Halton Photographic Society will be celebrating 125 years since being founded in November 1900. The Chair of the Society, Mike Duffy, said, ‘I’m delighted to be the Chair of Halton Photographic Society during this important year. The society continues the long tradition of developing and sharing the photographic skills of its members to enhance the quality of their images.’
The photographic society was the culmination of scientific research pioneered by Dr. Ferdinand Hurter (1844-1898) and Vero Charles Driffield (1848-1915) who used their expertise in chemical engineering to revolutionise both the scientific and artistic dimensions of photography. Driffield eventually founded the Widnes Photographic Society in 1900 and was its first president.
In 1863, Charles Driffield became interested in photography at the age of 15. He met Ferdinand Hurter when they both worked at Gaskell Deacon and Company in Widnes.
Hurter designed and patented the Hurter Actinometer. Further research from 1885-86 by the two men resulted in the development of the photographic patented exposure calculator called an Actinograph which was marketed from 1888.
Hurter and Driffield presented their latest research and findings to The Royal Photographic Society in January 1898 and were jointly presented with the Progress Medal from the prestigious society. The Hurter and Driffield System remained the standard means of assessing photographic light intensity until 1939.
Unfortunately, Ferdinand Hurter died two months later and close colleague and friend, Charles Driffield, pursued photography as a leisure activity and established the Widnes Photographic Society in 1900.
The first excursion organised by the Widnes Photographic Society was to Llangollen but many more were to follow as the Society grew and flourished.
Halton Photographic Society Treasurer and former physics teacher Bob Redmond said, ‘The contribution of Hurter and Driffield to photography has been immeasurable. Their meticulous research and scientific knowledge pushed forward our understanding of light intensity which is so essential in the art of photography.’
In 1974 the ‘Widnes Photographic Society’ changed its name to ‘Widnes and Runcorn Photographic Society’ and met in several locations including the ICI Recreation Club on Liverpool Road, Hough Green Social Club, The Lawn Tennis Club in Coroner’s Lane, Parklands Sports & Social Club and, more recently, The Jaguar Sports and Social Club until its closure in January 2025. In 1980 the club changed its name to become ‘Halton Photographic Society.’
In January 2025 the club moved to Rainhill Cricket and Recreation Club where it has received a warm welcome from the cricketers, crown-green bowlers and members.
Another influential member of Halton Photographic Society is 95-year-old Bob Martindale who is an established historian, photographer and archivist for Widnes. Bob has amassed over 6,000 photographs recording the social, industrial and architectural history of Widnes from the mid-eighteen hundreds to the present-day.
Bob has contributed photographs to several books about Widnes including ‘The Changing Face of Widnes,’ written by Cliff Hayes and published in 2002. Bob wrote the chapter about the halls of Widnes remarking that there were originally twelve and now the only surviving one is Cronton Hall. Bob and his late wife Anne also wrote ‘The History of Ditton.’
At the moment Bob is researching and writing another book on the Runcorn Gap River Crossing which will be illustrated with photographs taken by Bob or researched from his extensive archive.
When Morrison’s opened in Widnes in 1995, Bob was commissioned to provide local photographs to adorn the walls of the new supermarket.
The Halton Photographic Society meets every Monday at 7.30pm at Rainhill Cricket and Recreation Club where they have presentations from visiting professional and amateur photographers and members, photographic competitions and travel to a range of locations to take stunning photographs. The society is affiliated to The Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union.