Charles was born in Bournemouth in 1877 to Charles and Amelia Humphries. His father was a Carpenter living in Sherborne. He has an older brother, William, born in 1853 who emigrated to Australia. In 1901 at the age of 24, Charles advertises himself as a Cycle Agent and Repairer at Cheap Street in Sherborne in Dorset. In the same year he is to marries Jane Green, a Widow living in Chelsea, London. She has two children from her first marriage, Frederick aged 17 and Rosina aged 11. She is ten years older than him at the time of in 1903, their first son, Arthur is born. In 1906 the family move to Weycroft in Axminster and soon after is shown as a Photographer with premises based at West Street in Axminster. The couple go on to have three more children, Amelia and Margaret and Ernest.
Charles is a talented Photographer and advertises htheir marriage in Chelsea. Charles returns back to Sherborne and is services in local directories of the time. He branches out into producing small batches of photographic Postcards of important events both in Axminster and surrounding Towns and villages. These are very rare and sought after by collectors as they are of a very high quality and are a record of local events of the times. A number of these appear in the Devon and Exeter Gazette. The 1911 Census shows Charles, aged 33, as a Photographic Artist working from home. His wife, Jane Elizabeth Rosina is aged 43 and assists in their business. Their children are Arthur William, aged 8, Ernest Leonard, aged 11 months, Amelia aged 5 and Margaret, aged 2. The family are living were living in Station Road, Axminster in that year. Ten years later the next Census has Charles, as a Photographer, working from home with assistance from his wife. Their son Arthur William is a Clerk and Amelia and Gilbert are living with them in Western Road. Axminster. The 1925 Kelly`s Directory describes Charles as a Photographer at West Street in Axminster.There is a jump now to 1939 when we find Charles, aged 62, no longer a Photographer and is described as a Radio Dealer living with his wife, Jane, aged 72 on the Western Road. In the same Census, their son, Arthur, an Ironmonger Salesman is living with his wife, Hilda and 2 children at no.6 Boxfield Road in Axminster. In the same year, their other son, Gilbert is married.Jane Humphries dies in 1946 aged 79 and Charles in 1959 aged 82 in Axminster. There is a large stone memorial to the family to be seen today in the Graveyard at the rear of the Methodist Church in the center of Sherborne, where the family had originated from. The lasting memorial to Charles is the superb photographic Postcards that have come down to us.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds historically hunted the rivers of Devon and Somerset, including the River Char, which flows through Charmouth. They are seen here passing the ornate iron fence of “The Limes”, now known as Charmouth Lodge, with the Coach and Horses in the background. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster in 1909.
Another photo of he Culmstock Otter Hounds taken in 1909. They are seen here passing down the Street, opposite the Church by Hardings. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
Cotleigh Harriers Meet at Wootton Fitzpaine manor house in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
Cotleigh Hariers in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
Lyme Regis Pier in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
Lyme Regis Pier in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
Uplyme Fete & Sports in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries, Axminster.
Uplyme Fete & Sports in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries, Axminster.
Uplyme Fete & Sports in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries, Axminster.
Musbury, Devon School / Church Event nr. Axminster in 1908.Photograph by Charles Humphries, Axminster.
Peace Celebrations at Axminster in 1919. Photograph by Charles Humphries, Axminster.
Whitchurch Canonicorum Fete in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries, Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
The Culmstock Otter Hounds in 1909. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
Cotleigh Harriers Meet at Hilary House, Axminster. Photo by Mr. C. Humphries Axminster. The Devon and Exeter Gazette April 16th 1912
Axe Vale Harriers Meet at Hartgrove Cottage. Photo by Mr. C. Humphries Axminster. The Devon and Exeter Gazette February 16th 1912
Culmstock Otter Hounds at Newton Poppleford . Photo by Mr. C. Humphries Axminster. The Devon and Exeter Gazette
Friendly Societies` Fete at Beer. The Maypole Dance. . Photo by Mr. C. Humphries Axminster. The Devon and Exeter Gazette July 14, 1914.
AXMINSTER SPRING FAIR attendance at Spring Fair Was large, the supply of stock good, and business brisk. The photograph was taken during Messrs. auction by Mr. C. Humphries, Axminstcr. Published: Friday 30 April 1909
Motor Car Accident between Seaton and Kilmington. Photo by Mr. C. Humphries Axminster. The Devon and Exeter Gazette.
The Cotley Hunt in front of Hilary House, Axminster. Photograph by Charles Humphries. Axminster.
