Nicholson Notes

Photographer	William Nicholson
Active Period	c1865 - 1901
Lifespan	Born: c1835 Bolton, Westmoreland	Died: 1911 IOW

Studio Addresses	Carlton House, Devonshire Road, Ventnor High Street, Ventnor 20 Mill Street, Ventnor Esplanade, Shanklin
Associates	Eurenia Nicholson (wife), assistant

Trade History	1865 Harrod & Co's Directory Hampshire & IOW (page 1171) W Nicholson, photographic artist, Carlton House, Devonshire Road, Ventnor 1875 Kelly's IOW PO Directory William Nicholson, photographer, High Street, Ventnor 1898 Kelly's Directory of IOW William Nicholson, photographer, Esplanade, Shanklin 1899 Kelly's Directory of Hampshire & IOW William Nicholson, photographer, Esplanade, Shanklin
Awards
Photographic Evidence Found	1878 - estimated date of photo - see below 1893 - estimated date of photo with negative number 3977
Examples of Photographs, Trade Cards, Adverts, etc	Example of a Nicholson photo and back, thought to be c1878 or earlier My thanks to Marcia Cairns for supplying this lovely photo of Blackgang Chine. Marcia is an avid collector of postcards and has about 600 pre-1940 relating to the Island. If you would like to contact Marcia about her collection, or can tell he more about the above photo, please e-mail her at tiggie.piggie@ntlworld.com
Family History	William Nicholson was born c1835 in Bolton, Westmoreland. Trade directory references indicate that he came to the Island prior to 1865. In the 1881 census, William was described as a 45 year old photographer living at 20 Mill Street, Ventnor. Also living with him were his wife Eurenia, 31 from Godshill, and their 10 month old son Leslie. Eurinia was described as a photogrphers wife, presumably acting as his assistant. By the time of the 1891 census, the family had moved to the Esplanade, Shanklin, and had increased in size with the additional children - Mabel (9), Walter (8), Kate (8) and Arthur (5) - all having been born in Ventnor, though Arthur's birthplace was unspecified. Eurenia (now spelt Eurinia) was recorded as being an assistant photographer. At the time of the 1901 census, the family was still living in Shanklin with William being described as a photographer publisher. Strangely, his wife seems to have adopted the name Mary by then, and her occupation had changed to that of lodging house keeper. William Nicholson died at the age of 76 in January 1911, and was buried at Shanklin Cemetery. His wife Mary also died at the age of 76 in November 1925 and was buried with her late husband. Oddly, their daughter Mabel had died about a week earlier (age 44) and was buried in an adjacent grave.
Further Notes