Jump to content

John Wormald Appleyard: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Next edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Creating John Wormald Appleyard
(No difference)

Revision as of 15:10, 28 February 2019

John Wormald Appleyard
sculpture of Appleyard with feather in his cap
John Wormald Appleyard
Born(1831-09-10)September 10, 1831
School Close, Leeds, England
DiedJanuary 14, 1894(1894-01-14) (aged 62)
Leeds
Resting placeBeckett Street Cemetery
NationalityBritish
EducationApprenticed to Abraham Wormald, stonemason
Known forWood and stone carving
Notable work
StyleTheatrical
SpouseElixabeth "Eliza" Whiteley
Memorial(s) Appleyard window in St John's Church, Farsley

John Wormald Appleyard (10 September 1831 – 14 January 1894) (flourished 1851–1891) was a sculptor and monumental mason based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. He was sixteen years old when his apprenticeship as a stone carver was curtailed due to the death of his grandfather who was training him. He was versatile enough to turn his hand to wood carving, decorative ceiling work, stained glass and marble sculpture besides stone carving, so that from around the age of twenty-one years he was able to maintain a stoneyard and studio in Cookridge Street, Leeds, at least until 1891. He was generally known during his lifetime as a monumental mason. He is mainly known today in Leeds for his wooden Jacquemart figures of Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Richard the Lionheart and the swineherd Gurth, which strike the hours on the Ivanhoe clock at one end of Thornton's Arcade in Briggate. He is also known for his figure of Old Father Time on the Tempus Fugit clock on the Time Ball Buildings, Leeds.

Background

His maternal grandparents, both born in Yorkshire, were Abraham Wormald (ca.1786–1847)[1] a stone mason of Spring Gardens, Drighlington, and his wife Elizabeth (ca.1781 – Drighlington 20 February 1848).[2][3] His father was Jabez Appleyard (Birstall 1805 – Bradford 5 December 1870),[4] a size-boiler for the preparation of wool, and his mother was Jane Wormald (Birstall 1810 – 30 January 1883).[5] Jabez and Jane had nine children. John, the eldest, was born on 10 September 1831 at School Close, Leeds, and baptised on 9 October 1831 at St Peter's, Leeds.[6] The family moved to Drighlington, then Water Lane in Farsley. By 1851, after completing his apprenticeship with his grandfather, he moved to 4 Hirst Square off St James Street, Leeds, on the site of the present Leeds Civic Hall, and lived there for the rest of his life. In 1853 he married the widow Mrs Elizabeth "Eliza" Whiteley (Foleshill 1824 – Leeds 1889) at Leeds Parish Church.[7][8][9] He died on 14 January 1894 without issue,[10][11] and was buried on 17 January at Burmantofts Cemetery in grave no.12542.[nb 1][12][13][14] He was sufficiently wealthy to bequeath £100 to Leeds General Infirmary,[15] and £2,133 16s 10d to his relative Isaac Appleyard, a coal merchant.[16]

Media related to St John Farsley, Appleyard gravestone at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Beckett Street Cemetery, John Wormald Appleyard gravestone‎ at Wikimedia Commons

  • Appleyard family gravestone, 1863, probably carved by J.W. Appleyard
    Appleyard family gravestone, 1863, probably carved by J.W. Appleyard
  • Head of Christ on family gravestone, 1863
    Head of Christ on family gravestone, 1863
  • A border of plied yarn around the monument indicates that the family worked in the wood trade
    A border of plied yarn around the monument indicates that the family worked in the wood trade
  • Grave of John Wormald Appleyard, died 1894
    Grave of John Wormald Appleyard, died 1894

Career

In 1841, by the time he was nine years old, Appleyard was already apprenticed in Drighlington to his maternal grandfather Abraham Wormald, a stone mason.[2] At this yard he was permitted to concentrate on carving. His grandfather's death in 1847 curtailed his apprenticeship at the age of 16, and he was back with his parents in Farsley by 1851, when he was 19 years old and already calling himself a "stone carver and cutter."[17] He plied his trade as a "sculptor, stone and marble mason and monumental mason" until at least 1891, although he tended to call himself simply a stone carver or sculptor.[18][19][20][21][22] The Beckett Street Cemetery record keeper knew him as a monumental mason.[14] By 1871 he had a workshop producing sculpture and designs in 16–18 Cookridge Street, Leeds, next door to architect George Corson, and he remained there as a monumental mason until at least 1891.[12][23][24][25]

