Vieler Herbert

Herbert Vieler (born 1878, Huddersfield, Yorkshire - died 1950, Bexhill, Sussex)

Herbert Charles Stuart Vieler was the son of Bexhill photographer Emil Vieler (born 1851, Iserlohn, Westphalia, Germany - died 1912, Bexhill). Herbert Vieler was born in 1878 in the Yorkshire town of Huddersfield, where his father ran a photographic studio between 1875 and 1893. After his father moved down to Sussex to operate a photographic studio in Bexhill-on-Sea, Herbert worked as an assistant to his father. By 1901, the twenty-two year old photographer was working alongside his father as a self- employed photographer. On 15th April 1908, Herbert Vieler married Emily Mary Vale (born 1880, Hackney, London), the daughter of Jane and George Vale, a London tobacconist who had moved down to the South Coast to operate a stationery and bookselling business in Devonshire Road, Bexhill on Sea.

Herbert and Emily Vieler produced three children - Geoffrey Herbert Vieler (1910-1997), Douglas Vieler (1913-2002) and Barbara Vieler (born 1920).

For fifteen years or so, Herbert and his father worked from 11 Upper Station Road, Bexhill, but around 1911, Emil Vieler established a new studio at 26 Station Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. By 1915, the photographic studio in Station Road was being managed by Herbert Vieler. In addition to the studio portrait work undertaken at 26 Station Road, re-named the "Imperial Studio", Herbert Vieler worked as an "Outdoor Photographer", covering family events, such as weddings, and recording public occasions such as street processions and shows. Herbert would also travel with his camera to take group portraits on location. Herbert Vieler issued his photographic views, depicting Bexhill seafront, local churches, etc., in the popular postcard format which dominated photography between 1910 and 1930. Herbert Vieler died in Bexhill-on-Sea in 1950, at the age of seventy-two.

[ABOVE] The photographer's credit printed on the reverse of a picture postcard issued by Herbert Vieler of the Imperial Studio, Bexhill-on-Sea (1920)

[BELOW & RIGHT] Three postcard format photographs by Herbert Vieler of the Imperial Studio, Bexhill-on-Sea recording a wedding which took place on 24th November 1920. [BELOW] A group portrait of the bride and groom together with the best man, bridesmaids, and relatives. [TOP RIGHT] The bride and groom. [BOTTOM RIGHT] The best man with the three bridesmaids.

Postcard Views by Herbert Vieler of Bexhill-on-Sea


[ABOVE] Central Parade, Bexhill-on Sea. Postcard by Herbert Vieler of Bexhill-on-Sea	[ABOVE] Rough Sea, Bexhill-on Sea. Postcard by Herbert Vieler of Bexhill-on-Sea	[ABOVE] West Cliffs, Bexhill-on Sea. Postcard by Herbert Vieler of Bexhill-on-Sea

Herbert Vieler and the Vale Family

On 15th April 1908, the Bexhill photographer Herbert Vieler married Emily Mary Vale at the Congregational Church (United Reformed Church) in Station Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Emily Vale was the third eldest child of Jane and George Vale, a London tobacconist. George Vale was born at Bethnal Green, East London, in 1853, the son of Sarah and George Vale senior, a cigar manufacturer. In his early twenties, George Vale married local girl Jane Law (born 1851, Bethnal Green) and was running a tobacconist's shop in London. George and Jane Vale's first child Herbert George Vale was born in Bethnal Green in 1876. Two daughters were born over the next few years - Rose Jennie Vale (born 1878, Bethnal Green) and Emily Mary Vale (born 1880, Hackney). At the time of the 1881 census, George Vale, his wife Jane, and their three children were living at 4 Willow Terrace, Hackney in East London. By 1884, there were two tobacconist's shops in London carrying the name of "George Vale", one at No.1 Liverpool Street, the other at 39 Poultry in the City area of London. Between 1883 and 1892 there were five further additions to the Vale family - Dora Helena (born 1883, Hackney), John Charles (born 1884, Hackney), Winifred Mabel (born 1885, Hackney), Elsie Muriel (born 1887, Hackney, died 1888), and finally, Evelyn Marjorie Vale, who was born in Stamford Hill in 1892.

A few years after the birth of Evelyn, the Vale family were struck by tragedy. Early in 1894, Herbert, George Vale's eldest son, died at the age of 17. George Vale and his family moved down to the Sussex coast, but at the end of 1895, Mrs Jane Vale, George's wife, died in Hastings at the age of forty-four. By October 1895, George Vale had established a bookshop and stationery business at 43 Devonshire Road, Bexhill-on Sea. By 1901, George Vale's surviving son, John Charles Vale was working as bank clerk in Stoke Newington. George Vale, a widower of 48, was supporting five unmarried daughters on the proceeds of his bookselling business.

After Herbert Vieler married Emily Mary Vale in 1908, he continued to manage his father's photography studio at 11 Upper Station Road, Bexhill. Around 1911, Emil Vieler opened a new studio at 26 Station Road, Bexhill, but when he died the following year, his son Herbert took over the photography business. Mrs Emily Vieler's sister, Winifred Vale (1885-1975) later shared the business premises at 26 Station Road, using the left-hand side of the building as a wool shop.

[ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of an unknown man by Vieler of Bexhill-on-Sea (c1912). The subject appears to be the same man pictured with his family at the top of this page in a photograph by Herbert Vieler.

[ABOVE] George Vale (1853-1912), the father of Emily Vale, who married the Bexhill photographer Herbert Vieler in 1908.This carte-de-visite portrait was produced at The Sackville Studio, 7 Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea around 1905. [PHOTO: Courtesy of Martin Staines]

[ABOVE] A photographic portrait of Dora Vale (1883-1953), one of George Vale's five daughters. This portrait was produced at the Bexhill studio of Emil Vieler around 1907. Another daughter, Emily Vale (1880-1964) married Emil Vieler's son, the Bexhill photographer Herbert Vieler (1878-1950). [PHOTO: Courtesy of Martin Staines]

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Emil Vieler

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Adrian Vieler, the grandson of Ernest August Vieler (the youngest half-brother of Emil and Rudolph Vieler) for providing family history details of the Vieler Family. Thanks also to Martin Staines of Worcester for providing information and images related to the Vale Family. Martin's grandmother Mrs Evelyn Staines (Evelyn Vale) was the younger sister of Herbert Vieler's wife, Emily Vale.