{"id":13668,"date":"2016-06-30T15:39:03","date_gmt":"2016-06-30T15:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogbox.indianeagle.com\/?p=13668"},"modified":"2016-06-30T18:42:05","modified_gmt":"2016-06-30T18:42:05","slug":"history-of-worlds-oldest-photo-studio-bourne-and-shepherd-in-kolkata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indianeagle.com\/travelbeats\/history-of-worlds-oldest-photo-studio-bourne-and-shepherd-in-kolkata\/","title":{"rendered":"Bourne & Shepherd: World\u2019s Oldest Operating Photo Studio in Kolkata Breathed its Last"},"content":{"rendered":"
This dilapidated building named \u2018Photographe\u2019 in the busiest neighborhood of Kolkata could have been converted into a world-class photography museum to preserve the footprints of India\u2019s journey from the colonial times to the post-independence era.<\/strong> But Fate had something else in store for the iconic landmark where many historic events across the country were documented through photography for 176 years.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The \u2018Photographe\u2019 building had been known as the world\u2019s oldest and longest running photo studio \u2018Bourne & Shepherd\u2019 until it pulled down its shutters on June 16 this year<\/strong> because the current studio owner lost a 14-year-old legal battle to Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) which owns the building in Esplanade, a bustling commercial area in the city.<\/p>\n Surprisingly, with the closure of the world\u2019s oldest operating photo studio in Kolkata<\/a><\/span>, Bengal lost a potential tourist attraction whereas Delhi<\/a><\/span> is gearing up to set up the world\u2019s largest photography museum.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Established in 1840 by the then famous Calcutta photographer William Howard from Britain, the photo studio was known as Calcutta Studio, which was renamed Bourne & Shepherd in 1866<\/strong> when the British photographer and traveler duo \u2013 Samuel Bourne and Charles Shepherd \u2013 took control of the business after William Howard left India.<\/p>\n\n