Augustus Frederick Perren, 1849-1923 Suggested by Simon Finlay February 2025
All family photos by Augustus Perren are courtesy Simon Finlay
All family photos by Augustus Perren are courtesy Simon Finlay
Nancy Perren (nee Barton) wife of Augustus F Perren
I love the fact that my great-great uncle Augustus F Perren was an early professional photographer, a career which has served me well for 40 years. I have found little on him compared to the rest of the family. All photographs in this article are the work of Augustus.
Augustus’ Family
Augustus Frederick Perren (1849-1923) was the eldest child of Frederick Perren (1822-1891), yeoman farmer from Colerne, and Margaret Brokenbrow (1825-1884), a Box girl. In the depressed years for agriculture, the family moved to Box probably by the 1870s and were listed at Box Mill House in the 1881 census. They had nine children, all born in Colerne including Augustus.
In 1897 Augustus married Anna Rosa Lilian Barton (1867-1948) – known as Nancy, who was eighteen years his junior. Augustus and his new wife settled separately in number 2 Ashley Villa. Augustus and Nancy had a single daughter, Margaret Alice (1898-24 August 1938) who was known as Peggy. She was an accomplished musician and violinist in her own right, performing a duet called Entitled to Summer and several solo pieces in January 1918.[1]
Augustus Frederick Perren (1849-1923) was the eldest child of Frederick Perren (1822-1891), yeoman farmer from Colerne, and Margaret Brokenbrow (1825-1884), a Box girl. In the depressed years for agriculture, the family moved to Box probably by the 1870s and were listed at Box Mill House in the 1881 census. They had nine children, all born in Colerne including Augustus.
In 1897 Augustus married Anna Rosa Lilian Barton (1867-1948) – known as Nancy, who was eighteen years his junior. Augustus and his new wife settled separately in number 2 Ashley Villa. Augustus and Nancy had a single daughter, Margaret Alice (1898-24 August 1938) who was known as Peggy. She was an accomplished musician and violinist in her own right, performing a duet called Entitled to Summer and several solo pieces in January 1918.[1]
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Photographer
Despite being the eldest son of a farmer, Augustus didn’t take over the family business but made a career in the cutting edge of Victorian technology as a photographer. He started by becoming a wedding photographer in the early 1890s but he had much more ambitions than that. In the early days of his career, publicising his work became an important aspect. In 1891 he produced a photograph of Walter Savage Landor, a little-known poet and author who was fiercely radical and republican.[2] That probably was not Augustus’s political persuasion as he sang and played the piano at the Colerne Conservative Club in 1892 and 1894.[3] Augustus seems to have had an interest in photography as early as his teenage years, as evidenced by the photo of Betty Hill Goulstone, right. Henry Fox Talbot, known as the inventor of modern photography, lived in Lacock Abbey, 7 miles away from Box. and it is possible that young Augustus was influenced by his discoveries. In the early days fading images was a problem. It was only when this was solved that photography became a way of recording the past. Right: The earliest known photograph by Augustus is of Betty Hill Goulstone who died in 1866 (courtesy Ainslie and Shirley Goulstone) |
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Augustus was the most prominent photographer of his time in Box, probably the only professional one. His reputation in Bath was sufficient to make him the go-to person if a record was needed. He had several prestigious clients and he captured a few remarkable photos, some of which he donated for posterity. In 1901 the newly consecrated bishop of Sheffield (former rector of Bath) had his photograph taken at Augustus’ Photo Studio.[4] It is a rare image of the person and I have found that he donated the copyright to the National Portrait Gallery, their only portrait of Rev John Nathaniel Quirk, bishop of Sheffield. The newspaper reproduction of the photograph of Reverend John Quirk is seen left. Augustus was clearly proud to have taken the picture and used it as part of his promotion of his studio. |
Landscape Photographs
His studios were in Bath at 7 Edgar Buildings, and 37 Milsom Street but he took photographs wherever he travelled. In 1883 he recorded the restored church of St Paul’s, Hammersmith, which appeared in the Illustrated London News.
His studios were in Bath at 7 Edgar Buildings, and 37 Milsom Street but he took photographs wherever he travelled. In 1883 he recorded the restored church of St Paul’s, Hammersmith, which appeared in the Illustrated London News.
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Above Left: Box Church (courtesy Eric Callaway) and Right: St Paul's, Hammersmith (courtesy Illustrated London News)
The same year he travelled to Iscia, Italy, to witness the aftermath of an earthquake which killed some 3,000 people. The photos were used by The Graphic Newspaper to produce a series of illustrations.[5] Closer to home, he recorded the great floods in Bath in 1894 and The Corridor, Bath in 1885 and 1895.[6]
This depiction of unknown foreign lands was used to illustrate a newspaper article
Career Successes
By 1895 Augustus was president of the Bath Photographic Society. In 1901 he was appointed to take a photograph of a special express train put on by GWR to commemorate the opening of the Empire Hotel, Bath.[7] He became a trusted person, called upon to witness and verify the mental capacity of a friend, William Vaughan Jenkins of Monkton Combe, Somerset.[8]
Travelling and photographing became part of his lifestyle often accompanied with Augustus giving a series of lantern slides of his photographs. In 1912 he presented over 100 slides to Widcombe Church Institute called Grey Galloway.[9] The following landscapes are presumed to be some of those photos.
