J P Milnes’ Stereoscopic Views of Wigtownshire
Milnes moved to Stranraer in 1890 as an assistant to T A
Morryson who had a photographic studio in the town's Hanover
Square. By 1893 he had his own studio in Hanover Street and a few
years later opened another in Newton Stewart. Most of Milnes' work
was standard studio commissions and portraits but he also
specialised in landscape views of the surrounding area; these were
in great demand as tourist souvenirs and were used as photographs,
postcards and illustrations in travel guides.
A novelty in Milnes' studio was the "Penny-in-the-Slot
Stereoscope showing the prettiest and most interesting views in the
neighbourhood". The viewer and a collection of Milnes' stereoscopic
slides were donated to Stranraer Museum in 1963 and a selection is
shown here.