I have tried to add an article to Wikipedia, on this accomplished Victorian landscape painter. But, have been informed that he is not 'not notable enough'. If that is because he didn't achieve instant recognition and his work doesn't fetch thousands of pounds on the art market, then I accept that this is the case. But examples of his painting are held by two London borough museums, and his work regularly comes up for sale in auction houses throughout the world, and on Ebay. Something then deserves to be recorded of his life. I am no art critic and am not qualified to give technical description of Heffer's paintings. But then who is? If you can discuss a piece, then it's surely 'art'. If not it's just a picture. Henry Heffer is important to both Croydon and Edmonton, as he drew a landscape that today has changed beyond recognition. His paintings bring a life to the subject that photographs are unable to achieve. This in my eyes, as a Croydonian by birth, makes him worthy of discussion and his work, 'notable'. I apologise now to Heffer's descendants for any inaccuacy of research. I would be most please to hear from anyone who may be able to add or correct that written here.
Above: Bell Hill, Croydon. Painted in oils by Henry Heffer in 1890.
HENRY CHARLES HEFFER was born
in Lambeth, Surrey in the June Civil Registration Quarter of 1848; the son of
Henry & Hariet [sic] Heffer. His father was listed on the 1851 Census
Returns as a 'Gentleman' born in Lambeth circa 1820. His mother was born
according to the same source, in Southwark, London, during the same year.
On Census Day 1851, the Heffer
family were resident at 'Gay Villa', Beaulah Road, Thornton Heath. This being
in the North of the London Borough of Croydon, but then in Surrey. Ten years
later, and young Henry was being educated at the Thanet House Academy, Margate,
Kent. In 1871, he was aged twenty-three and was lodging at the home of Henry
and Elizabeth Croft, 'Clarville' Wimbledon. He was then listed on the Census as
'An Artist'.
It appears that Henry may have
married in the June Registration Quarter of 1874 at Croydon, to one Fanny
Elizabeth Gregory. I'm unable to confirm this one hundred percent, but a Fanny
Elizabeth Heffer died at Lambeth R.D the following year. Thus it seems likely,
as does the possibility that she died in child birth. I suspect that Fanny was the daughter of George and Frances Gregory of Lambeth High Street. George was a Draper, and earlier the family had run a shop in Norwood High Street.
On 18th January, 1879 Henry
certainly married Elizabeth Laura Wood, who had been born in Malta, at the
Church of St Mary, Chatham, Kent. Towards the end of that year Elizabeth gave
birth at Gillingham to their first child whom they named Eva Laura. Shortly
afterwards they appear to have gone travelling abroad, with two further
children being born in Canada and Gibraltar. This is evidenced by the 1891
Census Returns. The family were also
omitted from the 1881 U.K Census.
On Census Day 1891, the Heffers
were living again in Croydon - at 19 Talbot Road, Thornton Heath / Selhurst. A
property that still exists. With them now were their six young children: Eva
Laura, Catherine, Blanche, Grace, Mabel and John. Henry Heffer appears to have
been particularly artistically active during this period with many oils of
Croydon being produced, especially of the town's Middle Street / Bell Hill /
Middle Row slum district. Some of these, and other scenes in the borough, are
presently held by Croydon's Museum Art Collection.
About 1899 the family appear to
have resided for a while at Ponder's End. A further child, Ivy, being born
there. They had moved to live in Edmonton by 1902, with Elizabeth giving birth
to their daughter Ruby. In 1911 they were resident at number 61, Sebastapol
Road, Edmonton - a building that appears to have been either demolished or
destroyed in enemy action during World War Two. Again, Henry produced some very
fine paintings of the surrounding area during this period, examples of which
can be seen at Vestry House Museum.
Henry Charles Heffer died in the
December Civil Registration Quarter of 1931, still resident in Edmonton. He was interred at Edmonton Cemetery, in
public grave number E481. Curiously his
age was recorded as 87, but he was in fact 83.
Elizabeth, his wife died at Edmonton also in 1936. She is not buried
with her husband.
Sources:
1851-1911 Census Returns. Civil Registration B.M.D indexes. Online data relating to held art works by this artist. Cemetery Office, Edmonton Cemetery.
