Beach photographers at New Brighton

An albumen print showing photographers' tents lined up beside some swings and a roundabout along the beachfront at New Brighton on the Wirral. These semi-permanent studios drew a largely working class clientele who sat for their tintype portraits while on day trips to the beach.

The Ansonia brothers James and Antony appear as photographers on the 1891 census. They were both born in Genoa. Ten years earlier, when the 1881 census was taken, they were both working as labourers.

I have seen a similar photograph of the same studios, taken on a different occasion, and the unnamed studio second from the right belonged to 'J. Donaldson [of] New York.'

The distinctive building in the background is Fort Perch Rock, built in the 1820s.

Photographer unidentified.