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William Arthur Sawyer

St. James Street, Dover
3 Kent Terrace, Upper Deal Road
8 St. George’s Place, Deal
3 The Strand, Walmer
‘Westfield’, 83 Dover Road, Walmer

‘Westfield’ 83 Dover Road, Walmer

Occupation: Photographer

St. Georges Road, Deal

William Sawyer was born in Dover. His mother having died when he was five years old he was brought up by an aunt. William’s father, Willard Sawyer designed and manufactured velocipedes ( that’s cycles to you and us!). The velocipede was invented by a Frenchman but Willard was one of the leading suppliers of this new mode of transport, in this country. He exhibited his finest machines during The Great Exhibition in 1851 and, it is claimed, constructed one for Edward V11. All this industry took place in a small workshop in Dover. It is not surprising to read in the local newspapers of Willard’s neighbours’ complaints as his business pushed the boundaries of both space and noise.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald – Saturday 17 July 1875

By 1874, Willard and his son William, are to be found living in St George’s Place in the building that is now occupied by The Deal Maritime and Local History Museum. The ground floor was occupied by Willard and his cycles, with the top part of the building being used by William as his photographer’s studio. In 1875 William and fellow photographer William Henry Rammell appear in the newspaper when the later broke the windows of the St. George’s Street property.

By 1880 William has moved to 3 The Strand, married Sarah Amos and is taking care of his ageing father. Sarah was the sister-in-law of the Deal photographer George Brown.

Unknown Edwardian girl

Albert Edward Baines (1899 -1975) Royal Marines, Plymouth Division 1917 – 1938

William built his reputation over the coming years and became so successful he was able to design and build his own house with attached studio. This was, as reported in the Deal, Walmer  & Sandwich Illustrated Trade Magazine, was “…one of the finest of its kind to be found in Kent…”. It was, we are told, fully equipped with “…modern appliances…” for advanced photography as well as “…aids for scenic backgrounds…”. Here he produced images that gave a “…faultless likenesses…”.

William and Sarah were not blessed with children and they remained at  ‘Westfield’ until at least 1911. Maybe they decided to retire in the Thanet area as William died there in 1933 followed by Sarah in 1937.

Sources and further reading:
Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved.
With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Illustrated
Image of  RM Albert Edward Baines kindly donated and with thanks to his great-niece