Image Gallery

These images are a selection from our John Smith Photographic Collection which date from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

This collection comprises thirteen albums of black and white photographs, mostly taken and compiled by John Smith, a builder, keen amateur photographer and member of the South Norwood Amateur Photographic Society (SNAPS) and Croydon Camera Club; with six glass plate negatives and digital copies of other miscellaneous photographs. The albums include many photographs of Fittleworth and the rest of West Sussex, as well as photographs of London and the south coast, and photographs of John Smith's family and homes.

An illustrated talk about the John Smith collection (SNAPS in Sussex: The Photographs of John Smith) was due to be held at West Sussex Record Office in April 2020. This has been postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis and will be held in 2021. In the meantime, an article about John Smith and his photographs will appear on our blog, https://westsussexrecordofficeblog.com/, in the coming weeks, so please visit this for further information about the collection.