Benjamin Grassby
Born 1837 (Circa)
Died 6 September 1896
Active: 1851 - 1896
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, wood carver, stone carver
Born in Hull. He was the son of James Grassby (born c.1807 in Hull), carpenter and wood carver. His brother Charles Benham Grassby (c.1834-1910), was a sculptor and wood and stone carver who settled in Glasgow in the mid-1860s. Two younger brothers, Henry V. (born c.1841) and West (sic) (born c.1843) became a carpenter and stone mason respectively. All the brothers were brought up in Lambeth where they learned their trades. Benjamin was an apprentice of George Myers of Ordnance Wharf, Lambeth. Between c.1856-60 Benjamin worked for Sir George Gilbert Scott and Thomas Earp in Norfolk.
Grassby settled in Dorset by 1862 and established a highly successful sculpture and stone carving business. His sons Ernest H. (born c.1859 in South Ockendon, Essex) and Garibaldi Charles (born c.1861 in Dorchester) joined him in the business by 1881.
Wealth at death: £107 13s. 2d.
Probate date: 18 August 1897
Locations
Address 96 Regent Street Lambeth London | View on map
1851 (Circa)
Address High Street Hemel Hempsted | View on map
1861 (Circa)
Lodging with James Wingrave, a publican and cooper
Address Princes Street Holy Trinity Dorchester | View on map
1871 (Circa)
Address 5 Maumbury Road Dorchester | View on map
1881 (Circa) - 1896
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
Benjamin and his brother Charles (c.1834-1910) both 'Wood & Stone Carver', their father, James, 'Carpenter'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
'Stone Carver'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Wood & Stone Carver'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Sculptor employing 3 men' also his sons, Ernest H. and Garibaldi C. 'Sculptor'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Wood & Stone Carver' employer
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2004
RG number: HO107 Piece: 1572 Folio: 453 Page: 1
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2004
RG09 piece 838 folio 56 page 8
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 2009 folio 51 page 26
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
RG11 piece 2111 folio 73 page 16
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
RG12 piece 1653 folio 59 page 28
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Benjamin Grassby
Probate Date: 18 Aug 1897
Death Date: 6 Sep 1896
Death Place: Dorset, England
Registry: Blandford
Citing this record
'Benjamin Grassby', 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_1304452447, accessed 23 Mar 2023]
