to be a part of our heritage, or plants that have changed our heritage. A competition or even larger project for the future perhaps?
Thank you as always to David and Shaun for their hard work in getting the magazine out to us all.
I am always looking for suggestions for the group. Due to the logistical issues of managing face to face meetings, I would like to suggest that we begin to plan a project or two that can be carried out individually, and then collated to become a larger coherent final exhibition/ book/talk or whatever we decide upon as a community. Please let me know your ideas and thoughts on this one.
There are a lot of changes going on at RPS house at the moment, from staffing changes to the rolling out of new software alongside volunteer training, the creation of new rules and regulations, Service Level Agreements for support and functions. These changes impact every part of the RPS, which means that we may not be able to complete tasks as quickly as we might hope to. However, the CEO has a roadmap in situ and things should be able to move forward soon, with events and website updates working as they should. I will keep you updated as much as possible as things progress.
Stay focused, Heather.
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) Looks can be deceiving as its sap is dangerous causing skin lesions due to its phototoxicity. Photograph: David Bryson FRPS.
March: Close-up in Heritage
May: Metalwork
Edward, the Black Prince, in Canterbury Cathedral Photograph: David Cummings
Misericord detail from St Laurence’s church in Ludlow – thought to have been carved circa 1425. Photograph Edmund White.
A look at three Historical Bridges in the UK.
The UK has a wealth of bridges of all designs and lengths most of them purely functional and typically constructed with concrete and steel. However, there are many more interesting and ornate examples which have a rich history. I am currently touring the UK to document interesting historical bridges and hope to turn my portfolio into an application for the ARPS distinction. I have always been interested in historical construction methods and this is proving to be a very enjoyable project.
TREVOR SADOWSKI LRPS
Ironbridge
Ironbridge gorge located near Telford in Shropshire is a fascinating area. A UNESCO World Heritage Site it is widely known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution. However, it is argued by historians that the revolution took place in many locations and not just at Ironbridge.
In 1709 at a blast furnace he leased in Coalbrookdale, Abraham Darby started smelting iron ore using coke rather than charcoal as the fuel. This discovery enabled the mass production of iron-based products to become a commercially viable process.
Expansion of the industry in the valley gave rise to transportation issues and it was proposed that a bridge should be constructed in order to connect
Figure 1 - Ironbridge Gorge as seen from the toll booth This shows a view of the town looking back over the bridge from the tollhouse side. You can see the incline and unevenness of the deck.
The English Heritage renovation has made the area around the bridge a very nice area to relax. Looking at the bridge from the high street side shows a little sun trap area where it is good to rest and take in the fabulous view of the bridge. This is also a popular area for gatherings, we saw the local motorcycle club dismount there on a Sunday morning.
the parishes of Madley and Benthall across the River Severn. The river at that time was one of the busiest in the country, the bridge would help to move goods over the river as well as along it.
The radical design of the bridge was developed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard an architect from Shrewsbury, he proposed to build the world’s first structure made entirely from cast iron. After receiving assent from Parliament, Construction began in 1777 and the bridge was opened to the public on New Year’s Day 1781.
It is thought that the components for the bridge were all cast at the Darby forge in Coalbrookdale however other local furnaces were probably involved in the casting process.
Toll charges were levied on all users of the bridge and you can still see the schedule of charges listed on the front wall of the toll house today. Tolls were still levied upon pedestrians up until 1950 when they were finally removed.
The bridge remained in use for many years experi-
encing an ever-increasing load of traffic. However, in 1934 the decision was made to close the bridge to vehicles and it was designated an Ancient Monument.
English Heritage carried out major renovation works in 2017 to preserve the bridge for future generations restoring the structure to its original red-brown colouring that we see today.
3 - The intricate structure of the bridge is fascinating to view up close. A footpath takes you right under the bridge where you can see up close the castings with their unevenness caused by the process all those years ago, it is fascinating to get that close to history.
Figure 4 - The bridge still receives a lot of foot traffic today. Ironbridge is a popular tourist destination and a very pleasant area to spend a weekend exploring the extensive history that this world heritage site has to offer. See the Ironbridge.org.uk website for details of the museums and local sites to visit.
Figure
The Essex Bridge
Some 50 miles away from the Ironbridge gorge located just outside Stafford is the Grade I listed Essex bridge; the longest remaining packhorse bridge left in England.
The bridge was constructed in the 16th century. However, there are two stories that surround reasons for the bridge’s construction. The first is that it was built by the then Earl of Essex in order to allow Queen Elizabeth I easier access to his home, Chartley Manor. The second is that the bridge was simply constructed to provide a route into Shugborough Park over the river Trent, as it still does today.
Whichever story you believe the bridge provides access to this day for a great number of visitors accessing the Shugborough estate.
The bridge has an interesting construction in that as well as being low-sided in order to allow pack-laden horses to walk across with ease, there are also triangular alcoves at regular intervals. The alcoves allowed people to stand aside in order to let the horses pass unimpeded and themselves to remain uninjured from collision.
