Alexander Ayton

Senior + Junior

Which Alexander Ayton?

It took me a while to distinguish between Alexander Ayton Sen. and Jun. However, I now have a clearer idea, thanks particularly to research by Ian Bartlett of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Thank you to Ian for producing extracts from census returns and newspaper reports.

The father appears to have continued as a professional photographer in Londonderry while his son set up a studio in Edinburgh.

Some cartes de visite list only the Edinburgh or the Londonderry studio. Others, including the one below list both studios (leaving it unclear as to which studio had produced the photo.

Please see below to read brief details of Alexander Ayton Sen. and Jun.

Alexander Ayton Sen He had Londonderry Studios
1829	Born in Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland, one of seven children of Alexander Ayton and Helen Bowie
c.1855	Moved to Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.
1857	Married Catherine Young from Denny in 1857. They had 12 children all born between 1859 and 1876. ©
1859	Moved to Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and opened the city's first photographic studio at Huffington's Crescent, Hawkins St.
1864	*Moved to new premises at Kennedy Place. The Londonderry Sentinel* commented on its show-room with over 1,000 portraits, and other views, its large portrait gallery and other rooms. Here is a photograph of the family taken outside the Kenneryt Place studio:** ©
1884	Moved to even finer premises at Shipquay Place
1887	Opened a second studio at Carlisle Road. This was managed by his youngest son, George, until Alexander died.
1900	Died at Kennedy Place, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He left a widow and 4 of his children living at that address.
1900+	Youngest son George took over management of the Shipway Place business until 1907, when George moved to Edinburgh to take over the Edinburgh business from his brother Robert who died that year.
The above details are reproduced with acknowledgement to Ian Bartlett.

Alexander Ayton Jun He had Edinburgh Studios
c.1859	Born in Glasgow, the eldest child of Alexander Ayton Sen.
1875	Opened studio at 1 Hanover Street Edinburgh, opposite the National Galleries in Princes Street.
	Married Jessie. The first two children were Catherine b.1889 and Alexander b.1890.
1881	Moved his studio to 43 North Bruntsfield Place, where it remained until 1940.
1883	Became a member of Edinburgh Photographic Society
1892	Photographed Photographic Convention group in Edinburgh. At that time he was Vice President of EPS who hosted the convention. ©
1894	Died in Edinburgh, while preparing to go on holiday in the Highlands and apparently in good health. At the time of his death, he was President of Edinburgh Photographic Society.
1894+	His photographic business was carried on in Edinburgh by his brother, Robert until he died in 1907, then by his brother, George

Other Families of Photographers

The Ayton family was not the only family that me caused me some confusion. It was not unusual for two or more generations of professional photographers in Edinburgh to be given the same name. e.g.

Alexander Adam Inglis

Father and son of the Edinburgh photographer, Francis Caird Inglis, were both photographers. Both were named Alexander Adam Inglis.

Edward Raeburn Yerbury

Grandfather, father and son, (b.1843, 1881 and 1915) were all photographers in the Edinburgh family business. All three were all named Edward R Yerbury.

James Howie

I found this particularly confusing when the first James Howie left the business to his descendents. They were known as James Howie Jun (the father) and James Howie (his son)!

Ayton Photographers

More Pages

Alexander Ayton Sen
and family

Londonderry Studios