Arthur Lewis (photographer)
Arthur John Lewis was born c1885 in Aberystwyth, the second of four children of David John and Mary Lewis. D J Lewis is listed in the 1891 census as a picture framer and photographer, the family living above the shop, "The Cambrian Bazaar" in Great Darkgate Street. He served an apprenticeship at Williams and Metcalfe's Rheidol Foundry afterwards going to sea as an engineer. Both his grandfathers - Thomas Doughton and Edward Lewis - were master mariners and his father had spent many years at sea as ship's carpenter.
Ill health caused Arthur Lewis to give up his seafaring career and he returned to Aberystwyth. Kelly's Trades Directory for 1914 lists him as a hardware dealer at 5 Little Darkgate Street (now Eastgate), the address printed on many of his early postcards. Others from the same period carry the address of 'The Mart' - 28 Great Darkgate Street suggesting they were sold at both shops. During the First World War his expertise was called on and he worked in foundries in Birmingham.
The subjects of his postcards were local events and scenery. Initially he concentrated on surrounding villages and hamlets, outings and local events rather than the standard views favoured by larger publishing houses.Many of the events such as the quarterly life-boat practice or garden parties would soon be forgotten by those who witnessed them. An exception to this was the visit of a travelling menagerie who chose to advertise their presence by marching their elephants through the town for a swim in the sea. Arthur Lewis photographed the event and the card proved hugely popular. Reprints still sell well at the local museum to this day.
After the death of D J Lewis in 1921 Arthur Lewis took over the running of 'The Mart' with his two sisters, Eunice and Maggie. He subsequently became known locally in Welsh as 'Lewis Y Mart' (Lewis the Mart). His elder brother kept the picture framing element of the business on the other side of the street. The Mart had been established in 1911 in premises that had previously housed the North & South Wales Bank. Everything was priced at either one old penny or sixpence. Goods sold included shoe laces, soap, ornaments, tools and crockery. At the back was a long narrow building, once used as stables. Here gentlemen of the road were allowed to sleep. In a room on the first floor the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists had drawn up their articles of faith (Cyffes Fydd)in 1823.
Arthur Lewis was a keen local historian, active member of Tabernacle Chapel, superintendent of Trefechan Sunday School and keen sea fisherman. In March 1933 the premises were sold to the Aberystwyth & District Co-operative Society and the family business moved to a smaller shop in nearby North Parade.
During the Second World War Arthur Lewis served as Chief Coastguard and devoted little time to photography. He died in 1952 whilst on holiday in Liverpool. Subsequently more than two thousand of his glass negatives were donated to the National Library of Wales. [1]
References
- ↑ Troughton, William (July 1993). "Arthur Lewis and "The Mart"". Picture Postcard Monthly: 16–17.