Spaniel from The Isle of Wight

A father and son? (with a faithful spaniel). There is certainly a family resemblence between these two gentlemen - in hairline, build and facial hair. This photograph was taken at the Studio of John Brown and John George Wheeler at Wilton House, High Street, West Cowes, Isle of Wight. As well as their photographic work the pair painted miniatures and local views, an example of which can be seen here.

Brown and Wheeler were working together at Wilton House from 1867 to approximately 1875, so we can date this photograph to this time frame. The simple photograph mount and thin cardstock would put this photograph in the earlier part of these dates.

A Short Family History for John George Wheeler

Born in Camberwell John worked as a Teacher at a private school before becoming a photographer, as you can see below in the 1861 Census. John had 5 children, 3 of which were born in Winchester between c1853-1858. It appears that the family moved to the island in c1859.

Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861.

John was still working as a photographer at the age of 53 according to the 1881 Census. He died aged 77 in 1905, he was buried on February the 28th (on the same date that his wife Sophia had been buried in 1894.)

 

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881.  

 

Sources:

• Isle of Wight Photographers Notes on Wheeler 
• National Trust Collection Brown and Wheeler CDV