Cleer Alger was born in Diss, Norfolk, to parents Charles and Charlotte, and was baptised in St. Mary’s Church, Diss, in May 1819.

Cleer senior married Ellen Jeffries in 1845. Cleer and Ellen had at least four children.

​

Cleer had several occupations, including auctioneer, land surveyor, and lithographer (printer), before making his name as a pioneer photographer.

​

As a photographer Cleer Alger used the calotype camera which was developed by William Fox Talbot to take his photographs.  He utilised parts of his theodolite (used in his survey work) to enhance his camera, enabling greater focus on his subject.

​

He took numerous varied photographs in and around the Waveney Valley and as far afield as Holt, Thetford, Stowmarket and Beccles.  He liked to take photographs of buildings before and after the process of restoration, to mark the changes for future reference.

​

Cleer also took individual and group portraits of people, sometimes using his studio in Mere Street, Diss. 

A number of his photographs are held in the Suffolk Archives, reference K612.

Cleer Alger’s eldest son was also called Cleer. Cleer (Junior) followed his father as a photographer and took over the family business.

​

Cleer S Alger