North Pier c1866

North Pier c1866

North Pier c1866

North Pier c1866

North Pier c1866

Looking north from North Pier c1866

Central Beach c1866

Central Beach c1866

North Pier c1866

North Pier c1868

Church at Blackpool c1866

Viener's Bazaar & Talbot Road, Blackpool c1866

Blackpool c1866

Clifton Arms Hotel & Pier Entrance c1866

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These photos were produced by Helmut Petschler and his wife and were probably taken in 1866, before the construction of Central Pier, 1867-8.

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I have done some research using Census records etc:

The photographer, Helmuth (Helmut) Carl Frederick Martin Petschler was born in Germany in 1832 and emigrated to England. In 1854 he married Alice Hadfield, second daughter of John Bennett of Glossop, Derbyshire.

In 1861 they were living at Lime Grove, Ardwick, Gorton, with their daughter Millicent (born 1859 in Longsight). This Census lists his occupation as just 'Manchester Merchant' but he was in partnership with R Consterdine, Manchester, Photographic Printers which was dissolved in 1862.

 Helmut and his wife were both photographers and set up the Manchester Photographic Company in 1865 and although they were declared bankrupt by November 1866 they appear to have continued.

Their second daughter, Elise was born Sept 1867, in Fallowfield. Helmut died in 1869 and his widow is listed as a photographer in the 1871 Census. In the 1881 census her occupation was dressmaker.