William Ricketts

William or Will Ricketts produced postcards of Scarborough and surrounding area between the wars. It is unclear if he was the photographer, printer or retailer. He is listed as a photographer in Kelly’s Directory for 1921.

The Halifax Evening Courier reported in 1920 that a Thomas Corless (aged 25), a Leeds drayman was fined 10s for having stolen a “Teddy Bear” from the studio of William Ricketts. A photograph of Mr Corless holding up the “Teddy Bear” was produced as evidence - Mr Corless said that “it was only a joke!”

It is likely that he is one half of the company Laycock and Ricketts which produced studio portrait and views on postcards from about 1905. Their studio was at 53a Eastborough.

Photographic postcard view of Scarborough Castle by Will Ricketts Photographer
Back of postcard, posted in 1939 by Will Ricketts of Scarborough

The Castle, Scarborough

Postcard, number 2020

Photographic Practice

  • Portraiture

  • Postcard views

Studios

4 and 5 Blands Cliff, Scarborough

Royal Studio, 2 Eastborough, Scarborough

References

Halifax Evening Courier, 31 August 1920, (British Newspaper Archive)