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Lilian Ream, Pratt (1877–1961) was a photographer in
Aged 17, she became photographic assistant to Alfred Drysdale whose studio was on Lynn Road, Wisbech. She later moved to work for John Kennerell at the Borough Studio in York Row. This studio was taken over by Lawrence Brown. In 1908 Lilian (then the manager) became a partner. The partnership was dissolved by April 1909. Days later she opened her own studio at 4, The Crescent, Wisbech and built a small studio and darkroom in the garden. A craft shop was opened in Market Street and a framing works, "The Burlington Studios", in Alexandra Road. Her business succeeded and she took over the rival Borough Studio at 7 York Row (now Etcetera).
Her studio claimed to be the oldest and largest in East Anglia. She was the official photographer for the ''Wisbech Standard'' newspaper. After her retirement in 1949, Roland took over the studio and it continued until 1971.
Wisbech
Wisbech ( ) is a market town, inland port and civil parish in the Fenland district in Cambridgeshire, England. In 2011 it had a population of 31,573. The town lies in the far north-east of Cambridgeshire, bordering Norfolk and only 5 miles ...
, Isle of Ely
The Isle of Ely () is a historic region around the city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England. Between 1889 and 1965, it formed an administrative county.
Etymology
Its name has been said to mean "island of eels", a reference to the creatures th ...
, Cambridgeshire. Her studios captured photographic images of Wisbech and the Fens
The Fens, also known as the , in eastern England are a naturally marshy region supporting a rich ecology and numerous species. Most of the fens were drained centuries ago, resulting in a flat, dry, low-lying agricultural region supported by a ...
for over 50 years.
Early years
Lilian Pratt was born in 1877 inWest Walton
West Walton is a village and civil parish in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk District of Norfolk, England.
The parish of West Walton, in the 2001 Census, had a population of 1,659, increasing to 1,731 at the 2011 Census.
History
The name Wes ...
, Norfolk, the youngest child of John Thomas Pratt (born 1837) and Louisa Jones (born 1839), who had married in 1858. A farmer's daughter, she was one of the pupils of the private school at Wisbech Castle
Wisbech Castle was a stone to motte-and-bailey castle built to fortify Wisbech (historically in the Isle of Ely and now also in the Fenland District of Cambridgeshire, England) on the orders of William I in 1072, it probably replaced an earlier ...
run by May Bradley was.
Later life
Lilian Pratt married Sydney Ream in 1905. The couple had a son, John Roland F. Ream, born in 1907; and a daughter, Mary L. P. Ream, in 1911. Lilian died aged 84, inEastbourne
Eastbourne () is a town and seaside resort in East Sussex, on the south coast of England, east of Brighton and south of London. Eastbourne is immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain and part of the la ...
on 20 August 1961. Her grave is in the churchyard of All Saints, Walsoken
Walsoken is a settlement and civil parish in Norfolk, England, which is conjoined as a suburb at the northeast of the town of Wisbech, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire.
The parish of Walsoken in the 2001 census, had a population of 1,484 rising slig ...
.
Photography
Aged 17, she became photographic assistant to Alfred Drysdale whose studio was on Lynn Road, Wisbech. She later moved to work for John Kennerell at the Borough Studio in York Row. This studio was taken over by Lawrence Brown. In 1908 Lilian (then the manager) became a partner. The partnership was dissolved by April 1909. Days later she opened her own studio at 4, The Crescent, Wisbech and built a small studio and darkroom in the garden. A craft shop was opened in Market Street and a framing works, "The Burlington Studios", in Alexandra Road. Her business succeeded and she took over the rival Borough Studio at 7 York Row (now Etcetera).
Her studio claimed to be the oldest and largest in East Anglia. She was the official photographer for the ''Wisbech Standard'' newspaper. After her retirement in 1949, Roland took over the studio and it continued until 1971.
Legacy
Although many original negatives have been lost, over 100,000 negatives have survived to form the "Lilian Ream Collection". This may be one of the most comprehensive records of its kind in England. The trust produce publications of the images. In April 2013 the Wisbech Society erected a blue plaque at 4 The Crescent in her honour. In 2014, a photograph of Ream was included into The Army Children of the First World War collection, established by The Army Children Archive (TACA), a project of the Imperial War Museum. The Ream studios and other local pioneering photographers such as Samuel (Philosopher) Smith and Geoff Hastings feature on the Cambridgeshire Photographers website.References
Further reading
* * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ream, Lilian 1877 births 1961 deaths English women photographers 20th-century British photographers People from Wisbech Photographers from Cambridgeshire 20th-century British women photographers People from King's Lynn and West Norfolk (district) 20th-century English women 20th-century English people