Seabirds by William Fitton Research by Marjorie Gregson
Acc No 231
Artist William Fitton
Artist dates 1868-1941
Medium portrait cartoon (pen and ink drawing)
Size unknown
Donor Laura Fitton, nee May, 1874-1960
Date donated 24 November 1941
Signed W Fitton 1930
On frame: W Jagger, President 1929/30
(not traced to date, 2022)
ARTIST
William Fitton was born in 1867 in Shaw, Oldham, Lancashire, to Richard, a cotton weaver, and his wife, Ann. In 1898 he married Laura May (the donor of his work) and they settled in Preston where, between 1900 and 1928, he was headteacher at the Parish Church School, Avenham Lane, in the centre of Preston. Both he and Laura were well-known in the community.
William was a keen cricketer and captained the Preston Parish Church cricket team. The Lancashire Evening Post said he was a cricketer of note - 'with his jet black beard he was an outstanding personality among the summer sportsmen at Moor Park'. He was also 'an eloquent and informed speaker at local Bible classes'. As an artist he exhibited at the annual exhibition of Lancashire Artists at The Harris Art Gallery in Preston. His painting of Bleasdale Fell was shown in 1934.
Following William's retirement, he and Laura moved to 16 Avondale Road, St Annes on Sea, where he named his house 'Avenham'.
William died in 1941 and his funeral was held at Royton Cemetery.
DONOR
Laura Fitton, nee May, was born in Oldham in 1874 to William May, a shoemaker, and his wife, Mary. On the 1891 census she was living in Oldham and working as a 'bobbin reeler'. She married William Fitton in 1898 in Preston.
During WW1 Laura wrote many poems for The Preston Herald under the pseudonym Aloysia Meredith. A sample verse of her writing reads:
“Night and death surround us,
Lift on high Thy light,
Let Thy sword be with us,
God defend the right.”
William wrote in the Lancashire Daily Post of 21 September 1929:
“The Inspirational Writings of ALOYSIA MEREDITH, Laura Fitton, will shortly be published in magazine form. Will those interested who have not given their names, write for information to W. Fitton, “Avenham”, Avondale Road, St. Annes."
Laura died in Bushell’s Hospital, near Goosnargh, in 1960. Probate was granted to Harold May.
Laura Fitton donated 12 pencil sketches to the Lytham St Annes Art Collection on 24 November 1941 (the year of William's death). Only one, Seabirds, can be located at this time. Other titles recorded are:
Stand in an easy position, so
Thank you, that will do!
Ah! you will look better sitting, thus
You are being taken now - don't move, don't move
Nude man
Nude woman
Prize work
Hand and Scroll
Fruit
The Council Minutes stated that as it was wartime it was difficult to find accommodation for the sketches, so arrangements could be made for them to be hung in the Technical and Art School on a temporary basis. It is not known what happened to these sketches.
A watercolour, Bracken Harvest, Saddle Brest, Near Chipping, 43 x 78 cm (17 x 30 in), acc no 103, also painted by William, was donated on the same date.
Acc No 231
Artist William Fitton
Artist dates 1868-1941
Medium portrait cartoon (pen and ink drawing)
Size unknown
Donor Laura Fitton, nee May, 1874-1960
Date donated 24 November 1941
Signed W Fitton 1930
On frame: W Jagger, President 1929/30
(not traced to date, 2022)
ARTIST
William Fitton was born in 1867 in Shaw, Oldham, Lancashire, to Richard, a cotton weaver, and his wife, Ann. In 1898 he married Laura May (the donor of his work) and they settled in Preston where, between 1900 and 1928, he was headteacher at the Parish Church School, Avenham Lane, in the centre of Preston. Both he and Laura were well-known in the community.
William was a keen cricketer and captained the Preston Parish Church cricket team. The Lancashire Evening Post said he was a cricketer of note - 'with his jet black beard he was an outstanding personality among the summer sportsmen at Moor Park'. He was also 'an eloquent and informed speaker at local Bible classes'. As an artist he exhibited at the annual exhibition of Lancashire Artists at The Harris Art Gallery in Preston. His painting of Bleasdale Fell was shown in 1934.
Following William's retirement, he and Laura moved to 16 Avondale Road, St Annes on Sea, where he named his house 'Avenham'.
William died in 1941 and his funeral was held at Royton Cemetery.
DONOR
Laura Fitton, nee May, was born in Oldham in 1874 to William May, a shoemaker, and his wife, Mary. On the 1891 census she was living in Oldham and working as a 'bobbin reeler'. She married William Fitton in 1898 in Preston.
During WW1 Laura wrote many poems for The Preston Herald under the pseudonym Aloysia Meredith. A sample verse of her writing reads:
“Night and death surround us,
Lift on high Thy light,
Let Thy sword be with us,
God defend the right.”
William wrote in the Lancashire Daily Post of 21 September 1929:
“The Inspirational Writings of ALOYSIA MEREDITH, Laura Fitton, will shortly be published in magazine form. Will those interested who have not given their names, write for information to W. Fitton, “Avenham”, Avondale Road, St. Annes."
Laura died in Bushell’s Hospital, near Goosnargh, in 1960. Probate was granted to Harold May.
Laura Fitton donated 12 pencil sketches to the Lytham St Annes Art Collection on 24 November 1941 (the year of William's death). Only one, Seabirds, can be located at this time. Other titles recorded are:
Stand in an easy position, so
Thank you, that will do!
Ah! you will look better sitting, thus
You are being taken now - don't move, don't move
Nude man
Nude woman
Prize work
Hand and Scroll
Fruit
The Council Minutes stated that as it was wartime it was difficult to find accommodation for the sketches, so arrangements could be made for them to be hung in the Technical and Art School on a temporary basis. It is not known what happened to these sketches.
A watercolour, Bracken Harvest, Saddle Brest, Near Chipping, 43 x 78 cm (17 x 30 in), acc no 103, also painted by William, was donated on the same date.
REFERENCES - ARTIST DONOR
www.findmypast.co.uk www.findmypast.co.uk
www.freebmd.org.uk www.freebmd.org.uk The Lytham St Annes Town Clerk's file entitled Municipal Art Gallery - www.amounderness.co.uk
11 January 1934 -22 November 1948, held in the Lancashire Archives, Preston www.probatesearch.service.gov.uk Lancashire Evening Post 22 March 1934 Lancashire Daily Post
Lancashire Evening Post 14 August 1941 Preston Herald
www.findmypast.co.uk www.findmypast.co.uk
www.freebmd.org.uk www.freebmd.org.uk The Lytham St Annes Town Clerk's file entitled Municipal Art Gallery - www.amounderness.co.uk
11 January 1934 -22 November 1948, held in the Lancashire Archives, Preston www.probatesearch.service.gov.uk Lancashire Evening Post 22 March 1934 Lancashire Daily Post
Lancashire Evening Post 14 August 1941 Preston Herald
