Some of the oldest photographs in England which show the country’s transformation after the industrial revolution have been acquired by Historic England.
Images from the Janette Rosing collection include some of the earliest landscape photography ever taken in the country, spanning the breadth of southern England from the harbours of Clovelly and Plymouth in Devon to the streets of Bethnal Green and the banks of the River Thames in London.
The photographs are part of a collection that include 8,000 images and was put together over decades by Rosing, a photographic consultant who worked with the royal collection at Windsor Castle, auction houses and museums.
Rosing spent years attending photograph fairs and auctions, slowly building the collection over the span of her lifetime.
Duncan Wilson, the chief executive of Historic England, said the “scale and rarity” of Rosing’s images made the collection one of “great national significance”, while other well-preserved collections have fetched £70,000 at auction.
The earliest photographs in the collection were taken in the UK in the mid-1830s, others include shots – such as a picture of Barnard Castle in County Durham taken from the banks of the River Tees – that were captured in the 1860s.
The trove of images shows England at a time of great change, with a particular focus on “coastal and inland landscapes, built heritage, ancient buildings and monuments, towns and villages, street life and tall sailing ships”.
Rosing collected early photography by pioneers, including WG Campbell, William Russell Sedgfield, Henry William Verschoyle, Samuel Smith of Wisbech, William J Cox of Plymouth, James Mudd and Samuel Buckle.
The collection, which features all the major photographic processes of the era – including calotype, collodion, dry plate and platinum prints – is in the process of being digitised.
Ian Savage, the collections manager at Historic England, said: “From maritime scenes by James Mudd to detailed architectural studies by Linnaeus Tripe, each photograph in this exceptional collection offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing Janette Rosing’s expert eye for quality. Rosing’s collection will continue to connect us with our history and inspire future generations to appreciate England’s rich cultural legacy.”
The collection has been acquired as part of the government’s acquisition in lieu scheme, administered by Arts Council England.
The scheme allows individuals to donate important cultural items to museums and galleries in return for a tax reduction, and preserve them for the benefit of the public.
