Originally established in 1902,the Belle Vue Studio on Manningham Lane in Bradford was one of the city’s best known photographic studios. It played an important role in capturing photographic portraits of Bradford’s diverse communities from the mid – late 20th century.
This collection of photographs now held by Bradford Museums and Galleries presents images of black families and individuals taken in Bradford in the 1960s and 70s. Many had family in the Caribbean and were keen to have photos to send to these relatives overseas. These images are recognised as an important historical and social record of communities in Bradford. In 2019 a TV documentary based on them, called the Lost Portraits of Bradford, was shown on the BBC.
During the making of that film, Carol Peltier (pictured left with her mum and below) was delighted to discover early images of herself with her family, most of which she had never seen before.
In 2021 Carol presented a collection of these precious family portraits on the Antiques Roadshow and now has them framed in her home.
Carol Peltier is currently the chair of the Black Health Forum in Bradford which is a voluntary organisation which works in partnership with African and Caribbean communities.
To find out more about the Belle View Studios portraits –
https://visitbradford.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/tales-from-the-belle-vue-studio/
To find out more about the Black Health Forum go to
Bradford and District Local Studies 