Figure 1.-- Hedley and Ernest Haigh were photographed in 1870 by Henry J. Godbold of St. Leonards on Sea. This portrait appear to have been taken at the same time as their little sister Gwendoline. The boys were photograhed wearing matching dresses and with the same long hair style. Image courtesy of the MD collection.

Hedley and Ernest Haigh were photographed in 1870 by Henry J. Godbold of St. Leonards on Sea. This portrait appear to have been taken at the same time as their little sister Gwendoline. The boys were photograhed wearing matching dresses and with the same long hair style. I am not sure what color the dresses were. The dresses have a lace collar. The detailing includes front buttons, but they look ornamental rather than functionl. There are a few military-style details, including shoulder tabs and sailor-like striped sleeve cuffs. There are also accented waists and hem tucks, useful for letting the dress out as the boy grows. The boys also wear matching bloomer knickers and white stockings with high-top button shoes. Hedley would have probably been 7 years old, but nearly 8 years because he was boirn about 1862. This is curious because his older brother Cator seems to hav been breached at a slightly younger age. Ernest probably born in 1863 would have been about 6 years old, almost 7 years. We note that the dresses that the boys wear are very similar, but not identical, in style and color to the dress that Gwendoline wore for her portrait, probably on the same day. Apparently mother dressed all th three childrn, and perhaps others, in matching outfits for the day. The portraits show that the children close in age were very commonly dressed alike. On this visit to the studio, these boys wer dressed very similaly to their baby sister. I m not sure how commonly there mother did that. Curiously we note few portraits in the Haigh family collection of the entire family. The one portait we know of was taken at the estate with both parents and children. Apparenly mother would only take two or three of the children into town to the photographic studio each time. I'm not sure why that was.

Photographic Studio

Hedley and Ernest Haigh were photographed in 1870 by Henry J. Godbold of St. Leonards on Sea. This was a photographer that the family patronized quite a bit. Based on their cloting, ther is no indication that this was a visit to a resort. Presumbly the town was close to the family estate. We must say that for a professional photographer, the chair seems more in focus than the boys. Or perhaps the boys were not holding still.

Matching Dresses

The boys were photograhed wearing matching dresses and with the same long hair style. I am not sure what color the dresses were. The dresses have matching lace collars. They look to be pin on collars wih a front opening. The detailing includes dark front buttons set in a vertical element, but the buttons look ornamental rather than functionl. We do not know what the back of the dreses look like. There are a few military-style details, including shoulder tabs and sailor-like striped sleeve cuffs. There are also accented waists and hem tucks, useful for letting the dress out as the boy grows.

Other Garments

The boys also wear bloomer knickers rather than pantalttes. They look slightly different, but that may because of the lay of the fabric in the photograph. Ernest's bloomer knickers seem to have some ruffles while Hedly's are look plain, but as noted this may simply because of the lay of the fabric. Both boy also wear white stockings with high-top button shoes.

Figure 2.-- HBC thought that the children's hair looked uncurled. A HNC reader believes that Hedley's hair was curled. These CDV's were much smaller than cabinent cards and as a result cannot be enlarged to the same degree. Image coutesy of the MD collection.

Hair Styles

Both boys have un-cut straight hair that falls way below their shoulders. Their hair is combed back from their foreheads. Ernes's hair semed to have been done in a peak at his crown. We do not see that with Hedley's hair. Their mother must have liked this style becauseit is the onc almost alwatys seen in their portaits. The boys seem to have worn long hair until relatively old, but there mother never had their hair curled. A HBC reader believes that the boys' hair may have been curled. He writes, "If you look closely at Hedley's hair you will see that in is fixed in loose but well defined ringets. Three of those ringlets are on his left shoulder. Earnst may also have ringlets but it is hard to tell. At least for this portrait Hedley's hair has been curled." HBC can't quite see the curls, but there do appear to be ome discrete strands and they have clearly been layd on the boys's shoulder so they would show in the portrait (figure 2).

Age

Hedley would have probably been 7 years old, but nearly 8 years because he was born about 1862. This is curious because his older brother Cator seems to hav been breached at a slightly younger age. Ernest probably born in 1863 would have been about 6 years old, almost 7 years.

Gwendoline

Although baby sister Gwendoline is not in this portrait with her brothers, we believe that mother brought her along for this visit to the phoographic studio. This portrait appear to have been taken at the same time as their little sister Gwendoline. We note that the dresses that the boys wear are very similar, but not identical, in style and color to the dress that Gwendoline wore for her portrait, probably on the same day.

Props

Ernest appears to be holding a small toy soldier o other figurine. Hedley looks o be holding a book of some kind. These look to have been items that the photographers suggested rather than favorite possessions that the boys may have brought along.

Visit to the Studio

Apparently mother dressed all th three childrn, and perhaps others, in matching outfits for the day. The portraits show that the children close in age were very commonly dressed alike. On this visit to the studio, these boys wer dressed very similaly to their baby sister. I m not sure how commonly there mother did that. We are assuming that mother took the children to the studio, especially the younger children before breaching. In fact, however, we do not know for sure that father was not also involved. Apparently mother would only take two or three of the children into town to the photographic studio each time. I'm not sure why that was. Perhaps a larger group of the children were too difficult to handle. I'm not sure on what basis the choice of who to take was made.

Family Portraits

Curiously we note few portraits in the Haigh family collection of the entire family. The one portait we know of was taken at the estate with both parents and children. We do not know of any studio portrait of the entire family.