  • Cookridge Street, Leeds, in 2010. On the left are nos.19–21, so Appleyard's studio at nos.16–18 was probably on the site of The Light, right
    Cookridge Street, Leeds, in 2010. On the left are nos.19–21, so Appleyard's studio at nos.16–18 was probably on the site of The Light, right
  • Leeds Civic Hall was built in 1933 on the site of Appleyard's home, 4 Hirst Square
    Leeds Civic Hall was built in 1933 on the site of Appleyard's home, 4 Hirst Square

Works

Exhibitions, 1875-1891

The whereabouts of the following exhibits is unknown. At the Leeds Mechanics' Institution, Yorkshire Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures in 1875 he exhibited "several marble sculptures."[12][26] At the Yorkshire Fine Art Society, Autumn Exhibition, 1880, he showed Sabrina.[27] In 1888 he exhibited unknown works alongside Matthew Taylor at a show of international works of art, in the central court, at the Leeds Fine Art Gallery exhibition.[28] In 1889 he entered a Medallion Portrait of Lady Jane Grey at the Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition.[29] His The Elements was exhibited at the same spring exhibition in 1890,[30] and again in spring 1891.[31] Other exhibited pieces were Head of Christ,[nb 2] Neptune, Portrait, Medallion Portrait of Mozart and Head of Mozart 1880.[18]

Old Father Time figure, Time Ball Buildings, Leeds, after 1872

This is part of a Grade II* listed building.[32] Appleyard executed the sculpture on top of Dyson's cantilevered Tempus Fugit clock, which is suspended from the front of the Time Ball Buildings, Leeds. Although the clock is dated 1865, the figure of Chronos or Old Father Time above the clock was created by Appleyard after Dyson bought the building in 1872.[33][34][nb 3]

  • Close-up
    Close-up
  • Old Father Time, 1872
    Old Father Time, 1872
  • Silhouette
    Silhouette

Decorative ceilings, Grand Theatre, Leeds, 1877–1878

The Grand Theatre in Upper Briggate, Leeds, is a Grade II* listed building,[35] designed by George Corson and his chief assistant James Robinson Watson,[36][37] and opened in November 1878, having taken "thirteen months to build."[38][39] It originally consisted of a theatre and assembly rooms, with shops in between. The interiors have been much changed, especially in the 1930s.[35] Appleyard carried out ceiling work inside this combination building, contracted by J. Pollard of Bond Street.[38][40][41][42] The auditorium has a "ribbed and domed ceiling with central chandelier and plaster pendentives," and the former assembly room (now the Opera North rehearsal room) has a "segmental-arched ceiling with ribs and panels decorated with reliefs of fruit and flowers."[35] Describing the auditorium in 1878, The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer said: "The roof, lighted by one great chandelier, presents a very rich appearance."[43] "The prevailing colour of the decorations (was) crimson and gold."[44]

Media related to Grand Theatre Leeds, ceilings at Wikimedia Commons

  • Part of auditorium ceiling of Grand Theatre, 1878
    Part of auditorium ceiling of Grand Theatre, 1878

Ivanhoe Clock, Thornton's Arcade, Leeds, 1877–1878

Thornton's Arcade is a Grade II listed building, designed by George Smith, and located between Lands Lane and Briggate in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It was in the planning stage in 1875, approved in 1877 and completed in 1878.[45] The Ivanhoe Clock is a large, automated, public timepiece manufactured by Potts of Leeds between 1877 and 1878 to strike on the hour and each quarter.[40] Appleyard created the four life-sized, wooden, Jacquemart figures of Richard I, Friar Tuck, Robin Hood and the swineherd Gurth.[nb 4][nb 5] The figures appear to strike the bells, which are actually hit by hammers hidden behind the display.[46] The Arcade's founder Charles Thornton already owned the music hall which later became the City Varieties, so these pantomime figures are in keeping with his showmanship.[12] The clock was once manually wound, but was automated in 1955, and was restored in 1997.[46]

  • Richard the Lionheart, 1878
    Richard the Lionheart, 1878
  • The four Jacquemart figures, 1878
    The four Jacquemart figures, 1878
  • The swineherd, Gurth, 1878
    The swineherd, Gurth, 1878

