National Photographic Record and Survey
Photograph
November 1902 (made)
November 1902 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Sir Benjamin Stone and George Scamell photographed the desolate Newgate Prison before its demolition in 1904. It had been considered the cradle of female prison reform since the visit of philanthropist Elizabeth Fry in 1813. The drive to record for posterity was the impetus for the National Photographic Record Association initiated by Sir Benjamin Stone in 1897. A prolific photographer and Conservative MP for Birmingham, Stone enlisted a network of local camera club members to document, county by county, what they saw as Britain’s heritage threatened by modernisation: ancient buildings and the survivals of local ceremonies, customs and traditions. The platinum printing process was chosen for the project because of its superior tonal range and permanence. The Association deposited prints as they were made at the British Museum. The collection of around 5,000 photographs remained there until the year 2000, when it was transferred to the V&A.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Titles |
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Materials and techniques | platinum print mounted on card with hand written ink notation |
Brief description | Photograph of graveyard, Newgate Prison, Benjamin Stone, 1902 |
Physical description | b&w print of stone room with a mound of earth and letters etched into the wall |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Front: 'S. Benjamin Stone. The Graveyard Newgate Prison. Digging out humand remains (of executed persons) for removal to Ilford Cemetary. November 18th 1902'
On the back a label from the British Museum filled out in ink:
'Subject: Newgate Prison
Date: 1902
County:
Contributor: Sir Benjamin Stone MP
Address: The Grange Erdington
Remarks: 911
(S.B.S. 14123)'
Back is stamped: 'British Museum 1903 3 26 155' |
Gallery label |
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Credit line | Transferred from the British Museum |
Summary | Sir Benjamin Stone and George Scamell photographed the desolate Newgate Prison before its demolition in 1904. It had been considered the cradle of female prison reform since the visit of philanthropist Elizabeth Fry in 1813. The drive to record for posterity was the impetus for the National Photographic Record Association initiated by Sir Benjamin Stone in 1897. A prolific photographer and Conservative MP for Birmingham, Stone enlisted a network of local camera club members to document, county by county, what they saw as Britain’s heritage threatened by modernisation: ancient buildings and the survivals of local ceremonies, customs and traditions. The platinum printing process was chosen for the project because of its superior tonal range and permanence. The Association deposited prints as they were made at the British Museum. The collection of around 5,000 photographs remained there until the year 2000, when it was transferred to the V&A. |
Bibliographic reference | Elizabeth Edwards, Peter James and Martin Barnes. A Record of England. Sir Benjamin Stone & The National Photographic Record Association 1897-1910, Dewi Lewis Publishing, 2006 |
Other number | 1903 3 26 155 - British Museum number |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.3371-2000 |
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Record created | January 23, 2001 |
Record URL |
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