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Photographic Archive - R.H. Robertson
Robert Heddle Robertson was born at Grutha, South Ronaldsay in 1872 and moved to
Stromness in the late 1890s. Stromness was a bustling port at that time due to the herring fishing
industry and Robert opened two Grocery shops, one in Alfred Street and the other in Victoria
Street. His photography was carried out mostly as an enthuisiastic amateur though he did sell
postcards and photographic equipment in his shops. He lived and worked in Stromness for
fourteen years, continuing to photograph events around Stromness and the West Mainland.
However, in that time the herring industry had gradually declined and eventually Robert and his
family left Stromness, taking up an appointment as manager of the Co-operative store in Pierowall, on the island of
Westray.
He continued to take photographs after moving to Westray and the island is fortunate to have such an excellent
photographic record of the life and people of that time. R.H. Robertson continued to take photographs for many years,
living to the grand old age of ninety. He died in 1962. The Photographic Archive has over 2500 of his original glass
plate negatives in the collection.
(Click on photographs to enlarge and read description)
Back to main Photographic Archive page.
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