Cornice and medallion heads, Thornton's Arcade, 1877–1878

Appleyard carved the medallion portrait heads at either end of Thornton's Arcade, in the city centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the same theatrical style as the clock figures. The wooden female head, inside and above the door opposite the clock, is a likeness of Gainsborough's Portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire which was stolen in 1877 when the arcade was under construction.[40][47] The exterior at the Briggate end has a carved cornice and four male heads on the second floor, including that of Appleyard himself, with a feather in his cap. The Lands Lane entrance has two male heads over the arch.[45] The arcade underwent restoration in 1993 and 2010.[48][49]

  • Lands Lane medallion head, 1878
    Lands Lane medallion head, 1878
  • Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, 1878
    Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, 1878
  • Briggate Portrait of Benjamin Payler, 1878[nb 6]
    Briggate Portrait of Benjamin Payler, 1878[nb 6]

Barran's Fountain, Roundhay Park, Leeds, 1882

This is a Grade II listed building, designed by Thomas Ambler (1838 – 1920) in Park Springs stone.[50] It is a rotunda-shaped drinking fountain in Roundhay Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Appleyard executed the carving on this domed fountain, which was donated by the founder of Roundhay Park, Sir John Barran. The fountain was opened for public use on Monday 3 April 1882. Around the inside of the dome is the inscription: "Presented to the Leeds Corporation by John Barran, M.P., April 3rd 1882."[51]

As a drinking fountain, the structure is no longer functional. It originally had "ornate bronze vases through which the water issues, to the taps, the drinking cups, and their connections, all being very pretty. The minute detail with which everything is executed reflects creditably on all concerned." The four-foot hole in the dome was " covered with plate glass 3/4 of an inch thick, painted with a rosette in the centre and surrounded by guilloché ornament." It still has the "red granite basins - moulded, cut and polished," and "each basin (was originally) supplied by a bronze vase. Those on the outside (had) three taps and those on the inside (had) two taps, of bronze, with sea-horse heads, and electro-silver plated ... Surrounding the basins (were) iron gratings, to receive any overflow." The original bronze fittings were designed by Ambler and made by Warner & Sons of London, and the stained glass roof insert (now gone) was made by the St Helen's Company.[12][51]

Media related to Barran's Fountain at Wikimedia Commons

  • Barran's Fountain, 1882
    Barran's Fountain, 1882
  • Corinthian capital, 1882
    Corinthian capital, 1882
  • Barran's Fountain, 1882
    Barran's Fountain, 1882
  • Shell splashback, 1882
    Shell splashback, 1882

Central Library interior, Leeds, 1878–1884

Leeds Central Library is a listed building,[52] designed as municipal buildings by George Corson to complement the Town Hall, and completed in 1884. The foundation stone was laid in 1878,[53] and it was completed in April 1884.[54][55] Appleyard led the team of stone carvers who worked on the interior staircases, pillars and arches (except for the alabaster entrance-hall arch, carved by Farmer & Brindley).[56] His name and Corson's were engraved on a roundel "high on the wall" of the entrance hall or exterior.[nb 7] The other stone carvers of the interior staircases and arches have not been identified, and the extent of Appleyard's contribution to the artwork is unknown.[12][nb 8]

Media related to Leeds Central Library, stair rail carvings‎ at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Leeds Central Library, interior carvings at Wikimedia Commons

  • Carved capital on staircase, 1884
    Carved capital on staircase, 1884
  • Lion dogs, 1884
    Lion dogs, 1884
  • Lion couchant, 1884
    Lion couchant, 1884
  • Portrait of George Corson on a capital, 1884
    Portrait of George Corson on a capital, 1884

Memorial to J.F. Longrigg, St Paul's, Shipley, 1890

This wall memorial to the Rev. John Fallowfield Longrigg MA, who died 8 September 1888, is in St Paul's Church, Kirkgate, Shipley, West Yorkshire, a Grade II listed building,[57] and consists of a white marble tablet on a slab of empress red marble which was originally "on the west wall, to the right of the central doorway, of St Paul's Church." It is now on the left side of the door. Longrigg had initiated a young men's class during his curacy, and this group organised the funding by subscription of the tablet.[58] Longrigg also initiated the poor children's annual Christmas dinner at Shipley, and this work continued for many years after he left St Paul's. The dedication is to the "rarest devotion to duty" by Longrigg, who was curate of St Paul's 1885–1887, after which he was vicar of Emmanuel Church in Woodhouse Lane, Leeds from November 1887. He died suddenly in September of the following year.[59]