By 1895 Augustus was president of the Bath Photographic Society. In 1901 he was appointed to take a photograph of a special express train put on by GWR to commemorate the opening of the Empire Hotel, Bath.[7] He became a trusted person, called upon to witness and verify the mental capacity of a friend, William Vaughan Jenkins of Monkton Combe, Somerset.[8]
Travelling and photographing became part of his lifestyle often accompanied with Augustus giving a series of lantern slides of his photographs. In 1912 he presented over 100 slides to Widcombe Church Institute called Grey Galloway.[9] The following landscapes are presumed to be some of those photos.
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Status as Celebrated Church Organist
Augustus was the organist for Box Church for 54 years, during which time he adjudicated at most Sunday services, weddings and special events.[10] He had considerable additional work in 1902 with the death of Queen Victoria and the coronation of Edward VII. In 1901 Augustus played special psalms and hymns and the Deadman’s March at the conclusion of each service and long recitals for the coronation in August 1902.[11] The role of playing the organ for distinguished weddings continued for most of his life and in 1906 he played for the marriage of Edwin Skeate Pinchin and Charlotte Browning, both residents from significant local families.[12] An indication of his status was that he played the organ at Box Church for the fashionable wedding of Constance Northey, eldest daughter of the lord of the manor, and Walter Charles Barlow in 1892.[13] It was a prestigious event, attended by the Northey family from Epsom, military personnel related to the family, leading farm tenants and distinguished local people.
Augustus died suddenly in 1923, one of the refining influences of Box gone from us.[14] His funeral was a grand affair, attended by scores of dignitaries including Rev Vere Awdry and Rev William White, together with Albert Edward New, his long-term friend, then organist of Bath Abbey. The choir sang an extensive romantic piece by John Stainer, What are these that are arrayed in white robes, which Augustus had been practising himself. All processed solemnly from the church to the cemetery. A memorial tablet was installed behind the organ in Box Church donated by his widow recording his 54 years as organist. A new Cornopean organ stop was installed in his beloved Griffen & Stroud and a tablet confirming this donation by the parishioners of Box, located next to a memorial to Walter John Bradfield, choirmaster and Augustus’ successor as organist, a suitable coupling for their 45 years of friendship and dedicated service to the community.
After Augustus’ death Nancy and their daughter Peggy moved to Green Braes, 5 The Bassetts, Box. Peggy trained as a hairdresser but she died tragically in 1938 when she and her cousin Enid G Norton had gone on holiday to Killarney, Ireland. They were in a rowing boat which struck a bridge at a popular beauty spot called The Meeting of the Waters. and sadly died in a boating tragedy, which caused the death of five people in total.[15] The boat carried 27 people and it overturned, trapping people in the rapid water. Enid was from another house in The Bassetts called Witherington and the bodies of the two young Box ladies could only be identified when a Bath angler Thomas George Conway arrived in Ireland.[16] Their funeral at Box Church was attended by over 100 people, many of them contemporary friends.
With the death of Augustus's only child, the wonderful photographs in this issue became distanced from Box and many have remained unrecognised until Simon Finlay decided to make them available to the village. We are most grateful to him.
Augustus was the organist for Box Church for 54 years, during which time he adjudicated at most Sunday services, weddings and special events.[10] He had considerable additional work in 1902 with the death of Queen Victoria and the coronation of Edward VII. In 1901 Augustus played special psalms and hymns and the Deadman’s March at the conclusion of each service and long recitals for the coronation in August 1902.[11] The role of playing the organ for distinguished weddings continued for most of his life and in 1906 he played for the marriage of Edwin Skeate Pinchin and Charlotte Browning, both residents from significant local families.[12] An indication of his status was that he played the organ at Box Church for the fashionable wedding of Constance Northey, eldest daughter of the lord of the manor, and Walter Charles Barlow in 1892.[13] It was a prestigious event, attended by the Northey family from Epsom, military personnel related to the family, leading farm tenants and distinguished local people.
Augustus died suddenly in 1923, one of the refining influences of Box gone from us.[14] His funeral was a grand affair, attended by scores of dignitaries including Rev Vere Awdry and Rev William White, together with Albert Edward New, his long-term friend, then organist of Bath Abbey. The choir sang an extensive romantic piece by John Stainer, What are these that are arrayed in white robes, which Augustus had been practising himself. All processed solemnly from the church to the cemetery. A memorial tablet was installed behind the organ in Box Church donated by his widow recording his 54 years as organist. A new Cornopean organ stop was installed in his beloved Griffen & Stroud and a tablet confirming this donation by the parishioners of Box, located next to a memorial to Walter John Bradfield, choirmaster and Augustus’ successor as organist, a suitable coupling for their 45 years of friendship and dedicated service to the community.
