Phillips and Keld

William Blackburn Phillips (1837-1917) and James Keld (1857-after 1882) were artists and photographers who had a studio at 32 Westborough. Bayliss records that they were advertising in the Scarborough Gazette in May 1879 and continued to advertise through into the following January. Their adverts talked of a ‘new and commodious studio’ on the ground floor and open from 9-5. They were declared bankrupt in May 1882 and their premises sold, along with those of Mr Brooke the chemist in June 1882. The business was purchased by Reginald Spurr who operated a photographic studio in Huddersfield. Keld however was still listed on the 1891 census as a photographer and was unmarried, living with his parents in Norwood Street.

Phillips was born in Manchester. In 1881 he was living at the same address as the studio in Westborough with his wife Elizabeth (b. c.1843, in Bradford) and five sons, William (b. c.1867, Liverpool), Fred (b. c.1869, Corydon), John (b. c.1871, London), Lionel (b. c.1874, London) and Charles (b. c.1877, Finchley). The dates and places of the children’s births might suggest where Phillips was working at the time. In 1889 he was living at 144 Long Westgate and by 1893 at 102 Longwestgate, Scarborough and describing himself as an artist. Phillips is described as a “well known scene painter” in August 1895. He is buried in Scarborough Cemetery.

Keld was born in Scarborough in 1857, the son of William Keld a timber merchant, who in 1890 had his business at 77 Norwood Street. James Keld was living at this address on the 1881 census with his father, mother, Ann, Arthur (brother, b. c.1860) and Isabella (sister b. c.1863). In 1891 he was still living with his parents at the same address along with his sister Isabella.