Harry Jenkins

There was an entire dynasty of photographer Jenkins' in East Anglia, starting with Henry Jenkins, a photographer in Tunbridge Wells. One of his sons, Harry Jenkins (b.1866 - d.1952) worked in Lowestoft and he had also had a photographer brother, Frederick, who operated out of Southwold. Eventually, his son, Ford Jenkins, took over the studio and together with his grandson, Peter, completed a photographic presence in the area that lasted over 100 years.

Harry Jenkins was located at 2 Pier Terrace, Lowestoft according to Kelly's Suffolk Directory 1900/1904/1908/1912/1916, Ipswich Directory of Trades 1906/1907, and Aubrey's Suffolk Directory 1916.

Records of the Photographic Convention of the United Kingdom indicate that Jenkins was at 2 Pier Terrace by 1897. Colin Elliott (in 'Sailing Fishermen n Old Photographs; Tops'l Books, 1978) dates his arrival to 1896, and adds that he died in 1952 at the age of 86.

The photographic families of Boughton, Jenkins and Wilson were business competitors but mixed socially. Harry Jenkins was succeeded in the business by his son, Ford, and his grandson, Peter. Some of his photographic plates survived in the Pier Terrace basement until 1953, when they were irreparably damaged by the East Coast floods. (Information drawn from Robb/Godfrey.) Paul Godfrey also reports that Jenkins' wife, Mary, was a daughter of a Derbyshire photographer, Barrowclough Bentley of Buxton. Reference this paragraph.

Stylistically, Ford was the better artist, but Harry was certainly the most versatile! Harry made competent studio portraits, as well as marketing post cards. He was also a very good journalistic photographer and sold his photos of Lowestoft tragedies and events locally and to London magazines and newspapers.