C. W. Mountfort - early photographer of Timaru

Charles Wheeler Mountfort was born in Birmingham in 1829, the son of Thomas Mountfort a jeweller and Susanna Wale Woolfield. Charles emigrated with his wife Mary Adnam, his elder brother Benjamin (who was accompanied by his wife Emily Newman) and their sister Susanna aboard the 'Charlotte Jane' arriving amongst the first settlers in Lyttleton 16 December 1850.

Benjamin Mountfort was an architect, but after his first commission was a failure he took up bookselling and photography. In 1857 he resumed his architectural career and he went on to become one of New Zealand's most prominent architects. Charles farmed at Opawa, then took up an appointment in 1856 as a surveyor, working under John Turnbull Thomson the chief surveyor for Otago. He left the survey department in Otago and returned to Canterbury where he took over the photo studio of Monsier Cabot in Timaru in March 1867. Charles may have learnt photography from his brother Benjamin or possibly Cabot. The studio was destroyed in the large fire that swept through Timaru on 8 December 1868. There is no mention of Charles resuming photography after this. He farmed and resumed work as a surveyor, training his son Charles Adnam Mountfort in the profession. Charles joined the Survey Department in 1878 and retired to Napier in 1878. He lived to the ripe age of 91.

Timaru Herald, Volume VI, Issue 188, 20 March 1867, Page 2

Family Tree:

1. THOMAS MOUNTFORT m. 16 DEC 1818, Saint Martin, Birmingham, Warwick, SUSANNA WATE WOOLFIELD.
Children:
i BENJAMIN WOODFIELD MOUNTFORD b. 13 MAR 1825, bap. 1 SEP 1825, Saint Phillips, Birmingham, Warwick, d. 15 MAR 1898.
2. ii CHARLES WHEELER MOUNTFORT bap. 2 JAN 1829, Saint George, Birmingham, Warwick.
iii SUSANNA WALE MOUNTFORT bap. 2 JAN 1829, Saint George, Birmingham, Warwick.
iv THOMAS MOUNTFORT b. 1840.

Second Generation

2. CHARLES WHEELER MOUNTFORT bap. 2 JAN 1829, Saint George, Birmingham, Warwick, m. 1850, London, MARY ELIZA ADNAM.
Children:
i CHARLES ADNAM MOUNTFORT b. 9 FEB 1854, Christchurch, d. 11 MAY 1941, Fielding.
ii ALFRED JOHN MOUNTFORT d. 17 AUG 1927.
iii HERBERT BENJAMIN MOUNTFORT.

Any Mountfort relations or anyone with further information is welcome to get in touch.