Every photograph has a story to tell
For generations, Putmans Photographers recorded the people, places and events that shaped Walton-on-the-Naze. Today, those photographs form the heart of The Old Walton Archive: a remarkable visual record of the town and the lives connected to it.
Browse familiar streets, seafront landmarks, schools, lifeboats, holiday camps, local characters, celebrations and everyday moments from Walton's past.
Explore the Archive
Browse thousands of photographs organised by location, people and collection.
Browse the collections →About the Archive
Discover the story of Putmans Photographers, Pete Frost, David West and the making of the archive.
Read the story →Order a Photograph
Interested in ordering an archive photograph as a print or digital file?
Make an enquiry →Putmans Photographers
Putmans was founded in Walton in 1921 and became part of the fabric of the town. Its photographers recorded local families, schools, shops, celebrations and generations of holidaymakers.
Many visitors will remember Putmans photographers working around Walton’s holiday camps, with the finished pictures appearing in the on-site photography hut's windows the following morning.
The People of Walton
At the heart of the archive are the photographers who preserved it, together with the thousands of local people whose lives they recorded.
Explore portraits, families, community groups, school classes, shopkeepers, performers and many familiar Walton faces.
More from Pete Frost
Walton Tales
Pete continues to share memories, research and stories from Walton's past through his Walton Tales blog whenever he feels able. It is a fascinating companion to the photographic archive and a wonderful source of local history.
Preserving Walton's photographic history
More than a collection of old photographs, The Old Walton Archive is a record of the people, places and memories that have shaped Walton-on-the-Naze for more than a century.