Lilian Ream
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30 June 1877
Lilian Ream | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lilian Pratt 30 June 1877 West Walton, Norfolk, England |
| Died | 20 August 1961 (aged 84) Eastbourne, England |
| Occupation | photographer |
| Years active | 1909–1949 |
| Spouse |
Sydney Ream (m. 1905) |
| Children | John and Mary |
Lilian Ream, née Pratt (30 June 1877 – 20 August 1961) was a photographer in Wisbech, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. Her studios captured photographic images of Wisbech and the Fens for over 50 years.[1]
Lilian Pratt was born in 1877 in West Walton, Norfolk, the youngest child of John Thomas Pratt (born 1837) and Louisa née Jones (born 1839), who had married in 1858.[2] A farmer's daughter, she was one of the pupils of the private school at Wisbech Castle run by May Bradley.[3]
Photography
Aged 17, she became photographic assistant to Alfred Drysdale whose studio was on Lynn Road, Wisbech. She later moved to work for John Kennerell at the Borough Studio in York Row. This studio was taken over by Lawrence Brown. In 1908 Lilian (then the manager) became a partner. The partnership was dissolved by April 1909. Days later she opened her own studio at 4, The Crescent, Wisbech and built a small studio and darkroom in the garden. A craft shop was opened in Market Street and a framing works, "The Burlington Studios", in Alexandra Road.[2] Her business succeeded and she took over the rival Borough Studio at 7 York Row (now Etcetera).
Her studio claimed to be the oldest and largest in East Anglia.[4] She was the official photographer for the Wisbech Standard newspaper.[5] After her retirement in 1949, Roland took over the studio and it continued until 1971.[6][7]
Later life
Lilian Pratt married Sydney Ream in 1905. The couple had a son, John Roland F. Ream, born in 1907; and a daughter, Mary L. P. Ream, in 1911. Lilian died aged 84, in Eastbourne on 20 August 1961. Her grave is in the churchyard of All Saints, Walsoken.[1]
