Henry H. Gayton (Born London Middlesex in 1842) was an Englishman who came over to Guernsey in the 1870's and based himself in Guernsey as a professional photographer. In the 1871 Census he is listed as a photographic artist and is living at 50 Victoria Road St Peter Port. He is one of three lodgers. The head of the household was a Draper named Hiram Leak with his wife, son, daughter and niece.

He was known to have making Carte de Visites and marketing them from the above address at 50, Victoria Road in about 1876 until approximately 1881 and then went to 5 Pollet Street, St Peter Port.

In the 1881 Census he is living at 3 Pollet Street, (owned by Miss Cumber's family), next door to his premises at no 5 and is listed as a photographer. It could be possibly be surmised from this that he was already operating at Miss Cumber's old photographic studio before her death due to ill health in January 1882 and more than likely carried on after until James Burnside took over about 1886.

On the 1891 Census, Henry is designated as being 49 Years old photographer and living with his English born wife Olive aged 29 (Born 1862 in Croydon), and his Guernsey born daughter, Mary Gertrude aged 6 years old. Their abode at that date was Gordon Cottage, Fort Road, St Peter Port - maybe Henry was working for James Burnside?



There have been a number of photographers mentioned as being based at 5 the Pollet over the years.

J. Warner (formerly of Regent Street, London) - from c1858 uncorroborated

Bailey - from c1861 (Later his wife) uncorroborated

Sarah Louisa Cumber - from c1865 (died Jan 5th 1882)

Henry Gayton - 1881 or before

James Burnside - c1886

TA Grut - c1894



There is also reports of a Mrs Alier undertaking photographic work in the Pollet from 1866, but the author has no information on her.


Shown here are some examples of his work on carte de visites.