Edgar Lee Collection
Edgar G Lee
Photographic
A pioneering series of street photographs taken in 1890s, capturing working-class life with rare immediacy using hand-held cameras and fast exposure plates.
John Pattison Gibson Collection
John Pattison Gibson
John Pattison Gibson Collection
John Pattison Gibson
A collection of late 19th-century northern landscapes by Hexham photographer John Pattison Gibson, reflecting his painterly approach and early involvement in regional photographic circles.
- Photographic
- Historical Documentary
- Northern Documentary
- Place
- UK Documentary
- Rural Locations
- Urban Landscapes
- Historical
- Northumberland
- UK
- Tyne & Wear
- Newcastle upon Tyne
The John Pattison Gibson Collection brings together a selection of landscapes and historic views of Northumberland and Newcastle upon Tyne by the Hexham-born chemist and photographer. Developed as an exhibition for Side by Isabela Jedrzejczyk in the early 1980s, the collection reflects Gibson’s deep interest in the region’s built environment and its medieval past. A member of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1883, his photographs often adopt a painterly approach, balancing careful composition with a sense of atmosphere.
Gibson also helped foster a photographic community in the region, encouraging others working in the field, including fellow early photographer Edgar Lee. The collection forms an important part of the AmberSide Collection, offering a rare visual record of late 19th-century Northumberland and the early use of photography in regional heritage work.
John Pattison Gibson (1838–1912) was a chemist, antiquarian and early photographer based in the town of Hexham, Northumberland. He began using photography in the 1860s to document archaeological excavations and historic sites across the region, becoming an active contributor to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne. His images are notable for their careful composition and quiet detail, bringing a sense of atmosphere to both architectural and landscape subjects.
While Gibson ran a successful pharmacy on Hexham’s Market Street, his photographic work became a significant part of his life, contributing to the visual record of the area’s Roman heritage, including extensive work at the Chesters Roman Fort. His interests also extended to printing and publishing, producing postcards, guidebooks and printed photographs at a time when popular access to photography was growing.
Gibson’s legacy lies in his dual commitment to local history and the developing medium of photography. His work is held in a number of public collections, including the Society of Antiquaries and the AmberSide Collection, where it offers a valuable window into late 19th-century Hexham and its surroundings.
Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)
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Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Newcastle upon Tyne, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-011-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: 17th and 18th Century houses, Sandgate, Newcastle, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-010-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Market Street, Hexham, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-004-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: At Bardon Mill, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-002-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Bridge End Cottages, Hexham, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-007-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Allenheads, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-003-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Haydon Bridge, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-009-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Hexham from Fell Nursery gardens, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-008-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Cocklaw Pele Tower, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-001-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Near Bardon Mill, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-006-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Near Edlingham, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-005-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
Gibson Collection: Warden, Mill House, late 1800s
- Ref: 047-012-LC
- Date: late 1800s
- Artist: John Pattison Gibson
- Copyright: Public Domain
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