| Description | Collection of 12,383 photographic prints, glass negatives, polyester negatives and albums from Alfred and G.S. McCann, photographers, 25-27 High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. The collection is particularly strong on topographical views, livestock and agriculture, weddings, local events and celebrations, local industries. The collection is well indexed using information recorded by the McCanns.
The collection of topographical views dates mostly between about 1903 and 1930, and are mostly glass negatives taken by Alfred McCann, probably for use as postcard views. Places covered are concentrated around Uttoxeter, covering Staffordshire and Derbyshire places. Places covered include: (in Staffordshire) Abbots Bromley, Alton, Alton Towers, Blithfield, Bramshall, Chartley, Cotton, Crakemarsh, Croxden, Denstone, Dodsleigh, Ellastone, Eccleshall, Fole, Harehill, Hanbury, Hawkesyard, Heybridge, Hoar Cross, Hollington, Ingestre, Kingstone, Leigh, Loxley, Marchington, Rocester, Stowe, Stramshall, Tean, Tutbury, Uttoxeter, Weston, Wootton; (in Derbyshire) Dovedale, Doveridge, Foston, Marston Montgomery, Norbury, Roston, Scropton, Somersal, Sudbury, Tissington. Also in negative form are a series of photographs taken by Gerald McCann showing himself and friends on motorcycling trips, c1919-1923.
Agricultural and livestock photographs are mostly black and white prints dating between about 1929 and 1965, taken mostly by Gerald McCann, the majority in Staffordshire and neighbouring counties, but some from all over the country. The photographs cover almost every aspect of rural life and reflect changing farming methods and equipment including livestock (cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry), arable farming, dairying, drainage, boundaries, buildings, machinery and tools, agricutural shows, parades, exhibitions, agricultural colleges (Reaseheath, Rodbaston and Harper Adams).
The large selection of wedding photographs were taken by Alfred and Gerald McCann and mostly date from the 1930s to 1965. They were largely taken at church weddings in Uttoxeter and surrounding villages.
The remaining large number of photographs (prints) cover miscellaneous local subjects. These include: churches (including Hoar Cross and Uttoxeter); Uttoxeter Coronation celebrations 1953, education (Denstone College, Cotton College, etc), farming, houses and gardens (Alton Towers, Bagots Park, Basford Hall in Cheddleton, Eaton Lodge in Rugeley, Kings Standing nr. Tutbury, Tutbury Castle, Woodseat nr Rocester, Clifton Hall in Clifton Campville, Hamstall Ridware Hall, Blithfield, Barrow Hill nr Rocester), industry and construction (Mayfield Mills, Bilston Steel Works, Twyford's Etruria Works, Elkes Biscuits and Bamford's of Uttoxeter), portraits, promotional photographs (Elkes Biscuits, Wilts United Dairies, Bamford's, Imperial Laundry Service, Dove Valley Players), rural views, shops (mostly Uttoxeter), street scenes (mostly Uttoxeter and surrounding area 1920s to 1960s, including 'Salute the Soldier Parade' in Uttoxeter, 1944), transport, Women's Land Army Recruiting series (Dunston, Gnosall, Freeford Manor, Whittington, Wall and Ruthin, North Wales). Smaller groups of photographs cover amateur dramatics, celebrations, annual dinners, fetes, carnivals, official group photographs (including Uttoxeter U.D.C. and R.D.C.), police, fire, ambulance, otter hounds (1927), fox hunting (Meynell), presentations.
Albums of photographs include 'The Story of Cheshire Cheese' (taken at Cheshire School of Agriculture, Reaseheath, Nantwich), 'From Field to Can in a Day' (pea canning at Hartley's, Aintree, Liverpool), Meynell Hunt Meets (1920s-1930s). |