James and William were both born in Kelso, Roxburgh, 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 an architect and both brothers were clearly talented from an early age and started their training in London.
Though not known just when they moved to London, William apprenticed with a Henry Hubbard in St Pancras 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
By 1851, aged 24, James was lodging in a property on the High St in Wells, Somerset after being commissioned by Anthony Salvin to carve the organ case and choir stall at Wells cathedral. He did other work around this area before moving back to Lansdowne yard, Guildford St, London where he set up in partnership with Theodore Phyffers ( well known for his work at the Houses of Parliament ) in 1853. This partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in 1855, just in time for him and William to start on what is still their most lasting legacy, the renovation and embellishments at Witley Court and Church in Worcestershire
This was the last known substantive work that the two brothers worked together upon, although reviewing William's surviving account books there are several charges between the brothers
William's first known work was when working with G.E Fox and 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 in Worcestershire. 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. Whilst working here he also started working at Witley Court.
William met an Elizabeth Cobham from Upton-upon-Severn whilst working at Eastnor ( her Uncle ran the local inn) and married her in 1860; he settled with her in Worcester. He initially worked from a Burscot house in Chestnut street, but later set up studios at 5/6 the Tything, an address he then lived at until his death on June 5th 1915
William, as stated above, moved to Worcester after finishing at Witley court but James returned to London where he set up studios firstly at 8 Edward St, Hampstead road and then at 325 Finchley road, Hampstead where he worked until ill health forced him to stop around 1907. James died in 1910
Their Father was an architect and both brothers were clearly talented from an early age and started their training in London.
Though not known just when they moved to London, William apprenticed with a Henry Hubbard in St Pancras 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
By 1851, aged 24, James was lodging in a property on the High St in Wells, Somerset after being commissioned by Anthony Salvin to carve the organ case and choir stall at Wells cathedral. He did other work around this area before moving back to Lansdowne yard, Guildford St, London where he set up in partnership with Theodore Phyffers ( well known for his work at the Houses of Parliament ) in 1853. This partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in 1855, just in time for him and William to start on what is still their most lasting legacy, the renovation and embellishments at Witley Court and Church in Worcestershire
This was the last known substantive work that the two brothers worked together upon, although reviewing William's surviving account books there are several charges between the brothers
William's first known work was when working with G.E Fox and 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 in Worcestershire. 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. Whilst working here he also started working at Witley Court.
William met an Elizabeth Cobham from Upton-upon-Severn whilst working at Eastnor ( her Uncle ran the local inn) and married her in 1860; he settled with her in Worcester. He initially worked from a Burscot house in Chestnut street, but later set up studios at 5/6 the Tything, an address he then lived at until his death on June 5th 1915
William, as stated above, moved to Worcester after finishing at Witley court but James returned to London where he set up studios firstly at 8 Edward St, Hampstead road and then at 325 Finchley 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
So far I have no photographs of James