Walter Doughty - the Guardian’s first photographer

Walter Doughty (pictured above with his camera in 1921) was born in Stalybridge, Cheshire in 1878. Doughty began his career as a solicitor’s clerk but was apprenticed to a studio photographers in Urmston, Manchester in 1901 Photograph: Guardian

As an apprentice in Urmston, Doughty saw the first half-tone photographs appear in newspapers. The half-tone photograph above, of the Angel Stone in Manchester Cathedral, was the first photograph to appear in the Manchester Guardian. Its publication in February 1905 paved the way for the use of photographs in the newspaper Photograph: Guardian

Prior to the introduction of photographs in the Manchester Guardian, line drawings or reproductions of artists’ drawings, such as the image above by Cecil Aldin, (which appeared in a supplement on Queen Victoria’s death in 1901), illustrated the news stories of the day Photograph: Guardian

Seeing the rise of half-tone photography in newspapers, Doughty purchased a second hand Goertz camera and worked freelance selling pictures to local and national newspapers. Doughty’s camera would have looked similar to the pictured F. Deckel Munchen camera, which is thought to have been used by Doughty later in his career and is currently on display in the Guardian and Observer offices in Kings Place, London
Photograph: Robin Christian for the Guardian

In July 1908 the Manchester Guardian and Manchester Evening News, which were at that time published by the same company, hired Doughty as their first staff photographer. His staff record card (above) shows that Doughty worked for the newspaper until his retirement at the end of 1949 Photograph: Guardian

A Manchester Guardian staff outing to Alderley Edge, c1910. When Doughty joined the newspaper in 1908, the editor was Charles Prestwich Scott (sitting atop the first carriage). Writers included Charles Edward Montague, William Haslam Mills and AS Wallace. Doughty worked at the Cross Street offices which were home to the Manchester Guardian for 84 years from 1886 to 1970 Photograph: Guardian

In his 41 year career at the Manchester Guardian Doughty frequently took photographs across the north of England. As well as covering the major news stories of the day he took photographs of landmarks, buildings and general town and countryside scenes. The above photograph, of St Ann’s Square in Manchester, was taken by Doughty on 30 December 1921
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

The Shirley Institute in Didsbury Manchester. The photograph is thought to have been taken by Doughty in 1922
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

A view inside Exchange Station in Manchester, 25 February 1922
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

The luncheon room at the Manchester Reform Club. The photograph is thought to have been taken by Doughty on 13 October 1922 prior to a visit by prime minister Lloyd George
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

During the First World War (1914-1918) Doughty was appointed as an instructor to photographic recruits in the Royal Flying Corp (RFC). When he returned to the Manchester Guardian in 1918 he brought with him new ideas from his RFC service. In 1919 when the first municipal aerodrome was opened at Alexandra Park, Manchester, Doughty was one of the first photographers to take pictures of Blackpool from the air. The above image of Blackpool promenade was published in the Guardian on 12 June 1919
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

Manchester Guardian cleaners, 1921. In May 1921, the newspaper celebrated its centenary and to mark the occasion produced a photograph album of all staff at the newspaper. The photographs in the album, the majority of which were taken Doughty, provide a rare snapshot of life at the newspaper at the time. As well as the album, the GNM Archive holds a number of the glass plates negatives on which the original photographs were taken
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

Doughty was sent to Cork in the autumn of 1920 and later to Dublin during the Irish civil war (1922-23). He took with him a camera he either made himself or had custom built. He recorded the scenes on glass plate negatives, which were later discovered by the late staff photographer Don McPhee Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

Men travelling to work on the Stockport Road during the general strike, 6 May 1926
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

The Manchester Guardian’s Cross Street office, with the word ‘Manchester’ removed from the signage, c1939. At the beginning of the Second World War Doughty documented the removal of road signs, an attempt by the Government to confuse any invading enemy forces
Photograph: Walter Doughty for the Guardian

Doughty pictured at his retirement party in February 1950. Doughty officially retired in 1949 but continued to do photographic work for the Manchester Guardian. Doughty died at the age of 79 at his Alderley Edge home on 27 March 1958. As far as we know he was never given a byline for his work. However, his achievements in bringing innovative photography to the Manchester Guardian did not go unrecognised. The following is taken from his obituary published in the Manchester Guardian on 29 May 1958: 'In the files of the office his pictures throughout the Edwardian and Georgian eras would make a fine illustrated history of the North of England from the last 50 years’ Photograph: Guardian