Edgar G Lee (1860 - 1915)
Photographer

These photographs are just 6 examples of approximately 300 taken of the Quayside area of Newcastle, by photographer Edgar G. Lee. Beautifully clear, they allow us a rare glimpse into the lives of the poor and working class of the area in the late nineteenth century. Looking closely at some of the images, you can spot details that bring the picture to life; posters are ever-present warning of the importance of protecting against Cholera, infants walk the dirty cobbles bare-foot, and everything from fresh food to second hand clothes are available for sale from street traders.

The photographer of these fascinating images, Edgar G. Lee, was born in Simonburn, near Hexham in 1860, and was by profession a portrait photographer. However, it is these images of Newcastle's poor, rather than the portrait photography of the upper and middle classes from which he made his living, that have allowed this collection to be a true treasure of our archive.