Percy Edward Tombs was born in 1881 in Hayes, Middlesex. In 1907, Percy Tombs married Mrs Emmie Isabel Green, a thirty-two year old woman with two young children. Shortly after his marriage, Percy Tombs settled in East Grinstead with his new family. By the end of 1907, Percy Tombs had opened a tobacconists and newsagent's shop at 18 London Road, East Grinstead, where he sold stationery and picture postcards. Around 1908, Percy Tombs started to issue his own photographic picture postcards featuring scenes in and around East Grinstead. His photographic views can be identified by the caption "P. E. Tombs Photo Series" printed in the lower right-hand corner of the postcards.

Percy Tombs appears to have sold his stationery business around 1910. In Kelly's 1911 Directory of Sussex, Percy Edward Tombs is listed as the proprietor of The Railway Hotel at 106 & 108 London Road, East Grinstead. Percy Tombs was recorded as the proprietor of The Railway Hotel in London Road, East Grinstead, when the census was taken on 2nd April 1911. Living alongside Percy Tombs at the hotel were his thirty-six year old wife Emmie and her two children from her first marriage - Nora Isabel Green (born 1897, Wimbledon, London) and Alfred William Green (born 1899, Acton, Middlesex).

[ABOVE] East Grinstead's High Street (c1904). Ernest Watts opened his photographic studio at No. 23 High Street, around 1906. The building fronted by railings on the left was The Capital & Counties Bank. Next door to the bank were a row of shops numbered 15 to 23 High Street. The site of Ernest Watts' shop and studio can be seen immediately behind the horses pulling the carriage. When this photograph was taken, the photographic studio at 23 High Street, East Grinstead was operated by the firm of Carr & Hopperton.

[ABOVE] A photograph of the parade of shops at numbers 15-23 High Street, East Grinstead (c1925). Ernest Watts' shop and studio can be seen at the end of the row at numbers 21 & 23. Numbers 15 to 19 were occupied by Rachelle's clothes shop, which sold ladies' gowns and coats. This photograph was taken by Harold Connold (1889-1968), who was initially employed by Ernest Watts and later acquired Watts' High Street studio.

[PHOTO : Courtesy of West Sussex County Council Library Service. Image Reference : PP/WSL/P002454]

Ernest Watts was born in 1871 at Folkestone, Kent, the youngest son of William Watts and Margaret Ann Burvill. [Birth of Ernest Watts registered in the district of Elham during the Fourth Quarter of 1871]. William Watts had married Margaret Ann Burvill at Folkestone, Kent in 1853 [marriage registered in the district of Elham during the First Quarter of 1853]. The union of William and Margaret Watts produced 5 sons - William Robert (born 1855, Redhill, Surrey), Thomas Edward (born 1858, Folkestone), George Alfred (born 1860, Folkestone), Albert Edward (born 1863, Folkestone) and Ernest Watts (born 1871, Folkestone). William Watts senior, Ernest's father, died in 1879 at the age of 51. When the 1881 census was taken, William's widow, Mrs Margaret Watts, was living at 3 Harvey Street, Folkestone, with four of her five sons. Mrs Watts is described on the census return as a forty-eight year old laundress. Three of her sons were in employment, but nine year old Ernest Watts was still at school.

By 1891, Ernest Watts was living and working in Sussex. In 1897, Ernest Watts married Rose Jane Anquetil (born 1874, Ightham, Kent), the daughter of Jane and Henry William Anquetil, a nurseryman from Sevenoaks. [ Marriage of Ernest Watts and Rose Jane Anquetil registered in the Kent district of Malling during the 3rd Quarter of 1897).

In 1901, Ernest Watts was working as a photographer in Eastbourne on the Sussex coast. The 1901 census records Ernest and Rose Watts at 34 Dudley Road, Eastbourne. Ernest Watts is entered on the census return as a "Photographer (worker)", aged 28 (29), and so was presumably employed in one of the dozen photographic studios which were operating in Eastbourne at that time.

