Portrait of a young woman wearing an RAF sweetheart brooch by the photographer Edwin Noble c1940.

An original studio portrait by the master photographer, Edwin Noble (1867-1948) of 233 Freeman Street, Grimsby.

Edwin Noble was born in Grimsby on 9th January 1867. His parents were John Noble, fish merchant, and Catherine Noble (née Bromley). They were both from Yorkshire. On the 1871 Census, the couple and their eight children, all born in Grimsby, were living at 70 Hollis (Holles Street?). In 1881, the family were living at 7 Hainton Street. Edwin was at school, aged 14. (Two siblings had married by 1881.) In 1891, Edwin was one of only two siblings still living at home with their parents who had moved to 135 Willingham Street, Grimsby. By now, Edwin was a photographer, aged 24. John Noble was still living in Hainton Street (later Avenue) in 1889.

Edwin Noble married Pollie Swaby in the Grimsby area in 1892. Pollie was born in Cleethorpes in 1867. In 1901, the couple lived at 233 Freeman Street where they had a photographer’s shop. Edwin and Pollie don’t appear to have had any children.

Pollie Noble died on 27th February 1917, aged just 50. Pollie’s address was given as “Sackville House”, Weelsby Road, Grimsby at this time. Edwin married a younger lady, Nellie Lidgard (1888-1953), in Louth in 1918. Edwin Noble died in Louth in 1948, aged 81. Nellie Noble died in Louth in 1953, aged 65. Edwin and Nellie are buried at North Thoresby with other members of the Lidgard family.

Note: Living with Edwin and Pollie Noble at 233 Freeman Street in 1901, were Harriet Butters, grandmother, Ellen Butters, cousin, and Hugh Wesley Cross, cousin. Hugh was also a photographer. Hugh served in the RAF during WW1. In 1939 he was a photographer in Bedford. He died in Bedford in 1948.

Note: Edwin Noble was living at 60 St. Augustine Avenue, Grimsby from 1918. His photographer’s shop/studio was still at 233 Freeman Street.

Note: Pollie (Polly) Swaby was baptised in July 1866. She was the daughter of George William Swaby, fish merchant, and Mary Ann Swaby (née Butters). Mary Ann Butters was the daughter of John Butters, builder, and Harriet Butters (née Lidgard) of Brigg. So, presumably, Edwin Noble’s two wives were related? Second cousins?

Note: Hugh Wesley Cross’ grandfather was a William Cross. He married a Mary Ann Lidgard in 1841. Hugh’s father, John Henry Cross, was born in 1848.

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.