Media related to St Paul Shipley, Longrigg memorial at Wikimedia Commons

  • Longrigg memorial, 1890, closeup
    Longrigg memorial, 1890, closeup
  • Longrigg memorial, 1890
    Longrigg memorial, 1890

Window, St John the Evangelist, Farsley, before 1894

This stained glass crucifixion window is in St John the Evangelist Church, Farsley, West Yorkshire, a listed building.[60] The window was found in Appleyard's Cookridge Road studio after his death. It had been designed and executed by him during his lifetime. It was possibly intended in memory of his parents who are buried in St John's churchyard, although his friends added a dedication to Appleyard's memory only. It was installed in June or July 1894.[12][61] The windows of St John's were restored in 2015.[62]

Media related to St John Farsley, Appleyard window at Wikimedia Commons

  • Appleyard window, before 1894
    Appleyard window, before 1894
  • Appleyard window, detail
    Appleyard window, detail
  • Appleyard window, crucifixion
    Appleyard window, crucifixion

Notes

  1. ^ Burmantofts Cemetery is also known as Beckett Street Cemetery or Leeds Burial Ground. See Find a Grave: Beckett Street Cemetery
  2. ^ This Head of Christ may be the clay model for the 1863 stone sculpture on the Appleyard gravestone.
  3. ^ Closeups of this century-old sculpture show a fresh-looking, smooth and glossy surface, which begs the question as to whether it has been heavily restored, or even replaced with a replica made of fibreglass or similar.
  4. ^ Gurth is a character in Scott's Ivanhoe
  5. ^ The Ivanhoe clock was painted in the 1940s. See this photo of the painters inside the clock, demonstrating the relative size of Appleyard's figures: Yorkshire Evening Post, 27 February 2017: Five things, Thornton's Arcade, Leeds
  6. ^ The inclusion of a portrait of stone carver Benjamin Payler implies that Payler contributed something to the stone carving work on this structure, although it was Appleyard who was credited for the wooden clock figures in the newspapers
  7. ^ The roundel crediting Corson and Appleyard has not been found, and may have been removed
  8. ^ Appleyard's team of carvers were not named in newspapers, which suggests that they were local, i.e. not imported big-name sculptors. Matthew Taylor is the only known local sculptor living at that time, who took a strong enough interest in natural history, to be capable of creating the animals on the marble staircase. That is to say, he could have created them, but there is no evidence as yet for that.

