I purchased this stereoscopic view for £1 at the Glasgow Antiques fair in 2025. It shows an elderly gentleman standing next to a memorial of some Illingworths, his foot on that memorial’s base slab, his other foot resting on the kerb of the adjoining memorial of the Butterworths. This was such an unusual picture I couldn’t resist picking it up, especially as there would be enough information to work out its location. I could only wish something like this survives for the Wembdon Road Cemetery!
A stereoscopic photograph, when used with a special hand-held viewer, let you perceive three dimensional depth to a picture by tricking the brain into merging two pictures into one. They were quite popular, although the subject matter of this picture is unusual. But each to their own when remembering a dead loved one.
The inscription on the memorial reads:
In Loving Memory of ER Illingworth who died June 3 1874 in his 52nd year
Hark the Upright Man
Also of Sarah his wife who died September 25th 1858 aged 29 years
Also of Titus their son who died March 27th 1858 aged 2 years & 7 months
Also of John their son who died March 4th 1884 aged 35 years
We can probably assume the gentleman was a close relation to those buried there. Perhaps a brother or son of ER or Sarah. There was an advertisement in the Bradford Observer, of 6 June 1874 saying:
The funeral of the late ER Illingworth will leave his residence 17 Simes Street, on Monday, 8th June, at One p.m. for Undercliffe Cemetery. Friends are requested to assemble at No.8, Simes Street
This tells us the location of the photograph. Two days later, the Bradford Observer reported:
THE LATE MR. ER. ILLINGWORTH.—Our obituary recorded the death, on Wednesday, of Mr. Er. Illingworth, of Simes Street. His health had been failing for some time, but the announcement of his death came unexpectedly on many of his public friends. Until within a few years back Mr. Illingworth carried on business as a tailor, in Brick Lane. In business he was diligent and persevering, and in all his habits careful and thrifty. His savings he invested in house property, and by judicious attention he became a considerable owner of cottage property. Some years ago he gave up business, and since that time has resided in Simes Street. For more than thirty years Mr. Illingworth has been an active politician in the support of Liberal principles. He was not a half-and-half Liberal, but belonged to the decidedly advanced school, or what may be properly termed the Radical section of politicians. In all public matters Mr. Illingworth was characterised by strong common sense; he was a clear-headed, earnest man, that could never be misled by party sophisms. Under all phases of political struggles he was ever stedfast to his Radical principles, and could always be relied upon as a faithful supporter of the most advanced movements. In support of free institutions, of political and religious equality, he was a steady labourer in his particular sphere, and in his own district—the West Ward. At municipal and parliamentary elections Mr. Illingworth was always ready to assist the Radical cause with effort, advice and money; and those who have been actively associated with him in public matters of this kind will not soon forget the valuable services he rendered to Radicalism by his straightforwardness, quiet energy and unwavering fidelity. He will be much missed by a large body of social and political associates, and deeply regretted by a more private circle of friends and relatives. We understand his funeral will take place this morning.
Er Illingworth was born is 1822 in Bradford and was the son of Titus Illingworth and Jane nee Mortimer. Er married a Sarah Walshaw in 1850, also commemorated on this memorial, who died only eight years later. By 1861 Er married to a Mary Smith. The census that year lists three sons of Er: John aged 12; George aged 8 and Richard aged 3. The gentleman in this picture might therefore be George or Richard, if not one of the sons from his second marriage.
The text on the delightfully gothic memorial to its left is also visible:
In Loving Memory of Susannah Butterworth of Shipley who died March 5th 1863 aged 38 years
Also of John Butterworth of Shipley Father in Law of the above who departed this life January 25th 1870 in his 104th year
The original picture has been sent to the Undercliffe Cemetery Charity and, delightfully, they managed to recreate the picture – see their Facebook post of 14 January 2026.