James Benjamin Shingles Minns
Other names: Usually James Minns
Born 1828 (Circa)
Died 6 August 1904
Active: 1861 - 1904
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, carver, wood carver
Born in Norwich, Norfolk. He was the son of James Minns (born c.1791 in Norfolk), cabinet maker and a brother, John (born c.1821 in Norfolk) was also a cabinet maker. In 1841 the family was living in Lakenham. James described himself a sculptor in the 1880s and exhibited once at the Royal Academy (1897).
Amongst the works either securely or tentatively attributed to Minns are: the coat of arms in terracotta for the Boileau Fountain, Ipswich Road, Norwich of which the centrepiece was Joseph Edgar Boehm's group 'Charity' (c.1870-6) (the coat of arms is now in the Bridewell Museum, cat. no. NWHCM 1973.334); the stone statues of St Peter and two angels at St Peter, Ketteringham; and the angels carved in wood for the interior of St Michael the Archangel, Booton and possibly the bronze statue of the saint above the porch door (c.1900). The Boileau Fountain and work at St Peter, Ketteringham were to designs by the architect, Thomas Jekyll and the building work for both was by William Hubbard of Dereham. It is possible that Minns had good connections with Hubbard or Jekyll or both.
He died in Norwich aged 76. James's son John William Minns (born c.1863 in Norwich), described in the 1891 census as a 'carver' and in the probate calendar as a 'wood-carver', was named as heir.
(Richard Cocke, co-ordinator of the Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk and Suffolk provided additional information for this entry. There are also references in Weber Soros, S., and Arbuthnott, C., 'Thomas Jeckyll Architect and Designer 1827-1881', London and New Haven (2003) pp. 118-9)
Wealth at death: £200 0s. 0d.
Probate date: 2 November 1904
Locations
Address 9 Arthur Street Norwich England | View on map
1871 (Circa) - 1891
The house number may have varied over this period and in 1891 he may have occupied numbers 9-11
Address 11 Mariner's Lane Norwich England | View on map
1897 (Circa)
This is probably his workshop address
Address 9 King Street Mariner's Lane Norwich England | View on map
1901 (Circa) - 1904
This may be the same place as occupied previous but with a modified address
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1897
Exhibited once, one work (A Happy Family, panel, carved wood, cat. no. 2017)
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Sculptor'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Carver' employed and his son John (born c.1863 in Norwich) listed at the same address is also a 'Carver' employed
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Wood Carver' working on own account at home
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Wood Carver'
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841
2010
HO107 piece 787 folio 33 page 15
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
Class: RG10; Piece: 1814; Folio: 42; Page: 2; GSU roll: 838805
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
RG11 piece 1943 folio 114 page 13
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 1524; Folio 59; Page 11; GSU roll: 6096634
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
RG13 piece 1841 folio 38 page 4
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: James Benjamin S Minns
Estimated birth year: abt 1828
Year of Registration: 1904
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 76
District: Norwich
County: Norfolk
Volume: 4b
Page: 70
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: James Benjamin Shingles Minns
Probate Date: 2 Nov 1904
Death Date: 6 Aug 1904
Death Place: Norwich, Norfolk, England
Registry: London
Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk and Suffolk
See http://www.racns.co.uk/sculptures.asp?action=getsurvey&id=1065 AND http://www.racns.co.uk/sculptures.asp?action=getsurvey&id=571 (accessed 12 September 2010)
Citing this record
'James Benjamin Shingles Minns', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=ann_1283258555, accessed 24 Sep 2023]