After Augustus’ death Nancy and their daughter Peggy moved to Green Braes, 5 The Bassetts, Box. Peggy trained as a hairdresser but she died tragically in 1938 when she and her cousin Enid G Norton had gone on holiday to Killarney, Ireland. They were in a rowing boat which struck a bridge at a popular beauty spot called The Meeting of the Waters. and sadly died in a boating tragedy, which caused the death of five people in total.[15] The boat carried 27 people and it overturned, trapping people in the rapid water. Enid was from another house in The Bassetts called Witherington and the bodies of the two young Box ladies could only be identified when a Bath angler Thomas George Conway arrived in Ireland.[16] Their funeral at Box Church was attended by over 100 people, many of them contemporary friends.
With the death of Augustus's only child, the wonderful photographs in this issue became distanced from Box and many have remained unrecognised until Simon Finlay decided to make them available to the village. We are most grateful to him.
Perren Family
James Gibbons Perren (1801-1853), farmer and maltster, and Caroline (1801). They had one son: Frederick (1822-1891).
Frederick (1822-1891) and Margaret Brokenbrow (1825-1884) married in 1848. They had nine children, all born in Colerne:
James Gibbons Perren (1801-1853), farmer and maltster, and Caroline (1801). They had one son: Frederick (1822-1891).
Frederick (1822-1891) and Margaret Brokenbrow (1825-1884) married in 1848. They had nine children, all born in Colerne:
- Augustus Frederick (1849-1923);
- Elizabeth Caroline (1850-1909) married James Brittan (1813-), a gentleman farmer, in 1891 when she was 40 and James was aged 78. In 1901 she was at number 1, Ashley Villas with her nephew Augustus H Perren (1891-). Next door in number 2 were Augustus Frederick and his wife Annie, daughter Margaret, sister Alice and a servant. Elizabeth died in the house in 1909, leaving her estate of £1,244.1s.11d to be managed by her eldest brother Augustus and Thomas Vezey, solicitor;
- Emily Grace (1852-1908) lived at Ashley Villas and never married. She died there in 1908;
- Alice Mary (1854-1927), photographer’s assistant. She lived at Vale View for some years and later at Newbridge Road, Bath;
- William James (1858-1899), described as a haulier in 1881, married Kate Sawyer (1863-1949) in 1885. William worked as a carman and they lived at The Glenn, opposite The Bear. After William’s death aged 41, Kate moved to Townsend, Box;
- Constance Ann (1860-) married James Frankham Pegler (1860-) from Raybridge, Laycock, in 1886. He was later an inn keeper;
- Helen Maud (1862-1880);
- John Brokenbrow (1865-1884);
- Herbert Joseph (1867-1940), chemist, married Ethel Rowe Noble, daughter of Samuel Rowe Noble, in 1899. They moved to Willesden, London, and before 1910 to Beechcroft Avenue, Harrow. Herbert died in 1940 and Ethel at Harrow Garden Village in 1942.
Augustus’ great great nephew, Simon Finlay, taking photos in Bath (courtesy Simon Finlay)
A prized possession, one of Augustus F Perren’s original cameras, an Eastman Kodak model No 4 Model E dating from the around 1900 (courtesy Simon Finlay).
References
[1] Parish Magazine, January 1918
[2] West Sussex County Newspaper, 19 October 1891
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 31 March 1892 and 12 April 1894
[4] The Clifton Society, 24 October 1901
[5] The Graphic, 11 August 1883
[6] See Bath in Time collections
[7] The Clifton Society, 5 December 1901
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 26 May 1898
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 23 November 1912
[10] Parish Magazine, December 1923
[11] Parish Magazine, November 1897
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 28 April 1906
[13] The Bristol Mercury, 6 January 1892
[14] The Bath Chronicle, 3 November 1923
[15] The Birmingham Gazette, 10 September 1938
[16] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 September 1938
[1] Parish Magazine, January 1918
[2] West Sussex County Newspaper, 19 October 1891
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 31 March 1892 and 12 April 1894
[4] The Clifton Society, 24 October 1901
[5] The Graphic, 11 August 1883
[6] See Bath in Time collections
[7] The Clifton Society, 5 December 1901
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 26 May 1898
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 23 November 1912
[10] Parish Magazine, December 1923
[11] Parish Magazine, November 1897
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 28 April 1906
[13] The Bristol Mercury, 6 January 1892
[14] The Bath Chronicle, 3 November 1923
[15] The Birmingham Gazette, 10 September 1938
[16] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 September 1938