David Thorn is co-author and compiler of the photo book ‘Thorns of Bude’.

This fascinating and informative talk is all about his relatives, who were the first photographers in Bude from the 1850s until 1932. See the earliest images of the area as it actually was.

The book is now in its Second Edition with updates and corrections as new information has come to light. The talk will be illustrated with images from the Thorn Collection of the original glass negatives. Images of old Bude and from Tintagel to Clovelly.

Harry Thorn was the first photographer in the village, as it then was, in the 1850s (population around 600). He started to record the events of the day. Inevitably these included many shipwrecks which were a common occurrence. He did not have the advantage of wealth, his father was a carpenter and he was one of ten children, but he managed to start a career in photography from very little and became accomplished at the new art.

He was a true pioneer for Bude in a field with many hazards, particularly the chemicals used, which probably lead to his early demise, at the age of 38, in 1876. In the 1860s he was joined by his sister Sarah, brother Samuel Jnr, later his niece Nellie and Jake Harrison, who carried on the business after his death until 1932. Between them they have left us with a wonderful pictorial record of the area.

Book tickets HERE