James Monte (Sr.)

James Monte (1832-1902) was a Polish refugee who immigrated to England in the 1850s. He operated several photography studios in north London during the period early 1860s until 1890. He then moved to Southend-on-Sea to open a studio there.

James taught each of his four sons the photography business. In late 1896, his three youngest sons (James, George and Dick) were hired by Haydon & Urry. The firm was developing its own cinematographic device and the Monte brothers were hired to produce “animated photographs” for the new machine. The Monte brothers made several of the films sold Haydon & Urry including a series of six films of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Procession on June 22, 1897.

Studio Locations:

5 Sidney Place, Commercial Road E, 1862-1863 [Jacob Monteney]

"Camden School of Photography," 172 Corner of High St, Camden Town, 1867 (facing the Mother Red Cap)  [Diviani & Monte] (photograph)

Railway Place, Holloway Road, Islington, North London, 1867 [Diviani & Monte] (photograph)

4 Greenland Place, High St, Camden Town, St Pancras, London, NW, 1867-1869 (back of Mother Red Cap, a traveller’s inn). See photos on Ron Cosens webpage Photographers of Great Britain and Ireland 1840 - 1940: Diviani and Monte Carte de visite photo 2

“Notice is hereby given that the Partnership, hitherto subsisting between us the undersigned, Gaudenzio Diviani and Jacob Monte carrying on business at Railway-place, Holloway road, in the parish of Saint Mary, Islington, and at No. 4 Greenland-place, Camden-town, in the parish of Saint Pancras, both in the county of Middlesex, as Photographic’ Artists, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. Dated this 12th day of August, 1867. Gaudenzio Diviani. Jacob Monte.” (London Gazette, 13 August 1867)  

56 High St, Camden Town, London, NW, 1868-1886 (name removed from ratebook in October 1886) (Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre, Holborn Library, London)

Camden Town Portrait Rooms, 56 High St, Camden Town, London, NW, 1875 [Monte & Russell] See photos on flickr lisabee73's photostream:  (front)  (back)

Court case over disputed partnership with Edward Gay Whaite (a.k.a. Edward Gay Russell, a.k.a. Edward Grey Whaite) May 22, 1875 (British Journal Photography, 28 May 1875).

"Parisian School of Photography," 78b Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, St, Pancras, London, NW, 1870-1872

335 City Road, Holborn, London, 1871-1873.

256 Westminster Bridge Road, Facing Astleys Theatre, 1873-75 (photocard in Roger Vaughan's Victoria Family Photograph Album List 159). (front) (back)

Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, London N, 1880-1890 (photocard of Elizabeth Monte)

1 Dovecote Terrace, Green Lanes, Wood Green, London N, 1873-1875

221 Westminster Bridge Road, Holborn, 1874-1877 

313 City Road, Holborn, London, 1880-1890

38 Whitechapel Road, London, 1882-1889 (opposite Salvation Army head office).

46 Burnaby Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (c.1890-c1901)

The Old Brewery, Southend, 1902-1907

Elizabeth Monte (1847-1914)

Second wife of James Monte. Photographer at Old Brewery Yard, Southend from November 1902 until 1907.

Edward Monte (1866-1899)

Eldest son of James Monte. Worked with his father in his studio in Southend before becoming a travelling photographer. He was in Bedford in 1901 (census), Southend in 1903, Barrow-in-Furness in 1896, and in Reading in 1899.

James Monte Jr. (1872-1939)

James Monte Jr. Photographer at Old Brewery Yard, Southend from November 1902 until 1906.

DIRECTORIES

Monte James, photographer, 1 Dovecote Terrace, Green Lanes, Tottenham (Wood Green) (Post Office Directory of Middlesex, 1874)

Monte James, photographer, 56 High Street Camden Town NW, 313 City Road EC, & 38 Whitechapel Road (Post Office London Directory, 1882, p 1116)

Monte James, photographer, 313 City Road EC, 56 High Street Camden Town NW & 38 New Road Whitechapel E (Business Directory of London, 1884)

James Monte, 56 High Street Camden Town NW, 313 City Road EC, & 38 Whitechapel Road (Kelly’s Directory 1885, Photographers)

James Monte, photographer, Old Brewery Yard, Old Southend Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 1906-1907 (Southend Directory: 1906-1907)

Mrs. Monte, photographer, Old Brewery Yard, Old Southend Road (Southend Directory: 1906-1907)

CENSUS

6 Rose Court, St. Botolphe w/o Aldgate, Tower Hamlets, 1861
Jacob Thlecyewony??, head, 28, hairdresser, Poland

78 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, Middlesex, 1871

James Monte, head, 37, photographer, Poland

No. 313, City Road, St. Lukes (Holborn) London, Middlesex, 1881

James Monte, head, photographer, 49, Poland

5 Britannia Cottages, East Parade, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 1891

James Monte, Head, M, 59, photographer, Russia

46 Burnaby Road, Southend, Rochford, 1911
Elizabeth Monte, head, widow, 65, photographer, retired, London

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS AT THE SAME LOCATION

56 High Street, Camden Town: James Bullock, 1869; Edward Russell, 1875; James Newport (1881?), Bex Brothers, 1886.

221 Westminster Bridge Road S.E:  Bernando Goddard (nee Bernando Gobbi), 1878-1885

313 City Road EC: Samuel Saunders, 1879; Cox & Frier, 1885; William Hutchinson, 1887

Railway Place, Holloway Road, Islington:  Gaudenzio Diviani 1864-1870

172 Corner of High St, Camden Town:  Gaudenzio Diviani, 1867

4 Greenland Place, 1869:  Gaudenzio Diviani, 1867

Gaudenzio Diviani (born Campello, Switzerland), also had studios at 278 Holloway Road N. (1871) and 276 Holloway Road N. (1872-74).