References

  1. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 11 February 2019. Deaths Jun 1847 Wormald Abraham Bradford Yk 23 133
  2. ^ a b "1841 England Census HO107/1290/6 10/22". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 11 February 2019. Deaths Mar 1848 Wormald Elizabeth Bradford 23 121
  4. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 31 January 2019. Deaths Sep 1870 Appleyard Jabez 64 Bradford, Yorks 9b 183
  5. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 17 February 2019. Deaths Mar 1883 Appleyard Jane 73 Bradford Yorks 9b 172
  6. ^ Baptisms, Parish Church of Leeds 1831 p.380. West Yorks Archive Service ref.P68/3A/8
  7. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 31 January 2019. Deaths Sep 1889 Appleyard Eliza 65 Leeds 9b 358
  8. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 31 January 2019. Marriages Dec 1853 Appleyard John Wormald, and Eliza Whiteley Leeds 9b 412
  9. ^ "Deaths". Leeds Times. 22 October 1853. p. 8 col2. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 31 January 2019. Deaths Mar 1894 Appleyard John Wormald 62 Leeds 9b 317
  11. ^ "John Wormald Appleyard, deceased" (PDF). The London Gazette. 20 April 1894. p. 2267. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Bradford, Eveleigh (June 2016). "They lived in Leeds". North Leeds Life. p. 8-9. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Deaths". Yorkshire Evening Post. 16 January 1894. p. 2 col5. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Beckett Street Cemetery Leeds 1845-1987, Burial register p.253". Ancestry. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Leeds General Infirmary". Leeds Times. 10 March 1894. p. 5 col3. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  16. ^ National Probate Calendar,index of wills and administration 1894.
  17. ^ "1851 England Census HO107/2313 32/85". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  18. ^ a b "John Wormald Appleyard". sculpture.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  19. ^ "1861 England Census RG9/3393 p23/92". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  20. ^ "1871 England Census RC10/4566 p19/62". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  21. ^ "1881 England Census RG11/4534 p19/155". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  22. ^ "1891 England Census RG12/3707 p26". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  23. ^ McCorquodale & Co.'s Topographical and Commercial Directory of Leeds and Neighbourhood, 1876, p. 436
  24. ^ Kelly's Directory of Leeds and Neighbourhood, 1881, p. 416
  25. ^ Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1891, p. 331
  26. ^ Catalogue of the Yorkshire Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures, Leeds, 1875, Cat. Nos. G20, G21, G22, p. 288
  27. ^ Catalogue of the Autumn Exhibition (Yorkshire Fine Art Society, Leeds) 1880, Cat. Nos. 514, 519, 521, pp. 54, 55, i, and Catalogue of the First Spring Exhibition 1880, Cat. No. 775, pp. 67, i
  28. ^ "Leeds Fine Art Gallery, the central court". Leeds Mercury. 17 November 1888. p. 12 cols4,5. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  29. ^ Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1889, Cat. Nos. Cases E, F, p. 88
  30. ^ Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1890, Cat. No. Case E, p. 100
  31. ^ Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1891, Cat. No. Case ThisJ-A, p. 91
  32. ^ Historic England. "Time Ball Buildings (1255855)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  33. ^ Baldwin, Katie. "Time has moved on for Leeds Clock". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  34. ^ "Dysons Time Ball Building". waymarking.com. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  35. ^ a b c Historic England. "Grand Theatre including former assembly rooms (1375219)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  36. ^ "Death of Mr J.R. Watson of Leeds". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 29 April 1887. p. 6 col6. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ^ "Death of Mr J.R. Watson". Leeds Times. 30 April 1887. p. 3 col1. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. ^ a b "Opening of the Grand Theatre at Leeds". Leeds Times. 23 November 1878. p. 2 col5. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. ^ "Obituary of James Robinson Watson". Builder. 7 May 1887. p. 591 vol52. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via Haithi Trust.
  40. ^ a b c "Thornton's Arcade image and information about Appleyard". Leodis.net. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  41. ^ "Grand Theatre and Opera House". arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  42. ^ "The Theatre in Hunslet Lane". Leeds Times. 16 November 1878. p. 8 col4. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  43. ^ "Opening of the Grand Theatre". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 19 November 1878. p. 5 col1-4. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. ^ "Opening of the "Grand" Theatre Leeds". The Era. 24 November 1878. p. 7 col1. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via Btitish Newspaper Archive.
  45. ^ a b Historic England. "Thornton's Arcade (1255837)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  46. ^ a b "Thornton's Arcade" (PDF). Oakwood Church. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  47. ^ "Where smart shopping began". Yorkshire Evening Post. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  48. ^ "Restoration plan for city arcade". Yorkshire Post. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  49. ^ "Thornton's Arcade". Visit Leeds. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  50. ^ Historic England. "Barrans Fountain (1256170)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  51. ^ a b "The Barran drinking fountain". Leeds Times. 8 April 1882. p. 2 col6. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British newspaper Archive.
  52. ^ Historic England. "Municipal Buildings, including city museum, public library and attached railings (1255783)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  53. ^ "New municipal office for Leeds, the foundation-stone laying". Leeds Mercury. 15 October 1878. p. 6 col3. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. ^ "Leeds Municipal Buildings". Leeds Mercury. 12 April 1884. p. 3 col1. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ^ "Opening of the Leeds Municipal Buildings". Illustrated London News. 26 April 1884. p. 10 col3. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ^ "Leeds Municipal Buildings". Leeds Mercury. 16 April 1884. p. 3 col5. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive. This citation credits Appleyard for the interior carving
  57. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Paul (1133546)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  58. ^ "Memorial to the late Rev. J.F. Longrigg". Shipley Times and Express. 5 April 1890. p. 3 col3. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  59. ^ "9. Monuments". St Paul's Shipley history. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  60. ^ Historic England. "Church of St John the Evangelist (1214466)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  61. ^ "A stained glass window". Leeds Mercury. 3 July 1894. p. 8 col5. Retrieved 19 February 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  62. ^ "Farsley church window restoration helps preserve village history". West Leeds Dispatch. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Wormald Appleyard.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Wormald_Appleyard&oldid=885519406"