In my experience the alcoves are just as useful today for a similar purpose. Whilst I was there taking photographs, I had to make use of them several times in order to move out of the way of several people pony trekking and countless visitors passing to and from Shugborough hall.
Incidentally, a key figure in photographic history resided at Shugborough Hall, Patrick Anson the 5th Earl of Lichfield inherited Shugborough Hall from his grandfather in 1960, he was known to the photographic world by his professional name, Patrick Lichfield.
In order to settle death duties Patrick Lichfield gifted the house and estate to the National Trust however he retained private apartments there until 2005. If you visit the house you can view a collection of his photographic equipment.
The Essex bridge Crossing the River Trent. A very old bridge that is still fully functional and in constant daily use.
The bridge leads into the Shugborough estate. A unique bridge and one worthy of a day trip to explore, it might be said that it could do with a little weeding though!
Close up of one of the alcoves. A major feature of the bridge that makes it a standout example and different from other stone bridges.
The Palladian bridge at Stourhead with the Pantheon in the background. This is the classic view of the gardens as seen from the path just after the entrance. When the lake is full it gives the illusion that the water is a river that flows underneath the bridge. However, there are two separate bodies of water.
The Palladian Bridge at Stourhead
The famous Stourhead gardens in Wiltshire were considered by some as a living work of art. The gardens were originally conceived by Henry Hoare II and laid out from 1741 to 1780. Integral to the garden are a variety of buildings in the form of replicas of the Temple of Apollo, the Pantheon, the Temple of Flora in addition to a gothic cottage, boathouse, grotto and of course the Palladian bridge.
The lake takes centre stage and is surrounded by a path that leads you to the various temples and grotto. The position of each of these provides you with an alternative viewpoint of the magnificent garden vista.
The Palladian bridge at Stourhead is purely ornamental however it is very much a central feature to the gardens and is a very popular setting for photographs by visitors. The bridge was originally created to provide the illusion that the river flows under it and through the village.
Unfortunately, at the time of visiting the lake seemed a little dry despite all the recent rainfall and so for me that illusion was shattered however, that did not detract from the peace and beauty of the landscape.
According to a search on the internet I read that there are only four Palladian bridges left in the world. I was unsure of this, but the statement does seem to be confirmed by the National Trust on their website
for the Prior Park landscape garden in Bath.
The Stourhead example was built in 1762 and is a five arched stone bridge that today has weathered significantly providing host to various lichens, wildflowers and also possesses a grassy top that also plays host to buttercups.
Further reading
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust website provides information on all of the museums located in the gorge. https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/
The English Heritage website provides more historical information about the Ironbridge on this page
The National Trust website provides more details of the Stourhead and Shugborough estates including details of how to visit.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
The bridge creates the illusion of a crossing over a river when the lake is full. The bridge is just a decorative feature in the gardens and so inaccessible to visitors but it makes an magnificent centrepiece.
The bridge is set in a wonderful landscape. The gardens are a wonderful place to explore and there are many other structures to examine in addition to the bridge such as the Temple of Flora as seen to the left.
Classic Cars from a bygone era preserved in India
India has existed from the days of the Indus valley civilisation over 5000 years ago. Its also been on the trade route between Europe and Asia with caravans navigating the deserts and mountains bordering the western and northern routes to India. It is a land that historically has been ruled by invaders and several dynasties across India untill the East India Company set up a trading post in Calcutta (now Kolkatta). Guest feature by a member of the RPS Indian Chapter. ASHOK VISWANATHAN
Dodge Brothers tourer – Chrysler’s a mid priced segment above Plymouth. The Dodge Brothers Motor company was founded in 1914 by Horace Elgin Dodge and John Francis Dodge.
It was not long before they built relationships with the ruling Maharajahs, Kings, Nawabs and local rulers of states and over many decades gained control of India. It was in this period that Henry Ford invented the motor car and wealthy rulers were among the first to acquire them. As new manufacturers and models entered the market they found their way to India.
Over almost a hundred years India gained independence and the Kings and other rulers of local states lost their power. They retained their
titles and their palaces and not much else. These rulers appreciated cars and many of them built collections, some times of over 100 cars that they passed on to their descendants. Despite this, in Independent India, import of automobiles required an import licence and high custom duties were applied to dissuade imports.
Over the last few decades groups of vintage car clubs were established where owners of classic and rare cars could meet to exchange ideas and discuss their passion. It also became a platform to make
Austin 7 – produced between 1923-1939 an economy car nick named “baby Austin”. Sir Herbert Austin commenced the design in 1920 in order to make an affordable small car.
Chevrolet 1938 – top speed 80 MPH. It was an expensive model for its time. It was even exported to Japan. Toyota studied the Chevrolet build to engineer their range of cars. Above and top of next page.
recommendations to the government on matters such as import policy and custom duties. These vintage car clubs would occasionally have displays of classic cars drawing a large number of visitors. The clubs also assist owners to put them in touch with overseas suppliers for parts.
