Ashley, Hallam 1900 - 1987

(1900-1987), photographer

Hallam Ashley (1900-1987) initially worked for his family’s photographic and framing business in Sutton-in-Ashfield, running it after his father’s death in 1918 until selling it in 1921. Following the sale, he became a freelance photographer initially working as a school photographer. This involved a great deal of travel and, following a meeting with mill expert Rex Wailes in 1926, he began to photograph interesting mills he came across. As he became more well known he spent an increasing amount of time photographing archaeological sites, along with similar subjects, and he was elected a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in 1935. Following the Second World War, during which he had worked in the RAF photographic section, he re-established his business and began photographing buildings for the National Buildings Records, later National Monuments Record, now part of the Historic England Archive. He also worked closely with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, especially the Wind and Watermill Section.