Fanny and Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England – in pictures

Stella (Ernest Boulton) was Victorian England's most beautiful female impersonator, Fanny (Frederick Park) her inseparable companion. Here, Stella rests her head on Fanny's shoulder as the pair are photographed Photograph: Essex Record Office

Stella as a shepherdess of the golden age, circa 1880 Photograph: Frederick Spalding/Essex Record Office

Stella Boulton, 'the most wonderful impersonator of female character ever before the public' with 'the most perfect soprano voice', photographed in Scarborough in October, 1868 Photograph: Oliver Sarony/Laurence Senelick Collection

Stella and Charles Pavitt on tour in Essex in 1869. They toured to small country houses and market-town assembly rooms Photograph: Frederick Spalding/Essex Record Office

Fanny (standing) and Stella with Lord Arthur Pelham-Clinton, with whom Stella conducted a lengthy relationship Photograph: Frederick Spalding/Essex Record Office

Bewigged, dressed in silk, suitably padded and with a very generous application of paint, Fanny made a handsome woman Photograph: Frederick Spalding/Essex Record Office

Stella and Fanny (back right, holding mallets), appear here dressed in character for the drawing-room entertainments they toured to small country houses and market-town assembly rooms Photograph: Frederick Spalding/Essex Record Office

'Rose of the Garden, blushing and gay' – the captivating Stella Boulton dressed as a man Photograph: Oliver Sarony/Laurence Senelick Collection

An excited crowd looks on as Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park, both in full drag, leave Bow Street Magistrates' Court on 9 April 1870, the morning after their arrest at the Strand Theatre Photograph: The Illustrated Police News/Mary Evans Picture Library

Stella with blonde hair in New York circa 1875. The portrait was taken by celebrity photographer Napoleon Sarony Photograph: Mrs Williams of Northampton/Laurence