Studio portrait of a fisherman wearing a gansey by Edward Jeffray, Grimsby and London c1880s.

An original, CdV (carte de visite), studio portrait by Edward Jeffray of 316 Victoria Street, Grimsby and Richmond Road, London. Like a few early Grimsby photographers, Jeffray had a studio in both Grimsby and London. He was actually using the address of his father at 12 Landsdowne Villas, Richmond Road, Fulham. (Now Lillie Road.)

This is a photo especially for the knitters who have contacted us looking for gansey pattern designs. Although the photo was taken in Grimsby, it doesn’t follow that the picture shows a Grimsby fisherman.

Edward Jeffray was born in Lambeth, London in 1846. He was the son of Andrew Edgar Jeffray, landscape painter, and Maria Jeffray. Edward was brought up in Fulham, London. Aged 21 and working as a photographer, he married Eliza Walker (born South Reston, Lincolnshire) in Doncaster in 1867. By 1872, Edward Jeffray was working as a photographer in Victoria Street, Grimsby. By 1881, he had taken over the studio of Edward Mann, photographer, at 316 Victoria Street, Grimsby.

Edward and Eliza Jeffray had two children. Edgar James Jeffray was born in Doncaster in 1868 and Ann Maria was born in Hull in 1870. Eliza Jeffray died in April 1903 and is buried in Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery.

Edward Jeffray married again in 1906. He married Matilda Wise in Islington, London. After over 21 years in Grimsby and the death of his first wife, Edward moved south. In 1911, Edward and Matilda were living at 10 Upper Lewes Road, Brighton. Edward was, like his father, an artist. In 1921, the couple were living at 4 Clarendon Place, Brighton. (Both properties are still standing today.)

Edward Jeffray died in Steyning, Brighton in 1923 and Matilda Jeffray (a dressmaker) died in Brighton in 1943. They are buried together in Brighton and Preston Cemetery. (Matilda Jeffray’s sister, Elizabeth Wise, was involved with the administration of Matilda’s will.)

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.