Reece Winstone
Encyclopedia
Reece Winstone was an English
photographer from Bristol
. He edited and self-published the 'Bristol As It Was' books of photographs of Bristol, covering in detail the period from the dawn of photography to 1962.
He attended Bristol Cathedral School from 1920 to 1925, and while there started photography as a hobby.
On leaving school Winstone joined his father’s menswear business at 29 East Street, Bedminister, where he learnt about salesmanship and display, whilst practising photography at night. He remained an amateur photographer until his father retired in 1937, at which time he became a full-time freelance.
After wartime service in the RAF
Mobile Field Photographic Section, during which time he adopted the name 'Reece' for his professional work, Winstone moved to 23 Hyland Grove, Henbury, Bristol. This was to be his home and business address for the next 30 years.
In 1948 Winstone gave his first public ‘Lantern Lecture’ (or slide show) on 'Old Bristol', with some success. Through the 1950s he expanded his collection of Bristol photographs, and began to campaign on issues such as the High Cross (removed from College Green
), the Friese-Greene
birthplace, and to highlight the destruction being wrought by post-war development.
His first 'Bristol As It Was' title (Bristol As It Was 1939-1914) was published in 1957, and eventually ran to 5 editions selling a total of 20,000 copies. He went on to publish a further 36 volumes, the last (Bristol As It Was 1940-1960) being published in 1988. The earlier books reflected in their titles Winstone's perspective on history; in the period before 1939 the dates run backwards (so Bristol As It Was 1939-1914), whereas in his books covering periods after this they run forwards (so Bristol As It Was 1953-1956). From 1950 onwards Winstone was taking photographs of scenes which were soon to change as a result of redevelopment, with the express intent of publishing them in book form a decade later.
Winstone's accession log details the 43,427 photographs he took between 4 December 1924 and 6 February 1988, many of which were in fulfilment of his self-appointed role as 'photographic recorder of Bristol'. In addition he amassed a large collection of historic photographs of the city, and was meticulous in dating and captioning them, and thus Bristol's history since the mid-19th century is very well documented photographically.
Reproductions of photographs from the collection (now the 'Reece Winstone Archive') can be obtained on payment of a fee.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
photographer from Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. He edited and self-published the 'Bristol As It Was' books of photographs of Bristol, covering in detail the period from the dawn of photography to 1962.
Career
Frank Reece Winstone was born on 3 September 1909 to John (‘Jack’) and Lillian Winstone, at 13 Elvaston Road, Bedminster, Bristol.He attended Bristol Cathedral School from 1920 to 1925, and while there started photography as a hobby.
On leaving school Winstone joined his father’s menswear business at 29 East Street, Bedminister, where he learnt about salesmanship and display, whilst practising photography at night. He remained an amateur photographer until his father retired in 1937, at which time he became a full-time freelance.
After wartime service in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Mobile Field Photographic Section, during which time he adopted the name 'Reece' for his professional work, Winstone moved to 23 Hyland Grove, Henbury, Bristol. This was to be his home and business address for the next 30 years.
In 1948 Winstone gave his first public ‘Lantern Lecture’ (or slide show) on 'Old Bristol', with some success. Through the 1950s he expanded his collection of Bristol photographs, and began to campaign on issues such as the High Cross (removed from College Green
College Green, Bristol
College Green is a public open space in Bristol, England. The Green takes the form of a segment of a circle with its apex pointing east, and covers...
), the Friese-Greene
William Friese-Greene
William Friese-Greene was a British portrait photographer and prolific inventor. He is principally known as a pioneer in the field of motion pictures and is credited by some as the inventor of cinematography.-Career:William Edward Green was born on 7 September 1855, in Bristol...
birthplace, and to highlight the destruction being wrought by post-war development.
His first 'Bristol As It Was' title (Bristol As It Was 1939-1914) was published in 1957, and eventually ran to 5 editions selling a total of 20,000 copies. He went on to publish a further 36 volumes, the last (Bristol As It Was 1940-1960) being published in 1988. The earlier books reflected in their titles Winstone's perspective on history; in the period before 1939 the dates run backwards (so Bristol As It Was 1939-1914), whereas in his books covering periods after this they run forwards (so Bristol As It Was 1953-1956). From 1950 onwards Winstone was taking photographs of scenes which were soon to change as a result of redevelopment, with the express intent of publishing them in book form a decade later.
Winstone's accession log details the 43,427 photographs he took between 4 December 1924 and 6 February 1988, many of which were in fulfilment of his self-appointed role as 'photographic recorder of Bristol'. In addition he amassed a large collection of historic photographs of the city, and was meticulous in dating and captioning them, and thus Bristol's history since the mid-19th century is very well documented photographically.
Reece Winstone Archive
After Winstone’s death, further volumes in the Bristol As It Was series were published by his son John.Reproductions of photographs from the collection (now the 'Reece Winstone Archive') can be obtained on payment of a fee.
Publications
| Title | ISBN |
|---|---|
| Bristol As It Was 1939-1914 | 0-900814-54-3 |
| Bristol As It Was 1914-1900 | 0-900814-41-1 |
| Bristol Today | 0-900814-37-3 |
| Bristol in the 1890's | 0-900814-42-X |
| Bristol in the 1940's | 0-900814-61-5 |
| Bristol in the 1880's | 0-900814-55-1 |
| Bristol As It Was 1879-1874 | 0-900814-64-0 |
| Bristol As It Was 1950-1953 | 0-900814-60-3 |
| Bristol As It Was 1874-1866 | |
| Bristol's History Volume I | 0-900814-29-2 |
| Bristol As It Was 1866-1860 | 0-900814-40-3 |
| Bristol Fashion | |
| Bristol in the 1850's | 0-900814-53-5 |
| Bristol As It Was 1953-1956 | 0-900814-56-X |
| Bristol's Earliest Photographs | 0-900814-32-2 |
| Bristol Tradition | |
| Bristol in the 1920's | 0-900814-32-2 |
| Bristol As It Was 1956-1959 | 0-900814-39-X |
| Bristol Blitzed | 0-900814-43-8 |
| Ann Green of Clifton | |
| Bristol's Trams | 0-900814-45-4 |
| Bristol's History Volume II | |
| Bristol As It Was 1913-1921 | 0-900814-48-9 |
| History of Bristol's Suburbs | |
| Bristol's Suburbs in the 1920's & 30's | |
| Bristol As It Was 1928-1933 | 0-900814-57-8 |
| Bath As It Was | |
| Bristol As It Was 1960-1962 | 0-900814-62-4 |
| Bristol As It Was 1845-1900 | 0-900814-63-9 |
| Bristol's Suburbs Long Ago | 0-900814-65-2 |
| Bristol As It Was 1934-1936 | 0-900814-66-4 |
| Bristol As It Was 1937-1939 | |
| Changes in the Face of Bristol | |
| Bristol As It Was 1940-1960 |
External links
- Reece Winstone Archive official site