Rushden Research Group: C F Chapman, photographer

C F Chapman, photographer
of Rushden.

Postcard by C F Chapman. It is numbered 4, so one of a series?

The only information that came with this photograph is:-
The man at the front is Arthur Clarke, and the two ladies are May and Elsie Cox.

Several of the photographs on our website are by C F Chapman.
He didn't advertise in any of the trade directories.

Research shows he was born at Thrapston in 1886, son of Thomas M & Ellen E Chapman. Thomas was born at Titchmarsh, and traded as a greengrocer on his "own account", and his wife was born at Norwich. They were buried in 1904 & 1905, at Rushden cemetery.

Charles Frederick was a shoe clicker by trade, and later he was a cabinet maker, so perhaps his photography began for his own pleasure? He began publishing some postcards of parades like the Sunday School Treat in 1913. During in WWI he took many photographs for the Rushden Argus, and was then living at 45 Washbrook Road. In May 1920 he applied to the council for permission to build a studio at the rear of his new home at 29 Crabb Street. Many of the local postcards taken in the 1920s were his work.

The postcard below was taken by Charles - postally used in 1929 - No 13 in a series. He must have been one of the first in Rushden to take a pleasure trip in aeroplane, perhaps when Alan Cobham visted Higham Ferrers?

c1929 - centre of the picture is South Terrace - the large factory to the right of centre is
Fred Knight's and the large building below that is The Old Baptist Church,
Marked below the arrow top edge is the Knight & Lawrence factory.
The two large buildings towards the top - left of centre is the Park Road Methodist Church,
and right of centre is Park Road Baptist Church.

This unknown football team was photographed by C F Chapman and
his label tells us he was then at 45 Washbrook Road c1918.

1934 advert in 'The Story of Rushden Old Parish Church' by Rev Stoney

obituary