Objects

47 and 48 High Street, Lewes. Around 1879, William S. Branch sold this studio to Daubigny Hatch (Henry D’aubigny Hatch) and set up a photographic studio at his mother’s fancy goods store at 16 High Street, Lewes. At the time of the 1881 census, Mrs Elizabeth Branch and her sons were living at 16 High Street, Lewes (also known as 16 School Hill), the location of the fancy goods shop and studio. Elizabeth Branch is described in the census return as a 55 year old widow, working as a dealer in wool, toys and other "fancy goods". Henry E. Branch, aged 20, gives his occupation as "News Reporter", while his older brother William S. Branch is entered on the census return as a "Photographer", aged 26. Around 1888, Mrs Elizabeth Branch and her two sons moved to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. William Shelley Branch was then aged about thirty-four and his brother Henry was in his late twenties. William Shelley Branch established a photographic studio in Suffolk Road, Cheltenham, where he continued in business as a professional photographer for the next five years."