The Photographs of Sam Thompson

These are photographs taken by SamThompson during his visits to Sunderland Point in the 1920’s and (mainly) 1930’s. Some are from our own collection others lent to us by residents and friends. The majority - over 50 - have been provided by the Lancashire Archives in Preston. We express our sincere thanks to the Archive for permission to display these images. The photographs must not be copied from the website without the express approval of the Archive. We believe there are other Sam Thompson photographs of the Point in family collections and elsewhere, they will be added as they become known to us.

Most of the photographs are of fishermen and pilots living on the Point. Although staged, and many are portraits, they remain a record of the Point and of residents who spent most their lives here. We know many but not all, and have given our best shot to identify their names. We will keep under review for further verification.. They are important not only as great photos, and of historical significance, but also as a memory for their many descendants.

The photograph above is Mrs Cuthill with Arnold and his father William Townley outside the Post Office, now number 13.

Sam Thompson was a famous Lancaster photographer, for more about him see our biography in the magazine of the website by following this link.

Note: There are a number of photographs of James ‘Shirley’ Gardner - he was known throughout his life as Shirley. To distinguish him from the James Gardner of a different family we have kept the name Shirley.

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For the William Wells paintings click here

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