Blackberrying in White Hart Lane, 1905 (William Thomas Camper Atkinson)

Comment by Peter William Thomas on November 21, 2025 at 5:04

This photograph was taken by my grandfather, William Thomas Camper Atkinson of 13 Church Road, Tottenham in 1905.

His work and that of his father, William Thomas Reed Atkinson, a famous violin maker, was celebrated at Bruce Castle Museum early last year. The exhibition was called "The Two Williams" to which my brother, Andrew, and I contributed most of the material. Curator Deborah Hedgecock and team did a marvellous job setting up the displays. It was well worth travelling from Australia to experience this.

In August 2021, outside 15 Church Road, Tottenham (site of old 13 Church Road) an 'Interpretation Panel' which I'd designed in Western Australia, was unveiled by Harringay Mayor, Adam Jogee. The panel was to show the exact place where WTR Atkinson had made most of his fine violins.

Comment by Hugh on November 21, 2025 at 8:20

Hi  Peter. Thanks for sharing some of your grandfather's story. I know that there were a lot of piano makers in Tottenham and Harringay. I hadn't been aware of violin makers, Was he one of many, or was he unique for the area?

Your grandad's photo is an excellent image. Candid street photography was not that common back then. I'm so sorry to have missed the exhibition at Bruce Castle. Did the museum archives end up with a set of copies?

I've added the year and photographer to the photo title.

Comment by Peter William Thomas on Friday

Hugh,

My great-grandfather's work was recognised world-wide, details of this can be seen in one of the above photographs I'd taken at Bruce Castle Museum last year. This this of the poster "Trade Secrets ... Taken To the Grave". 

Thank you for adding the year and crediting my grandfather's name to the photo's title.

Attached is a PDF catalogue I'd produced of all of my grandfather's lantern slides which I have in my possession here in Western Australia. The vast majority of his material consists of glass-plate negatives, all of which have been digitised.

Also attached is a PDF copy of the provenance of copyright of my grandfather's entire photographic collection that my mother, Daphne Vera Bradley, formerly Thomas, nee Atkinson, transferred to me on November 16, 2009. Should you come across any of his work and wish to publish it I'd be more than happy to give permission provided it was gently watermarked and credited with my grandfather's name.

William%20T%20C%20Atkinson%27s%2019th%20%26%2020th%20Century%20Imag...

Daphne%27s_Provenance_Document.pdf

Comment by Hugh on Friday

Thank you for the additional info, Peter. What a wonderful collection.

Comment by Peter William Thomas on Saturday

Hugh,

I believe the Museum kept all of the display photographs, some of which were quite big in size. The blackberrying shot in White Hart Lane wasn’t the best of my grandfather‘s images due to the slow shutter speed not being able to freeze the movement of the two women sufficiently.

Most of his work was recorded via ‘view cameras’ on large glass plates providing an impressive image to grain size ratio. This has allowed for the photographs to be printed in large sizes without a degradation of sharpness.

Regards,

Peter

Comment by Hugh on Saturday

I have to say that I disagree with you. Peter. Intentionally or not, William's settings actually captured the motion with the use of slight blur. I think it's a first class photo. Maybe William was even the man who pioneered to use of motion blur to convey a sense of action. 

Comment by John Shulver on Saturday

Good on ya Peter ! All the way from Oz to honour your grandad, wow, respect.  Such a great link.

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