James and William were both born in Kelso, Roxburghshire, on the Eastern side of the Scottish borders to Adam Forsyth and Agnes Buckham. James was born in 1827 and William 1833 , the first and last of their parents four children
Their Father was a stone-mason who died sometime before 1841, when James was already listed as an apprentice 'cutter and gilder' in Bridge Street, Kelso along with a 9 year old William. The next we know about the brothers is the 1851 census
William was living in St Pancras in 1851 as an apprentice and whilst there won first place in a national competition for wood carvings run by the Association of Architects with a substantial carving in wood of birds and foliage
In 1851, aged 24, James was married and lodging in a property on the High St in Wells, Somerset. He went to Wells to work on the Anthony Salvin renovation of the Cathedral. He did other work in Wells but also managed to set up in partnership with Theodore Phyffers ( well known for his work at the Houses of Parliament ) at Lansdowne yard, Guilford St, London sometime in the early 1850's.This partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in 1855 but from then on, all of James' work is completed from a London address
William's first known work was when working with G.E Fox for Crace & Co in decorating Eastnor Castle in Worcs for Anthony Pugin in the early 1850s. William was then engaged by a Mr McCann of Malvern to work under the architect Sir Gilbert Scott in the restoration of Eastnor Church . This work was so well received by Viscount Eastnor that he invited William to take up residence at Eastnor castle for the purpose of beautifying the great halls there.
William met an Elizabeth Cobham from Upton-upon-Severn whilst working at Eastnor ( her Uncle ran the local inn) and married her in 1853. William had two children with Elizabeth both registered at a London address, but his third child with her was born in 1858 in St Johns Worcester. Sadly Elizabeth died soon after this child was born and William subsequently married Lucy 'Delilah' Rushton in 1860, living in Chestnut St, Worcester. They had 5 children together and moved in above the studios at 5/6 The Tything, Worcester in around 1861. William worked from this address until his death on June 5th 1915
James was working at Guilford St until the early 1860's when he moved to 8 Edward St, Hampstead road. He married again in 1860 ( we are not sure what happened to his first wife) and with Eliza had 4 children, the fourth of which, in the Autumn of 1867, caused his wife's early death. In the Winter of 1868 James married for a third time and subsequently had 4 more children with Ann. In the 1880's he began working at 325 Finchley New road, Hampstead where he worked until ill health forced him to stop around 1907. James died in 1910
Their Father was a stone-mason who died sometime before 1841, when James was already listed as an apprentice 'cutter and gilder' in Bridge Street, Kelso along with a 9 year old William. The next we know about the brothers is the 1851 census
William was living in St Pancras in 1851 as an apprentice and whilst there won first place in a national competition for wood carvings run by the Association of Architects with a substantial carving in wood of birds and foliage
In 1851, aged 24, James was married and lodging in a property on the High St in Wells, Somerset. He went to Wells to work on the Anthony Salvin renovation of the Cathedral. He did other work in Wells but also managed to set up in partnership with Theodore Phyffers ( well known for his work at the Houses of Parliament ) at Lansdowne yard, Guilford St, London sometime in the early 1850's.This partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in 1855 but from then on, all of James' work is completed from a London address
William's first known work was when working with G.E Fox for Crace & Co in decorating Eastnor Castle in Worcs for Anthony Pugin in the early 1850s. William was then engaged by a Mr McCann of Malvern to work under the architect Sir Gilbert Scott in the restoration of Eastnor Church . This work was so well received by Viscount Eastnor that he invited William to take up residence at Eastnor castle for the purpose of beautifying the great halls there.
William met an Elizabeth Cobham from Upton-upon-Severn whilst working at Eastnor ( her Uncle ran the local inn) and married her in 1853. William had two children with Elizabeth both registered at a London address, but his third child with her was born in 1858 in St Johns Worcester. Sadly Elizabeth died soon after this child was born and William subsequently married Lucy 'Delilah' Rushton in 1860, living in Chestnut St, Worcester. They had 5 children together and moved in above the studios at 5/6 The Tything, Worcester in around 1861. William worked from this address until his death on June 5th 1915
James was working at Guilford St until the early 1860's when he moved to 8 Edward St, Hampstead road. He married again in 1860 ( we are not sure what happened to his first wife) and with Eliza had 4 children, the fourth of which, in the Autumn of 1867, caused his wife's early death. In the Winter of 1868 James married for a third time and subsequently had 4 more children with Ann. In the 1880's he began working at 325 Finchley New road, Hampstead where he worked until ill health forced him to stop around 1907. James died in 1910
William Forsyth
Worcester Bowls Club 1909. William Forsyth is the 5th from the left in the first row of standing figures, with hat in hand, aged 76
James Forsyth
A drawing of James Forsyth, dated 1898, by his son John Dudley Forsyth. This is probably done as a portrait of James at the age of 70
