Typical of the plus1864s are these three men. They have arrived at C. Hawkins' Brighton School of Photography at 38 Preston Street, Brighton, to have perhaps a dozen (12) identical photos taken. What to do with those awkward arms and legs! Well the chair has been provided to rest an arm on and to steady you, you are told to 'stand with your feet slightly apart put the other hand on your hips and don't smile!'.
Looking left to right, the first man is Alfred C. Plowden who later became a Greater London Magistrate. This young man is wearing a double breasted frock coat, his trousers have no pressed seam in front and he has no turnups. This photo I have a duplicate of and is of slightly later date than the other two (1865-6)
The Gentleman in the middle is wearing a morning coat and probably a matching waistcoat and light trousers. The coat is only fastened at the top button as was the fashion. He is wearing a tie in the modern fashion with a tie pin stud through the knot. A watch chain is just visible looped through his waistcoat. He has a fringe beard almost below his chin, but has no moustache.
The gentleman on the right seems to have been well steadied, with the chair (again), the walking stick and surprisingly he has a neck clamp, the base of this can be seen behind his feet. He is dressed in a new double breasted frock coat with a velvet collar and a waistcoat beneath. He has white sideburns and what looks like a wig with a centre parting. His top hat is on the chair.
Brighton was a fashionable Victorian seaside town about 50 miles from London and had a population of 50,000 by mid century
It was noteable for its Pavilion or Palace built by King George IV and for the Chain Pier.
Hawking's Studio was in Preston Street to the west of the Pier.
![Alfred C. Plowden at the Brighton School of Photography [1865/6]](hawk19f.jpg)
![Brighton School of Photography [1864]](hawk13f.jpg)
![Brighton School of Photography [1864]](hawk14f.jpg)
