William Hayes (1871-1940)

Better known as a York and laterly Hutton-le-Hole (Pickering) photographer William Hayes spent two years working in Scarborough. He was employed between 1923 and 1925 at John W. Gray’s photographic studio in Westborough, Scarborough. Gray employed him to produce landscape and scenic views for postcards both around Scarborough and the North York Moors, but also sending him on three month tour of Scotland in 1924.

Born in York in 1871 William Hayes and attended the York School of Art in St Leonards (the building is currently the York Art Gallery). After a year as a ‘designer’ at Rowntree’s factory in York he became a Photographic Assistant at George Henry Thwaites Photographic Studio in High Petergate in York. William Hayes’ studio is now preserved as part of the Ryedale Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole.

Photographic postcard of Lastingham, North York Moors by William Hayes for John Gray
Back of unused postcard published by John Gray of Scarborough
Signature of William Hayes on photographic postcard of the North York Moors

Portrait of three unknown young women,

Postcard published by John W. Grey

Photographic Practice

  • Portraiture and landscapes

  • With his own studio and employed by others

Studios

George Henry Thwaite, High Petergate, York (photographic assistant and photographer)

76 Monkgate, York, 1902

Hutton-le-Hole, 1911

John W. Gray, 82 Westborough, Scarborough (photographer)

References

Buchanan, T., 1986, p27-28

Ryedale Folk Museum, Taking a photograph the Edwardian way. (accessed 12 April 2024)