William Henry Rammell
41 Lower Street
10 Napier Terrace, West Street
8a St. George’s Place
Occupation: Plumber, House Painter & Photographer
William Henry Rammell was born in Deal in 1830. His father, Nathanial’s occupation is entered on the baptism as ‘painter’. William later advertises himself in the trade journals of the day as a ‘Plumber, painter and photographer’. Quite a strange mix we thought.
It seems you could undertake a short course on this ‘new photography’ and once you had purchased or hired the equipment, you could add to your income with a new venture.
William married Sophia Maxted Baker in 1852 and by 1858 they are living in Napier Terrace, West Street and it was from here that he became a photographer.
We have a feeling that there is some sort of a story behind his relationship with William Sawyer, another photographer, who, when he started on his career, was using the loft space of his father’s shop, as his studio. This was in St George’s Place (later St. George’s Road), where the Deal Maritime Museum is now situated.
We think it is safe to say that the news reporter became confused between the two Sawyer men when reporting this altercation, as Willard was the father. It would appear that William Rammell was something of a rabble-rouser in the town as he is in the papers again for being part of a crowd of men protesting about a right of way being blocked by some boatmen.
A year earlier in 1874, in aid of a new Chapel at Ripple, William ‘entertained’ the Congregational Church with a Scripture talk and Magic Lantern Display of about seventy images. The fact that we can’t find baptisms for his last four children may point to William and his family having converted to Congregationalism as the records for the Congregational Church in Deal are missing for that time.
After William’s initial ‘flirtation’ with photography he eventually returns to being a painter. He has, however, managed to pass on his enthusiasm for the art of photography to his son, Frederick. Frederick moves to Sittingbourne where he sets up a large photography studio and by 1891 he is being assisted by his brothers and sisters who have all left home and had moved in with their brother!
To date, we have been unable to uncover any examples of Rammell Snr’s photography. He must, however, had been a fairly successful Painter & Plumber as when he died he left £699 which in today’s money is just over £54,000.
Name | Born | Baptised | Married | Died | Buried |
William Rammell | 1830 | 23 July 1830 | 1. Sophia Maxted Baker 1852 Eastry DistrictBorn 1826 Died 1903 St George’s Place2. Florence Louisa Keen 1 August 1905 St. George’s Church Born 1855 |
9 October 1910 |
The Children of William Henry Rammell & Sophia Maxted Baker
Name | Born | Baptised | Married | Died | Buried |
John | 6 May 1853 | 20 May 1853 St. Andrew’s |
1854 | ||
Cecillia | 1855 | 5 December 1855 St. Andrew’s |
Tom Barker Shuttleworth 1909 Newcastle- upon Tyne |
19 January 1952 Globe House, 191 Beach Street |
|
Sophia | 1857 | 8 July 1857 St. Andrew’s |
1858 10 Napier Terrace |
29 December 1858 Hamilton Road Cemetery |
|
Frederick Miller | 1859 | 8 June 1859 St. Andrew’s |
Unmarried | 4 November 1936 34 West Street Sittingbourne |
4 November 1936 Hamilton Road Cemetery |
Ernest | 1863 | Florence Wyborn 1890 Tilmanstone |
1946 Denbighshire |
||
Annie B | 1866 | Unmarried | 1955 Bridge |
||
Walter | 1867 | Emily Merritt 1898 Portsea Island |
23 May 1839 Portsmouth |
||
Agnes | 1872 | Unmarried | 7 March 1935 Sittingbourne |
12 March 1935 Hamilton Road Cemetery |
Census
Year | Address | Name | Relationship | Occupation |
1841 | Lower Street | Nathaniel Rammell | Head | Painter |
Sibyl | Wife | |||
Eliza | Daughter | |||
Elizabeth | Daughter | |||
Ann | Daughter | |||
William | Son | |||
Mary | Daughter | |||
John | Son | |||
Alexander | Son |
Census
Year | Address | Name | Relationship | Occupation |
1851 | 41 Lower Street | Nathaniel Rammell | Head | Painter |
Sybil | Wife | |||
Elizabeth | Daughter | Governess | ||
Ann | Daughter | Semptress | ||
William | Son | Painter | ||
Mary A | Daughter | Embroiderer | ||
John | Son | |||
Alexander | Son |
Census
Year | Address | Name | Relationship | Occupation |
1861 | 11 Napier Terrace, West Street | William H Rammell | Head | Painter & Plumber |
Sophia M | Wife | |||
Cecillia | Daughter | |||
Frederick | Son | |||
Susannah M Baker | Sister-in-law |
Census
Year | Address | Name | Relationship | Occupation |
1871 | West Street | William H Rammell | Head | Photographic Artist |
Sohia M | Wife | |||
Cecillia | Daughter | |||
Fred | Son | |||
Annie B | Daughter | |||
Walter | Son | |||
Ernest | Son |
Census
Year | Address | Name | Relationship | Occupation |
1881 | 63 Napier Terrace, West Street | William Rammell | Head | House Painter employing 2 men |
Sophia | Wife | |||
Fred | Son | Photographer | ||
Annie B | Daughter | |||
Walter | Son | |||
Agnes | Daughter |
Census
Year | Address | Name | Relationship | Occupation |
1891 | 8a St. George’s Place | William Rammell | Head | Painter |
un named | Wife |
Census
Year | Address | Name | Relationship | Occupation |
1901 | Missing for Deal |
Trade and Street Directory
Directory and Year | Trade or Occupation | Address |
Post Office Directory 1862 | Plumber, Painter & Photographic Artist | 10 Napier Terrace |
Kellys Directory 1874 | Photographer | 10 Napier Terrace |
Kellys Directory 1903 | Borough Magistrate | 8a St. George’s Place |