John Beckett (b.1825)

John Beckett was born in York and opened his business in the the ‘Medical Hall’ 20 Newborough Street, Scarborough in 1851. Initially describing himself as a chemist and druggist, he soon became interested in photography. Like many other chemists he sold photographic views of Yorkshire, including views of Scarborough and other local places including abbey ruins. In 1859 he is recorded as being in a partnership with the photographer T. G. Whaite who had set up a studio opposite the railway station in 1857. By 1861 he was producing photographs on his own account and the following year was describing his premises as the ‘Crystal Photographic Portrait Rooms’. In 1863 was in a partnership with George Willis who had a studio at 32 St. Nicholas Cliff. This partnership was dissolved by ‘mutual consent on 8 November 1866. Beckett continued in his business in Scarborough until at least 1868.

His first wife had died in 1861, but in 1871 he married Elizabeth Loft Brown, after which they moved to Haxby, near York where he set up a chemists shop.

Portrait of an unknown man,

Carte de Visite

Portrait of Miss Goodwell, a seated woman by John Beckett Scarborough photographer
back of carte de visite by John Beckett Scarborough photographer, written name, Miss Goodwell

Portrait of Miss Goodwell

Carte de visite

Photographic Practice

  • Chemist and druggist selling photographic images taken by others.

  • Partnership with Whaite and later Willis

  • Portraiture and landscapes

  • He claims to have invented a plateholder which enabled him to expose eight different portrait poses on the same plate. Willis also claims to have invented the same equipment, which may have been the cause of their partnership to be dissolved in 1866.

Studios

Medical Hall, 20 Newborough Street - 1851-1868

Beckett and Willis, 20 Newborough Street and 32 St. Nicholas Cliff - 1863-1866

References

Adamson, K.I.P., 1996, p3

Bayliss, A. and P., 1998, p39

Dick, J., 2023, p18-38