A few owners have created displays at their sprawling homes to showcase their collection big and small. Teams of experienced restorers are on the payroll to keep the cars in running condition, importing parts when necessary. Most parts are sourced from specialist companies in UK and USA. Some times parts are locally fabricated based on drawings and what ever information is available. Locally restored cars are to high standard often meeting or exceeding overseas restoration standards at a lower cost. In some cases a modification has been made to add air conditioning and a high end music system.
There are also specialist car clubs such as the Mercedes club. Rolls Royce was a favourite with the Maharajahs and rich businessmen and quite a few very old cars in rotting condition have been restored to factory standard. Such restoration can take 2-5 years depending on how bad the condition is and the delays in getting parts from overseas. The restoration is down to the minutest details. Costs can be very high and only the collector with deep pockets would venture to do a ground up restoration of such old cars. The retail market price more then covers the costs but few if any at all
come up for sale as they appreciate in value over the years.
On a visit to Ahmedabad some years ago, I decided to make the trek to the farm house of the Late Mr Pranlal Bhogilal a businessman who had a passion for cars. His collection is showcased at his extensive farm outside the city and open to public viewing. The cars are in running condition and for a fee his driver will take you for a spin around the farm. The collection is now inherited by his daughter.
The former Maharajahs and rulers have collections that some times can be viewed at their palaces. Every car has a story to tell and owners are delighted to have an audience. Rich businessmen have modest collections and can be seen occasionally taking their cars out for a drive. Another large collection of 100 cars is in Mumbai with the Chairman of a newspaper group who is himself a restorer with a well equipped workshop on the outskirts of the city. The standard of his restorations rivals anything you can get overseas. His collection includes several Range Rovers, Rolls Royces, Jaguars, and American classics. He even is in possession of one of Saddam Hussain’s old cars that he picked up in Dubai.
There is obviously a market for classic cars and a manufacturer who decides to make a limited edition of 5000 to 10,000 cars of old popular models such as the old Mercedes, Mustang or the Jaguar Saloon of the 1960s will find a ready market.
Mercedes dashboard: Dashboard belongs to a very rare 1929 right hand drive Mercedes 630K supercharged tourenwagen, bodied by Mercedes
Mercedes themselves in Sindelfinger.
I wait for that day to invest in my first new classic car.
Biography: A retired company executive with a passion for Classic cars, travel, landscape & portraits. He was a dedicated Nikon user from the early 70s and has now gone mirrorless with two Fuji X-E3 bodies & four lenses. However, he still shoots film, mainly FP4 and HP5, on a Rolleiflex and Hasselblad 500 CM systems. Ashok is a long-time exhibitor with several awards & considerable published work in print & on the web. He is also interested in alternative techniques including; Cyanotypes, Bromoil, Van Dyke etc.,using large format internegatives. Lives in Chennai, India. www.pbase.com/ashok_viswanathan
Minerva front view: Minerva was a Belgian firm making cars from 1902 – 1938. The company was founded by Sylvain de Jong starting with bicycles and later motor cars. In the last years of its decline it was licenced to make Land Rovers
PHOTOGRAPHS Members photographs to celebrate 50 years.
The next two pages show more photographs submitted to the digital collection online at https://app.rompolo.com/en/album/6b30d5deaf
Banteay Srei is a Cambodian Hindu temple, built in 967 A.D. It is said “the jewel of Khmer culture”, on the wall of red sandstone, there are many beautiful devatas. Photographer: Yukako Amami
Pyramid of Austerlitz (Amersfoort (NL), 1804) built by some 18.000 French troops to honour Napoleon Bonaparte and to keep them out of mischief when bored. Photograph André Bergmans
Worcester Cathedral and the River Severn. Infrared Photographer: David Bryson FRPS
5 decades of photography: personal reminisences.
The next two pages look at some aspects of my photographs and personal journey and will also hopefully encourage members to submit their versions hopefully longer for publication.
DAVID BRYSON FRPS
1970s
At this point in my life I was studying Anatomy at University in Aberdeen. My camera was a very unsophisticated 110 camera leading to the Trueprints one large and 3 small prints and
more often slides which I have stored but not scanned as yet.
1980s - present
After University I had a Canon AE-1 and I learnt whilst training to be a teacher at Aberyswyth to
process and print black and white films I then went on to train as a Clinical Photographer working in Dundee before moving back to my home town of Worcester. Here I was asked to photograph the Three Choirs Festival when it came to Worcester in 1984.
Eventually after working freelance for over 10 years specialising in medico-legal photography I became a Senior Lecturer at the University of Derby at which point many of my photographs were related to students, teaching and the University and various experiences on field trips to Mallorca and giving lectures and marketing in China (mainland and Taiwan) and Java.
I stayed at the University for 28 years teaching and leading a range of courses retiring in October 2023. Since retiring I have continued to live in Derby and after a stroke I haven’t got out and photographed as much but continued to edit Heritage Photography.
Me and my flatmates Hillhead Halls, Aberdeen.
Portrait of me at Univeristy of Aberystwyth taken by a friend but printed by me. Yes I did once have jet black hair.
Roman Bridge in Porto Pollenca, Mallorca.
Three Choirs Festival at Worcester Cathedral 1984 opening service of thanksgiving with choir, orchestra, BBC filming and congregation.
