Wall Photos Alan Payne July 2025
On the Vezey wall Left to Right: Thomas H Lambert, Frederick Noble and Ben Vezey (courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
Today we are all familiar with "selfie" photographs. Of course, these are a modern development, entirely dependant on mobile phones and digital images, so not a historic tradition. A common image in earlier periods was a group photo of family or friends on or near a wall.
The headline photograph shows three of the most eminent people in Box in the 1920s. Thomas Lambert ran a famous masons’ yard at Box Railway Station, Frederick Noble was a prominent Methodist and the son of quarry-owner Samuel Rowe Noble, and Ben Vezey was the owner of the candle factory on Quarry Hill. In some senses the images marked the end of an era. Frederick Noble died in 1930, Ben Vezey died tragically the same year, and TH Lambert died in 1938, the year before war brought an significant end to stone quarrying in Box. None of this was known to these eminent residents at the time of the photo.
Ben Vezey junior (son of the man in headline photo) on the wall of Hill View (courtesy Clive Banks)
Other Wall Photos
There are several other wall photos on the website. The Vezey wall at Hill View offered the chance to frame a view of Box village and to show some of the most important people in the story of the village. In some respects these photos were the updated version of paintings by Joshua Reynolds where the foreground of important people was reflected by the background of their land and estate.
There are several other wall photos on the website. The Vezey wall at Hill View offered the chance to frame a view of Box village and to show some of the most important people in the story of the village. In some respects these photos were the updated version of paintings by Joshua Reynolds where the foreground of important people was reflected by the background of their land and estate.
Children gathered on the Lucas wall enjoying the arrival of the ice-cream man (courtesy Lucas family)
The wall outside Boxfields featured in numerous photos of the Lucas family from the 1930s, the 1950s, and in modern times. The Lucas photos offer a real sense of belong, where people could show that they had put down roots despite the austerity and deprivation that plagued the war eras.
Left John Webster and Pete Barnett on the Lucas wall (courtesy John Webster).
It was immaterial whether the house was owned or rented as a garden wall enclosing a property demonstrated that “an Englishman’s home was his castle” for adults. For the children walls enhanced their fun and comradeship. The wider Lucas family was shown in the story of the Webster family on the same wall.
Left to Right: Anson, Mrs Mallory (children's former nanny), Austin (Vere's husband), Vere with dogs and keepers at Cheney Court in October 1912 (courtest Diana Northey)
Even the Northey family used a wall as a backdrop to a group photograph but, to show their status, they stood with their hounds on an elevated step, framed by the topiary bird on the left. This image featured one of the few photos of Anson Northey before his tragic death in the opening days of the First World War.
If you know of more wall photos in your family album, we would be delighted to hear from you.
If you know of more wall photos in your family album, we would be delighted to hear from you.