Two local artists:
Alfred Bennett Bamford and Henry Gillard Glindoni
Bamford
Alfred Bennett Bamford was born in 1857. His father Charles later
became manager of Kemsley's, auctioneers and estate agents. The
family lived for many years at Stanley Lodge in Eastern Road, Romford.
Alfred studied at the Heatherley School of Art and the Camden School of
Art. He exhibited 'The Chapel of St Erasmus, Westminster Abbey' at the
Royal Academy in 1883, when he was 26. During the next 20 years, he
exhibited a further six times, these being mainly architectural subjects.
In 1884 Bamford's mother died at the age of 61. In 1905 he was
appointed 2nd Master at Chelmsford School of Art and Design. In 1907
he became the Art Master at the Chelmsford School for Girls. During
1906 he recorded all the inscriptions in churches and churchyards in
Romford. In 1907 he married Alice Hornby of Torquay and Romford;
they had no children. Alfred's father Charles Bamford died in April 1913.
Bamford produced a large collection of sketches of Essex, including
many of East Ham, Ilford, Barking, Dagenham and Romford. These
included drawings, watercolours and book illustrations. By 1924,
however, he became ill and underwent surgery. He retired from teaching
in 1927, and during retirement gave talks and lectures.
In 1930 Bamford moved from Essex to Newton in Tattenhall, Cheshire.
He made a donation of 150 sketches to the town of Romford before
leaving Essex. A condition of the gift was that they should be exhibited.
Other donations were made at various times to Chelmsford Museum, the
Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool), Dudley Galleries and the Royal Institute
of Painters and Water Colourists. Ilford Libraries received a collection of
around 60 watercolours and drawings via the Brand collection which was
purchased in the 1930s. Barking and Dagenham also has a collection of
Bamford drawings, which are now in Valence House Museum.
Alfred Bamford was a member of the 1st Volunteer Battalion Regiment.
By 1883 he was a Lieutenant, being promoted to Captain in 1890
and Honorary Major in 1897 at the age of 40. He retired from the service
in 1901 with an 1899 Volunteer Officer decoration and permission to
retain his rank. During the First World War, he was at one time in
command of prisoners-of-war 'somewhere near Chelmsford'.
Bamford died on 21 October 1939 at the age of 82. He left £1,000 to his
wife, £200 to his brother-in-law, and the remainder of the estate was
divided between Middlesex Hospital, the Artists' Benevolent Fund, the
British and Foreign Bible Society, the Church of England (Waifs and
Strays) and Cheshire Diocesan Board of Finance (for upkeep of the
grave).
The exact number of drawings, paintings, etc by Bamford that exist is
unknown, and there is no known obituary of him in local Essex
newspapers.
Glindoni
Henry Gillard Glindoni (1852-1913) was born at Kennington Lane, one of
a family of five who were left parentless at a very young age. His
surname was originally Glindon - he changed it to Glindoni later for
professional reasons.
Glindoni worked in the theatre from a very early age, helping his
grandfather who was a scene painter. From the age of 14 he had to fend
for himself, which he did by taking various acting and painting jobs. He
augmenting his income by making sketches of the actors and actresses.
He then studied art at the Working Men's College and at the Castle
Street School of Art.
Glindoni first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1872. He became a
member of the Society of British Artists in 1879 and and Associate of the
Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1883.
Glindoni is best known for his figurative historical works, many with
domestic Regency settings evoking the world of Jane Austen. It has
been said that 'He cultivated the picturesque coupled often with
sentimental dalliance'. He settled in Chadwell Heath some time after
1891 and lived in a new villa (which still exists) at the junction of Mill
Lane and Whalebone Lane North. His adjacent studio is now a
newsagent’s shop. In his spare moments he wandered round the fields
of Chadwell Heath and Marks Gate painting local scenes.
Glindoni died on 20 November 1913, and was buried at Crow Lane
Cemetery, Romford. No memorial now survives on the site of his grave.
Some of Glindoni's paintings, including that of Drake's Mill, Marks Gate,
painted about 1900, are in the collection of Valence House Museum.
Valence House, Becontree Ave, Dagenham RM8 3HT
www.lbbd.gov.uk/valence
www.facebook.com/valencehouse
020 8227 2034
localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk