John Inskip (1833-1909)

John Inskip was born in Leicestershire and had come to Scarborough probably by 1853 when he later claimed that his business was established. Initially he set up in partnership with the photographer J. White - Inskip and White advertised their ‘Photographic Portrait Rooms’ opposite the newly built Market Hall in 1856. Four years later the partner was over and Inskip had set up in his own right. He operated from a number of addresses in Scarborough, the most famous probably on the first floor of the new Central Tramway building opened in 1881, and in 1864 he also had a studio in Sheffield and at Bridlington Quay.

In the 1891 Census he was living with his two sons, John Henry Inskip (1864-1947) an established artist who first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1886 and Joseph then aged 22 a photographer. Inskip died in 1909 and is buried in Scarborough Cemetery. In the 1921 Kelly’s Directory Inskip’s wife Mary is running a business letting apartments at 19 Esplanade Inskip’s former studio.

portrait of a seated man by Inskip, photographer of Scarborough
Back of carte de visite by Inskip of Scarborough

Portrait of an unknown man

Carte de visite

Portrait of an unknown woman sitting at a table looking at a photograph by John Inskip of Scarborough
Back of carte de visite by John Inskip of Scarborough


Portrait of an unknown woman,

Carte de Visite,

hotographic portrait of a child with her mother hiding behind the chair, Inskip, Scarborough
back of carte de visite by Inskip of Scarborough

Portrait of an unknown child, possibly an unbreeched boy, note the mother sat behind the chair.

Carte de visite

Portrait of an unknown man by John Inskip of Scarborough
Back of a carte de visite portrait by John Inskip of Scarborough

Portrait of an unknown man

Carte de visite

Portrait of three children with seaside toys by photographer John Inskip of Scarborough
Back of carte de visite by John Inskip Scarborough Photographer

Portrait of three unknown children,

Carte de Visite,

Advert from the Derbyshire Courier, Saturday 17 June 1865 (Courtesy: British Newspaper Archive)

Cabinet portrait by Inskip, Scarborough of three children in the photographic studio
Reverse of a cabinet portrait by photographer John Inskip of Scarborough

Portrait of three unknown children,

Cabinet Card, after 1881

Stereoscope of Spa Bridge Scarborough by John Inskip photographer
back of Inskip Stereograph of the bridge to the Spa, Scarborough

The Bridge to the Spa, Scarborough

Stereoscope

Portrait of a man and his daughter, carte de visite Inskip of Bridlington
back of carte de visite by John Inskip of Bridlington Quay

Portrait of an unknown man and his daughter

Carte de Visite, Bridlington Quay Studio

Photographic Practice

  • Portraiture and landscapes

  • Stereoscopes

  • An advertisement (1878) claims that his business was founded in 1853.

  • He had a number of assistants and apprentices that are recorded on the census, William H. Bayfirto (1871), John G. Cross (1881)

  • He also sold watercolours and other artwork..

Studios

Market Hall, Scarborough, 1856 as Messrs Inskip and White (J. White) Photographic Portrait Rooms

Vernon Place, Scarborough, July 1859

New Queen Street, July 1860

10 Granby Place, Queen Street, 1862-1864

Glossop Road, Sheffield, 1864

Old Cliff, Scarborough, 1864 and 1872

1 St Nicholas Cliff, Scarborough, 1867

South Cliff, near St Martin’s Church, Scarborough, 1868

Photography House, St Martin’s Square, Scarborough, 1871

Promenade, Bridlington Quay, 1872

Marine Promenade, Bridlington, 1879

Inskip’s Art Studio, New Tramway, Marine Parade, Scarborough, 1881?->1890 (This studio was later used by Herbert Watkin and Jean Bowes)

19 Esplanade, Scarborough, 1878-1892 (Henri Philippe Neumans rented space, later Edwin Alfred Debenham and then Woods & Co used the studio)

References

Adamson, K.I.P., 1996, p6

Bayliss, A. and P., 1998, p56-57

Turnbull, H., 1976, p25 (John Henry Inskip)