George and Ashley Abraham
Encyclopedia
George and Ashley Abraham (George Dixon Abraham, 7 October 1871 – 4 March 1965; Ashley Perry Abraham, 20 February 1876 – 9 October 1951) were brother climbers and photographers who lived in Keswick, Cumberland
in the English Lake District
. They made a photographic record of the exploits of many of the climbing pioneers, especially Owen Glynne Jones
, with whom they formed a close climbing partnership from 1896 until his death in 1899. Most of their work was done between 1890 and 1920 and forms a valuable record of the evolution of early rock-climbing in the English Lake District.
crag on 12 July 1897, now considered "Very Difficult" in the British grading system
. Another memorable first ascent was of "Crowberry Ridge Direct" (graded "Severe") on Buachaille Etive Mor
in 1900.
After their co-operation with Jones in his very successful Rock Climbing in the English Lake District (1897), they produced companion volumes, Rock Climbing in North Wales (George, in 1906) and Rock Climbing in Skye (Ashley, in 1907). These attempted to emulate Jones' exuberant style, and were of course illustrated with their own photographs.
Many of their climbing photographs, (including the classic portrait of Owen Glynne Jones), were reproduced in Alan Hankinson's Camera on the Crags. A large selection is also in the possession of the FRCC (The Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District), of which the brothers were founding members..
The Abraham's photographic shop in Keswick, built in 1887, was taken over in due course by local mountaineer George Fisher; the modern shop still contains many memorabilia, including photographs, from the Abraham's era.
One of George Abraham's daughters, Enid J. Wilson
, was for many years the Lakeland diarist
for the Guardian
newspaper. On 8 May 2011 a grand-daughter of Ashley Abraham appeared on BBC1's Antiques Roadshow
displaying a number of period photodraphs and glass photographic slides.
Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
in the English Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. They made a photographic record of the exploits of many of the climbing pioneers, especially Owen Glynne Jones
Owen Glynne Jones
150px|thumb|Portrait and signature of Owen Glynne Jones from his book Rock-climbing in the English Lake DistrictOwen Glynne Jones was a Welsh rock-climber and mountaineer...
, with whom they formed a close climbing partnership from 1896 until his death in 1899. Most of their work was done between 1890 and 1920 and forms a valuable record of the evolution of early rock-climbing in the English Lake District.
Rock climbing
One of their many first ascents in the Lakes was the 74 m "Keswick Brother's Climb" on ScafellSca Fell
Sca Fell is a mountain in the English Lake District. Its height of 964 metres makes it the second-highest mountain in England after Scafell Pike, from which it is separated by the col of Mickledore....
crag on 12 July 1897, now considered "Very Difficult" in the British grading system
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
. Another memorable first ascent was of "Crowberry Ridge Direct" (graded "Severe") on Buachaille Etive Mor
Buachaille Etive Mòr
Buachaille Etive Mòr , generally known to climbers simply as The Buachaille or The Beuckle, is a mountain at the head of Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland...
in 1900.
After their co-operation with Jones in his very successful Rock Climbing in the English Lake District (1897), they produced companion volumes, Rock Climbing in North Wales (George, in 1906) and Rock Climbing in Skye (Ashley, in 1907). These attempted to emulate Jones' exuberant style, and were of course illustrated with their own photographs.
Many of their climbing photographs, (including the classic portrait of Owen Glynne Jones), were reproduced in Alan Hankinson's Camera on the Crags. A large selection is also in the possession of the FRCC (The Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District), of which the brothers were founding members..
The Abraham's photographic shop in Keswick, built in 1887, was taken over in due course by local mountaineer George Fisher; the modern shop still contains many memorabilia, including photographs, from the Abraham's era.
One of George Abraham's daughters, Enid J. Wilson
Enid J. Wilson
Enid J. Wilson was for over 30 years a Lakeland contributor to the Guardian's Country Diary . She was the daughter of George Abraham the photographer/climber and Winifred Davies, a cousin of the Abrahams' climbing partner, O. G. Jones....
, was for many years the Lakeland diarist
Country Diary
Country Diary is a daily natural history column in the English newspaper The Guardian, first published in November 1906. It is also now freely available on the newspaper's website. Past and present contributors include Pete Bowler, Arnold Boyd, Mark Cocker, Thomas Coward, Harry Griffin, Jim Perrin...
for the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper. On 8 May 2011 a grand-daughter of Ashley Abraham appeared on BBC1's Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is a British television show in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom to appraise antiques brought in by local people. It has been running since 1979...
displaying a number of period photodraphs and glass photographic slides.
See also
- M. J. B. BaddeleyM. J. B. BaddeleyMountford John Byrde Baddeley was a distinguished English guidebook writer of the late 19th and early 20th century. His guides appeared in the 'Thorough Guide' series, edited by Baddeley and his colleague, Charles Slegg Ward, and included guides to Scotland , Devon and Cornwall Mountford John...
- a leading writer of a Lakes guidebook in the older text-based style - W. A. PoucherW. A. PoucherWilliam Arthur Poucher , known as Walter since he picked up the nickname during his Army service,was one of the leading British mountain photographers and guide book writers during and following World War II. He personally explored and photographed all the routes he describes in his famous mountain...
- who further developed the Abrahams' style of highly-illustrated guides