C. Allen
1856, 2 June
For a fortnight - Photographic Portraits

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Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer of Rugeley (London: Ward and Lock, 1856), p.103. On June 2nd, in the present year, a peripatetic photographer took up his quarters in the rear of Palmer's house, who forthwith issued the following announcement :
 
FOR A FORTNIGHT.
PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.
C. ALLEN Respectfully informs the Ladies, Gentry, and Inhabitants of Rugeley that he can produce
 
A VERY SUPERIOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT,
 
In Gilt and other Frames,
 
From one Shilling to One Guinea.
 
And solicits their patronage at the rear of the
Premises lately occupied ?? W. Palmer.
 
Specimens may be seen at Mr. James's, Bookseller.
Commencing at 10 o'Clock Mornings, until 6 in the Evenings.
RUGELEY, June 2nd, 1856.
 
The number of fashionably-dressed persons who journey over to Rugeley from the surrounding districts to obtain a sight of Palmer's house, is positively astounding. The photographer, no doubt, calculates upon a large proportion of these being seduced into returning home with such an interesting souvenir as their own portraits, actually taken off in Palmer's back garden.
 
[The case of Dr. William Palmer was a notorious posoning case in England and when he was publicly executed in Stafford at 8.00 a.m. on Saturday June 14th 1856 around 30,000 came to watch. There is a book on the case by Dave Lewis The Rugeley Poisoner - Dr. William Palmer, the "Prince of Poisoners" (artloaf, 2003).]
 
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