Ernest Watts took over the photographic studio at 23 High Street, East Grinstead around 1906. The photographic studio at 23 High Street was previously operated by Carr & Hopperton ( Edward Carr and Herbert Hopperton) a firm of photographers which had controlled studios in Tunbridge Wells and Brighton. Watts arrived in East Grinstead around 1906, the year that the business partnership between Edward Carr and Herbert Hopperton came to an end. The studio at No. 23 High Street was listed in Kelly's trade directories under the name of Carr & Hopperton for the last time in 1905. The 1907 edition of Kelly's Directory of Sussex records Ernest Watts as a photographic artist at 23 High Street, East Grinstead.  Ernest Watts was an accomplished photographer and Michell and Gould* have discovered that he even exhibited his photographs at the Northern Photographic Society's 1913 exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery. Ernest Watts was primarily a studio portrait photographer and  Michell and Gould* have noted that "most of the prominent people in East Grinstead were photographed by Watts at some period ". Watts ran the studio in East Grinstead's High Street for a period of twenty years. In 1926, Ernest Watts' studio at 23 High Street, East Grinstead was taken over by his former assistant, Harold Connold (1889-1968).

* "East Grinstead - Then & Now" by Ron Michell and David Gould (Middleton Press 1985).

[ABOVE] A group portrait of the boys' gymnastics class at Matson's Preparatory Modern School, East Grinstead, by Ernest Watts (c1908).

[LEFT] A group portrait of the boys' gymnastics class at Matson's Preparatory Modern School, East Grinstead, by Ernest Watts (c1908). The Preparatory Modern School was established in East Grinstead's Cantelupe Road by the Reverend R. B. Matson in 1894. Robert Bidwell Matson (c1850-1936), who was the curate at the local parish church, was the Headmaster of the Preparatory Modern School. In this picture, Rev. R. B. Matson, the bearded man wearing a mortar board and gown, is seated in the middle of the assembled boys. Rev. Matson employed his own children at the school. Miss Eulalie Karin Matson (born 1889, Worthing), the headmaster's daughter who taught the younger boys, can be seen standing at the right of the group. The young man standing on the left is possibly Columban Matson (born 1891, Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire). At a later date, another of Rev. Matson's sons, Osmond Matson (born 1893, East Grinstead), taught the junior boys at the school. Rev. Matson was hoping to attract members of the gentry to his school, but the majority of the pupils were described as "tradesmen's sons". Rev. Matson was heard to complain "I'm expected to take tradesmen's sons and make gentlemen of them! "

[ABOVE] A picture postcard portrait of Minnie Whiting by Ernest Watts of East Grinstead (c1917).

[PHOTO : Courtesy of  Mrs Barbara Freeman and Dick Freeman]

Arthur George Wheller was born on 25th March 1869 in Beckenham, Kent, the son of Elizabeth and Alfred Robert Wheller. Arthur's father, Alfred Robert Wheller (born 1842, Southwark) was the assistant manager of The George Inn, a public house in Beckenham's High Street. The licensee of The George Inn was Arthur's grandfather, James George Wheller (c1810-1886).

Alfred Robert Wheller had married Elizabeth Courtney Price (born 1845, Bow, London) in Lambeth in 1865. The couple produced at least six children and Arthur George Wheller was the eldest surviving child.

When the 1911 census was taken, Arthur George Wheller was residing at 81A Mersham Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey. On the census return Arthur George Wheller is described as a single man of forty two, working as an "Outdoor Photographer". Around 1915, Arthur George Wheller moved to 11 Clinton Terrace in Dorman's Land, near Lingfield, Surrey. Arthur George Wheller was later based at The Square, Forest Row, from where he published picture postcard views of East Grinstead and Forest Row.

[ABOVE] A picture postcard of Dormans Railway Station produced by A. G. Wheller of Dorman's Land (c1915)

[ABOVE] A  group of men outside the business premises of the Southdown & East Grinstead Breweries Ltd in London Road, East Grinstead, photographed and issued as a picture postcard by G. A. Winchester (c1908).                 [PHOTO : Courtesy of East Grinstead Museum. Image Reference  PP/EGRTM/2176]

Picture Postcard by George A. Winchester

[LEFT] A group of men outside the business premises of the Southdown & East Grinstead Breweries Ltd in London Road, East Grinstead, photographed and issued as a picture postcard by G. A. Winchester (c1908). The men were probably employees of the Hope Brewery in London Road who were about to embark on a works outing. The driver of the horse drawn vehicle has been identified as Charles Baker.

