Edward Gaffin
Born 1780
Died July 1855 (Circa)
Active: 1789 - 1855
Country of birth: Ireland
Country of death: England
Sculptor, mason
He was born in Ireland and in the early nineteenth century established a successful firm of statuaries in London that was continued by his son Thomas (1819-69). Edward died in London and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery on 2 August 1855.
There are further details about the family and firm in the record for Thomas Gaffin and for the business.
Locations
Address 1 Green's Court Little Pulteney Street London England | View on map
1818 (Circa)
Listed as 'Mason' at this address in the Poll book for 1818.
Address 17 Kensington Place Millbank London England | View on map
1841 - 1860
This was also the Gaffins' business premises. The Census Returns of 1841 state there was a house in the yard belonging to 17 Kensington Place.
Address 71 Walton Street Chelsea London England | View on map
1855
Living here when he died.
Institutional and Business Connections
Traded as Thomas Gaffin
The business originated as Edward Gaffin, then became Thomas Gaffin when his son took over, and after their deaths, Gaffin and Co.
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841
'Sculptor' and his son, Thomas Gaffin is listed as a 'Marble mason'. It is very probable they were employing the following 8 people who are listed immediately after the Gaffins in Kensington Place: Martin Welch (aged c.36), 'Mason's Labourer'; Daniel Gaffin (aged c.14); James Hincy? (aged c.36), John Caulfield (aged c.36), and James Caulfield (aged c.36) all three 'Marble Polisher'; John Dailey (aged c.41) and John Dailey (aged c.14) both 'Mason'; Edward Hughes (aged c.45) 'Stone Sawyer'. A further person, James Wilkins (aged c.30) is listed ahead of the Gaffins on the Census Returns and was a 'Mason'.
Sources
A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660-1851
2009
pp. 486-9. Note: in Roscoe the first names of Edward and Thomas are reversed.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841
2010
HO107 piece 737 folio 2/8 page 11
London, England, Deaths and Burials 1813-1980
2010
Name: Edward Gaffin
Record Type: Burial
Estimated Death Date: abt 1855
Burial Date: 2 Aug 1855
Age: 75
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1780
Parish or Poor Law Union: Kensal Green All Souls
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
Register Type: Bishop's Transcript
Citing this record
'Edward Gaffin', 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_1377086584, accessed 23 Sep 2023]
