Francis Frith Collection
The Collection
The Frith Collection is recognised as being the only nationally important photographic archive of its kind still in private hands.
The Collection was founded by Francis Frith, the pioneer Victorian photographer, in 1860. Today it contains over 365,000 photographs depicting some 7,000 towns and villages throughout Britain - all taken between 1860 and 1970.
Taken by the photographers of one company, continuously over a 110 year period, the Collection provides an extraordinarily detailed visual record of the enormous social and structural changes that have taken place in Britain since 1860. As such the Collection forms a topographical record of Britain without equal.
Whilst many of the photographs are undoubtedly artistically outstanding, the real value of the archive lies in the personal relevance of individual photographs for anyone with connections to the British Isles.
For each town or village there is an average of 80 photographs. These were often taken from the same spot but over many years, thus providing a unique opportunity to study landscapes, streets and buildings across a century and more of change.
Why people like Frith photographs
At its most effective Frith offers a photograph of your home town; or, where you were born; went to school or college; were married; owned your first home; went on holiday etc. In other words, photographs of the places that bring back specific memories for you, your friends or family. This personal connection means that a Frith photograph often has a strong, specific and higher value to the individual than most other forms of art.
For the individual, a Frith photograph provides attractive wall decor but with a visual link to their roots. A lot of Frith prints and other products are given as gifts because, when illustrated with images of places to which the recipient has connections, they provide a wonderful opportunity to give gifts that really will be treasured for many years.
In commercial locations such as offices, hotels and restaurants, Frith photographs - in Black & White, or Sepia, make a visual statement design statement which also confirms commitment to a community. For this reason Frith photographs can be seen in thousands of pubs and commercial buildings around the UK.