Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

George Henry Sills

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Plot 901 George Henry Sills (1869-1951)

George Henry Sills was born 27 September 1869 in Holliday Street to Stephen Thomas and Emma Sills. (They are buried in Plot 820).

His father was a railway parcels porter.

George grew up to become one of the three famous Berkhamsted photographers (the others being William Claridge and James Newman) and perhaps the least known of the three photographers.  Nevertheless, he had a successful business and counted royalty and members of the landed gentry among his clientele.

Sills’ first order came about in a curious way.  Queen Victoria sent boxes of chocolates to British soldiers serving in South Africa, one of which was sent home to Berkhamsted as a souvenir, stitched inside a tunic pocket.  The soldier’s father asked Sills to photograph it and then he sent a print to the Queen, who subsequently ordered more prints, along with the much-travelled box of chocolates.  She then returned the box with a letter of thanks to the family.

Edward VII also ordered prints from Sills, this time an enlargement of the ‘Royal’ oak tree planted by Queen Victoria at Ashridge when she was a child.  Lord and Lady Brownlow saw the image and ordered one for themselves.  Sills also sent his photo of the Gamma airship landing at Berkhamsted Castle to George V, continuing the royal patronage of his work.[1]

 George  married Amelia Mary Ledger 22 November 1890 in Westerham, Kent, her home town. They were to have four children: Charles George (1892), Albert William (1894), Edward Victor (1898) and Nita May (1909)

In 1911 they were living with his father, at 234 High Street Berkhamsted where they appear to have remained for their entire married lives. Young Albert was employed as a railway clerk. They also had a lodger.

In the 1939 Register Nita, who had married, was living with them.

Amelia died on 17th March 1941.

George died on 14th December 1951 and is buried here with her.