About Bedford Lemere
The company was established by Bedford Lemere (born 1839, died 1911) in 1861, with its studio at 147 Strand, London from 1867 to 1947. His son Henry (also known as Harry) Bedford Lemere (born 1865, died 1944) joined the firm in 1881
Reviews
Capturing monumentality and minute detail Bedford Lemere & Co was the leading architectural photographers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A prolific father and son team they worked on commissions on a wide variety of buildings including country houses, hospitals, shops, banks, railway stations, cruise liners and, during the First World War, armaments manufacture. Its work centred on London, but it received commissions throughout Great Britain and occasionally from... abroad. Using large format negatives, they produced images of exceptional quality, depth and sharpness, capturing the monumentality of a building as well as the minute detail of its decorative scheme. The size and clarity of the photographs render them as fresh and legible today as when they were first composed. Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "The historic sites and photographic archives that make up our national collection illuminate England's history in a unique way. The Bedford Lemere collection demonstrates the superb craftsmanship and boldness in Victorian and Edwardian architecture and offers a fascinating glimpse of a society marked by extraordinary change and unparalleled optimism."
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New book A new book 'The Photography of Bedford Lemere & Co.' by Nicholas Cooper showcases the firm's work. The hardback book features over 250 striking photographs printed from the original negatives. Especially evocative are the firm's photographs of those - mostly women, old men and children - involved in war work between 1914 and 1918.
On display at the V & A On at the V & A/RIBA Architecture Gallery Room from 4 June to 30 October, the display will explore Bedford Lemere & Co's extraordinary client list, the evolving role of commercial photography and the lasting social significance of the images. The exceptionally high quality photographs offer a rare look at late Victorian interiors such as the Moorish Room at Rolleston Hall in 1892, the bar at the North Eastern Station Hotel in 1893 and a host of other 'new' interiors and exteriors.