Martin Ludgate has passed on Hugh McKnights comments and explanations as to
how the two albums came into his possession. I suppose it will be left to
members of the family to decide what will happen to the albums. For myself I
believe that it would be important that the unpublished images get to be
seen.

The picture of Bittell Engine House may be useful in getting the structure
listed- it is not at the moment- and I also suppose the images need to be
scrutinised further to decide how many were taken by Hodgkinson. The
Smethwick Engine would date from the move made in 1897, when Henry would
have been about 25. Was he into photography then, or was it an image he
acquired through an involvement with the Warwickshire Photographic Survey.

Perhaps the collection is best ultimately preserved in a library, museum or
trust collection. Hopefully not before other images are published.

Looking at Henry's father, Walter, he seems to have married into the Fulford
family, which would put his employment links with Holts.

Ray Shill
Industrial Historian