Thomas Thurlow
Encyclopedia
Thomas Thurlow was a renowned English
sculptor who created memorials in churches in the Saxmundham
, Suffolk
area, including a bust of the poet George Crabbe
in Aldeburgh Church. His father, John Thurlow (b. c1784), was a builder and stonemason who built 'The White House' (now Holly Lodge) in the High Street. Both are buried along with other members of the Thurlow family in the churchyard of the parish church.
Thomas Thurlow was born in North Entrance in Saxmundham
and went to a school in Brook Cottage; Henry Bright (painter)
went to the same school, and in Thurlow's memoirs he also claims Newson Garrett
(who later built Snape Maltings
) as a school friend. As a teenager he would turn his hand to anything such as wood and plaster carving, polishing stones, and he even made a violin, succeeding at the second attempt. At the age of 23 he left home for London
where he was engaged by a monument manufacturer in Regent Street
. During his spare time he took lessons in oil painting, something he pursued throughout his life (some of his paintings are in the Moot Hall
in Aldeburgh
). After a time employed with the London Marble Works, where he gained experience of stone carving, Thurlow returned to Suffolk
first opening a business in Halesworth and then settling back in Saxmundham
in 1839.
During his life, Thurlow completed many works for local people and various churches, including a memorial to Sir C. Blois from Cockfield Hall
in Yoxford
Church, a life-size statue of Samuel Clouting in Kelsale
Church, a marble bust of Richard Garrett III in Leiston
Church, and a commission from William Long
of Hurts Hall to carve a rose and spray for the entrance to his mansion. As well as paid works, he exhibited widely including at the Royal Academy
and the Ipswich Fine Art Club.
He was active in the town being appointed the Secretary and manager of the Saxmundham Gas Works (which was in Gas Hill now New Cut), he was an Overseer for the Parish making and collecting the Rates, he was the town Surveyor supervising the building of Gurneys bank in Market Place amongst others, and in 1847 he acquired the License for Photography for the County of Suffolk
which he practised for a time. He is reported to have given 'Penny Readings' in the Market Hall reciting from Dickens to packed audiences.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sculptor who created memorials in churches in the Saxmundham
Saxmundham
Saxmundham is a small market town in Suffolk, England. It is set in the valley of the River Fromus, a tributary of the River Alde, approximately northeast of Ipswich and west of the coast at Sizewell. The town is bypassed by the A12 and is served by Saxmundham railway station on the East Suffolk...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
area, including a bust of the poet George Crabbe
George Crabbe
George Crabbe was an English poet and naturalist.-Biography:He was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the son of a tax collector, and developed his love of poetry as a child. In 1768, he was apprenticed to a local doctor, who taught him little, and in 1771 he changed masters and moved to Woodbridge...
in Aldeburgh Church. His father, John Thurlow (b. c1784), was a builder and stonemason who built 'The White House' (now Holly Lodge) in the High Street. Both are buried along with other members of the Thurlow family in the churchyard of the parish church.
Thomas Thurlow was born in North Entrance in Saxmundham
Saxmundham
Saxmundham is a small market town in Suffolk, England. It is set in the valley of the River Fromus, a tributary of the River Alde, approximately northeast of Ipswich and west of the coast at Sizewell. The town is bypassed by the A12 and is served by Saxmundham railway station on the East Suffolk...
and went to a school in Brook Cottage; Henry Bright (painter)
Henry Bright (painter)
Henry Bright , was an English landscape painter associated with the Norwich School.-Life:Henry was born in Saxmundham, Suffolk, the third son of some nine children of Jerome Bright , a clockmaker, and Susannah Denny, of Alburgh in Norfolk...
went to the same school, and in Thurlow's memoirs he also claims Newson Garrett
Newson Garrett
Newson Garrett , was a maltster and brewer instrumental in the revival of the town of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, of which he became mayor at the end of his life...
(who later built Snape Maltings
Snape Maltings
Snape Maltings is part of Snape, Suffolk, U.K., best known for its concert hall, which is one of the main sites of the annual Aldeburgh Festival....
) as a school friend. As a teenager he would turn his hand to anything such as wood and plaster carving, polishing stones, and he even made a violin, succeeding at the second attempt. At the age of 23 he left home for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he was engaged by a monument manufacturer in Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
. During his spare time he took lessons in oil painting, something he pursued throughout his life (some of his paintings are in the Moot Hall
Moot hall
A moot hall is meeting or assembly building, traditionally to decide local issues.In Anglo-Saxon England, a low ring-shaped earthwork served as a moot hill or moot mound, where the elders of the hundred would meet to take decisions. Some of these acquired permanent buildings, known as moot halls...
in Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh is a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. Located on the River Alde, the town is notable for its Blue Flag shingle beach and fisherman huts where freshly caught fish are sold daily, and the Aldeburgh Yacht Club...
). After a time employed with the London Marble Works, where he gained experience of stone carving, Thurlow returned to Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
first opening a business in Halesworth and then settling back in Saxmundham
Saxmundham
Saxmundham is a small market town in Suffolk, England. It is set in the valley of the River Fromus, a tributary of the River Alde, approximately northeast of Ipswich and west of the coast at Sizewell. The town is bypassed by the A12 and is served by Saxmundham railway station on the East Suffolk...
in 1839.
During his life, Thurlow completed many works for local people and various churches, including a memorial to Sir C. Blois from Cockfield Hall
Cockfield Hall
Cockfield Hall in Yoxford in Suffolk is a Grade I listed private house standing in of historic parkland, dating from the 16th century. It was built by the Spring family, wealthy cloth merchants and later baronets of Pakenham....
in Yoxford
Yoxford
Yoxford is a village in the east of Suffolk, England close to the Heritage Coast, Minsmere Reserve , Aldeburgh and Southwold.-Location and features:...
Church, a life-size statue of Samuel Clouting in Kelsale
Kelsale
Kelsale is a village in Suffolk, England. It is located approximately 1 mile north of Saxmundham town centre at the junction of the B1121 and the A12....
Church, a marble bust of Richard Garrett III in Leiston
Leiston
Leiston is a town in eastern Suffolk, England. It is situated near Saxmundham and Aldeburgh, about from the North Sea coast and is northeast of Ipswich and northeast from London...
Church, and a commission from William Long
William Long
William Long is the name of:* William J. Long, American nature writer* William Ivey Long, costume designer* William Long...
of Hurts Hall to carve a rose and spray for the entrance to his mansion. As well as paid works, he exhibited widely including at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and the Ipswich Fine Art Club.
He was active in the town being appointed the Secretary and manager of the Saxmundham Gas Works (which was in Gas Hill now New Cut), he was an Overseer for the Parish making and collecting the Rates, he was the town Surveyor supervising the building of Gurneys bank in Market Place amongst others, and in 1847 he acquired the License for Photography for the County of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
which he practised for a time. He is reported to have given 'Penny Readings' in the Market Hall reciting from Dickens to packed audiences.
External links
- Henry Bright, Norwich School of Painters — Saxmundham Website