Figure 1.-- Leopold Arnold was photographed in 1871 by F. Sargent of New Bond Street, London. Leopold wears a dress with a small lace collar. Leopold's dress in a dark patterened dress,identical to the one worn by his younger bother Claude for a portrait taken at the same time. Image courtesy of the MD collection.

Hedley Haigh was photographed in 1871 by F. Sargent of New Bond Street, London. The portrait was taken during a trip to London in which Claude and Leopold were also photographed. I'm not sure if mother only took the three boys to London, or only the the London portraits of the three boys survived. Leopold and Claude were wearing matching patterened dresses with lace collars. Hedley who in 1870 ws still wearing dresses, was outfitted in a brand new long pants suit for his portrait. As far as we know, this was the first portrait of Hedley after having been breached and wearing trousers. We know that in 1870, Hedley was still wearing dresses. Unless Claude and Leopold had new dresses bought on this trip, Hedley may well have had a matching one. His suit is a juvenile style with a short cut-away jacket. It is interesting to note that this same style of cutaway jasckets was aldo worn with the severl of the skirted outfits that Hedley wore before breaching. I am not sure about the trousers, but based on other imasges of the family, they are probably long flannel trousers. Like many of the suits of the day, most had waistcoats. He has a small collar worn with a narrow ribbon tie. His long hair has also been cut short, but still very full--almost covering his ears. His hair is certainly combed in an elasborate fashon with a center part. His hair looks heavy here, in the other portraits his hair was long, but did not look nearly as heavy. He is photographed by a very interesting period desk.

Photographer

Hedley Haigh was photographed in 1871 by F. Sargent of New Bond Street, London. Sargent liked to give the children he phoographed props. Older boys like Hedly here were often given books.

Trip to London

The portrait was taken during a trip to London in which Claude and Leopold were also photographed. I'm not sure if mother only took the three boys to London, or only the the London portraits of the three boys survived.

Age

Hedley was born about 1862. He was 1 year older than the oldest boy Castor. In this 1871 portrait he would have been about 8-9 years old.

Clothing

Leopold and Claude were wearing matching patterened dresses with lace collars. Hedley who in 1870 ws still wearing dresses, was outfitted in a brand new long pants suit for his portrait. As far as we know, this was the first portrait of Hedley after having been breached and wearing trousers. We know that in 1870, Hedley was still wearing dresses. Unless Claude and Leopold had new dresses bought on this trip, Hedley may well have had a matching one. His suit is a juvenile style with a short cut-away jacket. It is interesting to note that this same style of cutaway jasckets was aldo worn with the several of the skirted outfits that Hedley wore before breaching. I am not sure about the trousers, but based on other imasges of the family, they are probably long flannel trousers. Like many of the suits of the day, most had waistcoats. He has a small collar worn with a narrow ribbon tie.

Breaching

One curious as aspect of this collection of Haigh family portraits is that as best we can determine the oldest boy castor was breached at age 7 in 1868. Hedley was only one year younger than Castor, but he was not breached until age 8-9 in 1871. We are not sure why Hedley's breachung was delayed. The photographs suggest that Castir and Hedly being about the same age were very close to each other. Thus you would assume that as soon as Castor was breached that Hedley would have wanted to wear trousers also. Thus we have no explanation as to why his breaching was delayed. We had always thought that most families had a set age for breaching. Apparenly the Haigh family had a more subjective approach to detrminning when one of their sons should be breached.

Hair

His long hair has also been cut short, but still very full--almost covering his ears. His hair is certainly combed in an elasborate fashon with a center part. His hair looks heavy here, in the other portraits his hair was long, but did not look nearly as heavy. He is photographed by a very interesting period desk.