Charles William Purdy 1820-1886

Charles William Purdy was born 31 March 1820 in London. His profession was architectural sculptor. He died in 1886 in Dublin, Ireland.

1841 England Census
5 Lisson Street
St Marylebone
Middlesex

Ann Purday - 45 - Yes
Charles Purday - 20 - Stone Carver - Yes
John Purday - 19 - Porter - Yes
Hannah Purday - 18 - Yes
Robert Purday - 14 - Yes

Charles William Purdy married Sarah Fisher in 1844. Source: FreeBMD. Marylebone District. Apr-Jun 1844 Vol-1, Page-247

1851 England Census
44 Warwick Street
Westminster

Charles W Purdy - Head - Mar - 30 - Stone Carver {employing five men and 2 apprentices} - Westminster
Sarah Purdy - Wife - Mar - 28 - Lambeth
Mary A Purdy - Daur - 4 - Westminster
Charles W Purdy - Son - 2 - London
Gabriel F - Son - 10 mon - London
John H Outhwaite - Nephew - 17 - Aprentice - York

Charles William Purdy and family moved to Dublin in the late 1850s and he set up in business there, in partnership with John Henry Outhwaite.

At some point after 1861 the family moved to Viney Hill and in 1871, Sarah and some of the children were living next door to George Morse's Grocers Shop.

1871 England Census
Viney Hill

Sarah Purdy - Head - Mar - 49 - Sculptor's Wife - Middlesex
Mary Purdy - Daughter - Unm - 24 - Housekeeper - Middlesex
Catherine Purdy - Daughter - Unm - Scholar - Kent Gravesend
Frederick Purdy - Son - 14 - Scholar - Kent Gravesend
Raffles Purdy - Son - 9 - Scholar - Ireland Dublin
Edward Purdy - Son - 8 - Scholar - Ireland Dublin
William Fisher - Father - Mar - 71 - Glass Cutter - London

Charles William Purdy 1820-1886 had a son Charles William David Purdy b1848. Source: FreeBMD. St Geo Han Sq District 3Q 1848, Vol-1, Page-8. Both father and son were architectural sculptors.

1871 England Census
9 Bedford Terrace
Islington
London

Gabriel F Purdy - Boarder - Unm - 20 - Sculptor of Stone - Middlesex, London
Charles W Purdy - Boarder - Unm - 22 - Sculptor of Stone - Middlesex, London
Charles J Millard - Boarder - Unm - 19 - Sculptor of Stone - Gloucestershire, Haisfield
Richard J Kearney - Boarder - Unm - 16 - Sculptor of Stone - Worcestershire, Conderton

Charles William David Purdy probably died in 1871. Source: FreeBMD. Hackney District, Apr-Jun 1871, Vol-1b, Page-250, Age-21. NOT CONFIRMED.

The 1876 edition of Morris & Co. Commercial Directory of East Dean lists in Viney Hill, East Dean, Gloucester under Trades & Professions: PURDY Charles William, sculptor. The General, Topographical & Historical Directory of Worcestershire & Gloucestershire 1880 lists under Gloucestershire.-Dean East, Viney Hill & Soudley-Purdy Charles William, mason.

I would have thought the reason for the family being in Viney Hill would have been for Charles William Purdy's work.

I know that Charles William Purdy is attributed with the carving of the Sedilia, designed by architect Richard Cromwell Carpenter, at St Mary Magdalen, Munster Square, London.

I would Like to ask if anyone has any knowledge of other works of Charles William Purdy.

Many thanks.

Post reply

3402 views

Ancestry has a copy of the birth/marriage entry

Baptism at St George, Hanover Square - 31 March 1820

Charles William PURDY - parents : Robert (Sculptor) & Jeanna PURDY - residence, Oxford Street.

---

The siblings baptisms are also on Ancestry - Robert & Johanna PURDY -

Joanna Grant PURDY - 8 May 1816 - Westminster St Martin the Fields, residence, Upper Charlton Street,
Robert listed as an : ARTIST

Robert PURDY - 8 October 1817 - as above.
Robert listed as a : SCULPHTER

Robert Alfred PURDY - 29 October 1826 - St George the `martyr - East St, Kent Road
Robert listed as an SCULPHTER

John Henry PURDY - 2 December 1821 - St Marylebone

Hannah PURDY - 1 February 1824 - St Pancreas, Dean Place.
Robert listed as a Carver

-------

Marriage

28 April 1844 - The Parish Church in the Parish of St Marylebone - Middlesex

Charles PURDY - of full age, Bachelor, Carver, residence: St Marylebone
father: Robt PURDY - Carver

married

Sarah FISHER - of full age, Spinster - residence: St Marylebone -
father: Wm FISHER - Glass Cutter

married after Banns

witnesses: John DAYMOND and Hannah PURDY

---

1851 Census, Mddx Westminster
29 York Street

Johanah PURDY - Widow - 60 - Needlewoman, born Isle of Wight, Ryde
Hannah PURDY - daughter 27 - Needlewoman, born Middx. St Pancras

1861 Census, Middx. St Marylebone

6 Charlton Street

Joanne PURDY - W - 70 - born Isle of Wight, Ryde
Hannah PURDY - dau. un - 36 - Book Binder, born Middx. Marylebone

Post reply

3362 views

Many thanks for the 1851 and 1861 census returns for Joanna Townsend, mother of Charles William Purdy. Also the marriage record of Charles William Purdy to his first wife Sarah Fisher along with the details of their children's baptisms.

Post reply

3306 views

Hi Paul,
that sounds like an interesting lifetime of a talented craftsman, thanks for sharing it. I'm afraid I can't add much to what you probably already know, except to say that Charles was in Viney Hill by 1868 at the latest, as shown by his inclusion in this Newnham area Trade Directory.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/newnham1868.htm

I do hope you're able to find examples of his work in the Forest area.

Further afield, I suspect your internet searches also found these websites which add a little more detail to his lifetime, and list his works while in Dublin working with John Henry Outhwaite.

http://www.dia.ie/architects/view/5935#tab_works
http://www.dia.ie/architects/view/5936

I hope this helps a little.

Post reply

3327 views

Many thanks for the links to Slater's Directory of Newnham 1868 and to the Dictionary of Irish Architects.

Post reply

3306 views

British Newspapers on line - seem to have a lot of reference to Charles being a Bankrupt (Cork Newspapers) - also reference to a Robert PURDY -

Post reply

3300 views

Thanks mpg. He was made bankrupt in Dublin in June 1861. Robert Purdy was one of his sons who worked with another of his sons Gabriel Fisher Purdy.
I was reluctant to put too much information into my initial post as I thought it would make the detail unnecessarily long and confusing when all I was asking for is if anyone had any knowledge of his other work, particularly in the Forest area.

Post reply

3302 views