Johnston Photographs of Wick

The Johnston family and their photography business is intertwined with the growth and development of Wick over 113 years, documenting the town's changing fortunes.

The Wick Society is pleased to present a collection of sixty images captured by three generations of the Johnston family in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This selection is from around Wick and includes many pictures not previously displayed. All the images are A1 in size revealing masses of detail about life and work in the period.

Three Generations, four Photographers: Brothers Alexander & James, Alexander’s son William and William’s son Alexander

Brothers Alexander and James Johnston, Alex's son and Alex's grandson captured an era when Wick was the “herring capital of Europe.” “The silver darlings,” as the herring were nicknamed, attracted over a thousand boats which crowded into the harbour in August and September each year for the season and thousands of migrant workers swelled the town’s population. They were photographed preparing their boats, setting the tan sails for sea, and landing catches. Onshore were recorded in scenes of intense activity, which show the teams of workers who gutted, cured, packed and carted the salted herring barrels for export all over the world. The Johnston plates also show the boat builders, the coopers, rope makers, basket weavers, plumbers, shopkeepers and others in supporting industries, giving a wonderful glimpse of social history.

The story starts in 1829; the firm of Charles Coventry sent to Wick, a certain William Johnston (1804-1882) to work on the lead flashings on Wick Parish Church which opened in 1830.

 William found Wick to his liking and saw the opportunities in the then burgeoning town, and so found accommodation in Shore Lane, Willowbank and then Mount Hooly Lane. He married the daughter of a local Cabinetmaker, Louisa Williamson and they had nine children including, Alexander (1839-1896) and James JOHNSTON (1854-1922).

Alexander, who was to become the founder of the Photographic business left school in 1853 at the age of 14 to enter the family plumbing business, working as a clerk. At one point he was employed as a clerk by Wick Harbour Trust, but by 1859 he was back working in the family business. He appears to have been of an artistic temperament and at this time his interest in the new art form of photography was awakening. By 1863 he had set up as a photographer at his father’s house in Willowbank; then a short time later in the Parliament Square area. To the local populace he must have cut a strange figure as he walked the streets with his mobile darkroom and camera on a handcart to capture the early images of the harbour scenes. In 1869, Alexander went in the carriage with Mr. D. R. Simpson, a local ironmonger, to photograph the miners in the Kildonan gold fields, a journey which took them four days. 

Between 1870 and the outbreak of the First World War, the firm was to take about 60,000 portraits of individuals, families, friends, workmates and weddings. As the demand for individual photographs grew, they became very heavily committed to this, but still found time to photograph many outdoor events and street scenes. The business expanded, and by 1895 extra premises had been acquired in Thurso. This was  Alexander’s patch.

Alexander did not enjoy the best of health and in 1896 and while he was in Edinburgh for medical treatment, he died suddenly at the age of 57. His son William though only 17 already had some experience of photography, as he now assumed the partnership with Uncle James and travelled by train to Thurso daily to see to the business there.

James (1854-1922), as well as being a photographer was a talented artist with quite a prolific output. The John ‘O Groat Journal of May 3 1892 comments;

“In the studio of Mr. Johnston, Photographer, Bridge Street, there is to be seen at present a very fine collection of pictures done in crayon (pastels) representing many of the finest features of the Caithness coast scenery. All the pictures are executed with the artistic excellence for which Mr. Johnston has secured wide fame and those with moonlight and water effects are most pleasing.” 

Both brothers were well known artists, so it is not clear which of the brothers the above refers to.

The business moved to the Market Place in Wick in 1894 where it would remain for the rest of its existence. In the 1901 census Alexander’s daughter Annie, and James’ daughter, Annie Cormack Johnston, living in West Banks House, were now working in the business. It is not clear which of the premises they worked in or if they were involved in any of the portraiture at this time, although it does seem likely.

James passed away in 1922. William (1879-1950) carried on, shouldering the full weight of the business, until his son Alex returned from Art College in 1932 and joined the business. The times were changing as more people acquired personal cameras, but the company adapted and began processing films for the public and for the local chemists. The Thurso business closed in 1938, at this time and for some years previously, the assistant in the Thurso shop was Agnes Reid who took many of the studio portraits. In 1941 Alex was called up and served as a photographer in the RAF for 4½ years before returning to his profession as a photographer in Wick.

William died in 1950, then Alex took on the mantle and ran the business until his retiral in 1976. Thus ended 113 years of unbroken service, but leaving a priceless legacy of a photographic history of the local community.

Johnston Photographs of Wick at

The St Fergus Gallery,
Carnegie Library,
Wick
until 14th August.

Mon,Tue, Thur  12.00 - 5.30pm

Wed,Sun closed

Fri 2.00 - 8.00pm

Sat 10.30 - !.00