The horse drawn vehicle for the brewery workers' outing was provided by the firm of Nutt Brothers, which had livery stables in Station Road and London Road in East Grinstead. Nutt Brothers (Riding & Job Masters) was founded by Harold Hewett Nutt (born 1875, Southgate, Middlesex) and his younger brother Norman Henry Nutt (born 1883, Enfield, Middlesex). By 1907, the Nutt Brothers were operating a vehicle hire service in East Grinstead at 27 Station Road and the White Lion Stables in London Road. From 1914, Nutt Brothers began to hire out motor cars from their yard at the bottom of Station Road, East Grinstead.

Another member of the Nutt family, Charles Edward Kenneth Nutt (born 1907, East Grinstead),  became a keen photographer in the 1920s, photographing vehicles and employees in the Nutt Brothers' stable yard. Charles E. K. Nutt was also well known for his photographs of steam locomotives and railways.

By 1877, John Winchester junior and his family were living in Hove, Sussex. Lewis Stanley Winchester, John and Naomi's fifth child, was born in Hove during the 3rd Quarter of 1877. When the census was taken in 1881, John Winchester junior and his family were recorded at 35 Clarendon Road, Hove. In addition to the five children already mentioned, there was a boy named Walter Frank Winchester, aged 10 months [born in Hove during the 3rd Quarter of 1880]. A baby girl, registered during the First Quarter of 1882 as Lilian Daisy Winchester, but generally known as Daisy, completed the family. John Winchester (junior) is described on the 1881 census return as a "Carpenter", but the local trade directories published between 1882 and 1905 are more specific, listing him as a "wood turner", residing at 35 Clarendon Road, Hove. [ Between 1911 and 1915, local trade directories record John Winchester, who was then in his sixties, as a "Phonograph Dealer" at 20 George Street, Hove].

After leaving school, George Alexander Winchester entered domestic service. The 1891 census records the teenaged George Winchester as employed as a "Footman" at Eastbury House, Northwood, Hertfordshire. A few years later, George Winchester was back in Sussex. In 1893, George Winchester married dressmaker Helen Hills (born 1864, East Grinstead), the daughter of Helen and George Hills, an East Grinstead tailor. [Marriage of George Alexander Winchester and Helen Hills registered in the Steyning district of Sussex during the 3rd Quarter of 1893]. George and Helen's first child, a boy named Reginald George Winchester, was born in Brighton the following year.

By 1897, George Winchester was living in his wife's home town of East Grinstead. George and Helen Winchester's second child, Lena Lily Winchester (known as Lily) was born in East Grinstead early in 1897 [ birth registered during the First Quarter of 1897]. Around this time, George Winchester established a photographic studio at 61 High Street, East Grinstead. Kelly's 1899 Directory of Sussex records George Winchester as a photographer at 61 High Street, East Grinstead and he appears as a photographer at this address in subsequent editions of Kelly's Directory up until 1909. The 1901 census records George Winchester and his family living in East Grinstead's High Street. Twenty-eight year old George Winchester is entered on the census return as a  "Photographer (own account) - working at home". Mrs Helen Winchester, George's thirty-six year old wife, gives her occupation as "Dressmaker". As a teenager, Helen Hills had served her apprenticeship as a dressmaker and when she returned to East Grinstead after her marriage to George Winchester, she set up her own dressmaking business. Kelly's 1905 Directory, lists Mrs Ellen (Helen) Winchester as a "dress maker", sharing the business premises at 61 High Street, East Grinstead, with her photographer husband. George Winchester made his last appearance in the list of professional photographers in Sussex in Kelly's 1909 Directory. Neither George or Helen Winchester are mentioned in the East Grinstead section of Kelly's1911 Directory of Sussex.

[ABOVE] A photograph of Eastbury House, Northwood, published by the London photographers Elliott & Fry (c1905). As a young man, George Winchester was employed as a footman at Eastbury House. This grand house was built in 1858 on the Eastbury Lodge Farm estate. It was destroyed by a fire in January 1969.

Professional Photographers in East Grinstead  - click on links to view notes & examples

Over 800 images of East Grinstead which are currently held in various West Sussex collections can be viewed at the West Sussex Past Pictures website. To access the archive, click on the link below :

West Sussex Past Pictures

East Grinstead Museum