Daniel Bell (1840–1915) was a British church decorative artist and sculptor born in Silton, Dorset and died in Willesden.[1]

Daniel Bell
Born1840
Silton, Dorset, U.K.
Died1915
Known forStained glass painter and sculptor
Notable workSee below

Early life

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Bell was the younger brother of Alfred Bell (1832–1895) of Clayton and Bell.[2] In 1861 he was living with and assisting his brother Alfred in St Pancras, London.[3]

Career

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He went on to start in business on his own, making stained glass and church fittings, forming partnerships with James Redfern and the architect Richard Almond (1841-87).[1] Bell, Redfern and Almond, 'Sculptors and Glass Painters', were located in Charlotte Street, Portland Place.[4][5][6] By 1871 Daniel and his family were still living in St Pancras, giving his occupation as 'Glass & Mural Painter & Sculptor';[7] he employed 16 men and 11 boys.[1] The partnership with Redfern ended in 1868[8][9] and ended with Almond in 1872.[10] By 1878 he was working by himself in Margaret Street[11] and two years later in Bolsover Street.[12] In 1881 the family lived in Hammersmith[13] and in 1891 and 1901 in Paddington, describing himself as 'Decorative Artist'[14] or 'Ecclesiastical Artist'.[15] By 1911 he was retired.[16]

Personal life

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In 1864 he married Mary Cobbe (b 1843, Bengal, India)[17] at St Mary Magdalene's, Munster Square.[18] They had nine children.[1] Bell died 1915 in Willesden.[19]

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Works (incomplete)

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St Mary Magdalene, Paddington. Nave ceiling.

St Michael and All Angels, Bedford Park. 1880. East window (destroyed) and clerestory windows.

St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. 1870s. Tiled panels in the nave with scenes from the life of Jesus.

Grove Gardens Chapel, Richmond, London. 1877. Mosaic reredos and stained glass windows.

Bell, Redfern and Almond

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St Stephen's Church, Camden Town. 1866.[20]

St Mary Magdalene's, Munster Square. 1867. Frescoes

Bell and Almond

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All Saints Church, Bradley, Hampshire. 1869. Three light window showing the crucifixion.[21]

All Saints Church, Shouldham, Norfolk. 1870. Reredos.[22] 1877. East window

St Peter's Church, Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales. 1870. South aisle stained glass of St David[23][24][5]

Holy Trinity Church, Wolverton, Buckinghamshire. 1870. Wall paintings and stained glass in nave[25][26][6]

St John the Baptist, Bathwick, Somerset. 1871. Stained glass[27]

St Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria. 1871. Alabaster and mosaic reredos.[28]

St Bartholomew's Chapel, Sandwich, Kent. 1872. Stained glass of the crucifixion.[29]

St Mary the Virgin, Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire. 1867. Window in chancel, angel wall painting.[6][30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Allen, John (2024). "D Bell". Sussex Parish Churches. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1841", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYH-3SS Entry for Jeramiah Bell and Leah Bell, 1841. Silton, Dorset, England
  3. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1861", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7RF-8S5 Entry for Alfred Bell and Jane Bell, 1861. Rochester Terrace, St Pancras, Middlesex
  4. ^ "The Architectural Exhibition". The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal. 30: 187. 1 July 1867 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b "Bell & Almond (1868-1875)". University of Wales. 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Hardy, Michael G (2024). "Windows by Daniel Bell & Richard Almond - Maker". Stained Glass of Buckinghamshire Churches.
  7. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1871", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB66-B6D Entry for Daniel Bell and Mary Bell, 1871. St Pancras, Middlesex
  8. ^ Banerjee, Jacqueline (17 August 2022). "Stained Glass by Bell & Almond or Daniel Bell". Victorian Web. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Take notice". The London Gazette (23455): 16. 1 January 1869 – via The Gazette.
  10. ^ "Notice is hereby given , that the Partnership". The London Gazette (23928): 6321. 13 December 1872 – via The Gazette.
  11. ^ "In the London Bankruptcy Court". The London Gazette (24651): 6894. 29 November 1878 – via The Gazette.
  12. ^ "Craven v. Norman". The Times. 18 December 1880. p. 4 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  13. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1881", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-7SS5 Entry for Daniel Bell and Mary Bell, 1881.
  14. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1891", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3PH2-YPZ Entry for Daniel Bell and Mary Bell, 1891.
  15. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X943-962 : 20 May 2019), Daniel Bell, Paddington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing St Mary Paddington subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
  16. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1911," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW24-LR4 : 17 May 2019), Daniel Bell, Paddington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
  17. ^ "United Kingdom, British India Office, Births and Baptisms, 1712-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6VT1-1QXM : 20 January 2023), Mary Cobbe, 1843.
  18. ^ "Marriages". Morning Herald (London). 30 June 1864. p. 8.
  19. ^ "Deaths". The Times. 17 May 1915. p. 1.
  20. ^ "Coloured Church Decoration". The Building News and Engineering Journal. 13: 854. 21 December 1866.
  21. ^ "The late Rev. A J Plow". Hampshire/Portsmouth Telegraph. 3 April 1869. p. 5.
  22. ^ "Shouldham. Restoration of the Parish Church". Bury and Norwich Post. 19 April 1870. p. 7.
  23. ^ Crampin, Martin (2024). "Stained Glass at the Church of St Peter, Lampeter". Sulien Books.
  24. ^ "OPENING OF A NEW CHURCH AT LAMPETER". Western Mail. 10 June 1870 – via British Library Newspapers.
  25. ^ "Wolverton". Northampton Mercury. 5 November 1870. p. 3 – via British Library Newspapers.
  26. ^ "CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, OLD WOLVERTON ROAD". Historic England. 2024.
  27. ^ "Re-opening of St John's Church, Bathwick". Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette. 11 May 1871. p. 3.
  28. ^ "WINDERMERE PARISH CHURCH". Lancaster Gazetter. 9 September 1871.
  29. ^ "Sandwich". Dover Express. 24 May 1872. p. 4 – via British Library Newspapers.
  30. ^ "Church of St Mary the Virgin" (PDF). Churches Conservation Trust. 2013.