George Walker Milburn
Born 1844
Died 14 September 1941
Active: 1861 - 1932
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, wood carver, stone carver
Born in York. He was the son of Lionel Milburn (born c.1808 in York), a tailor and a clothes dealer. He was apprenticed as a woodcarver to a pianoforte manufacturer named Messrs Waddington, before going on to work in the studio of the sculptor, Samuel Ruddock (c.1828-1903). He may also have studied in York Minster Yard and worked for two years in Corfe Castle, Dorset. By 1881 George had established his own business in York and was employing three men and four boys and later set up in a workshop at Bootham Bar. One of his sons, Wilfred Joseph Milburn (1882-1949) worked with his father from about 1901 and the firm became known as Milburn and Son. George Walker Milburn executed architectural, ecclesiastical and funerary works as well as some statues. The latter include statues of William Etty, George Leeman, George Hudson, Dean Purey Cust and Queen Victoria all sited in York. Milburn senior was still working in 1932, that year he executed The Stations of the Cross for the English Martyrs Church, York to a design by the architect Mangtry Langton. in 1932
This record includes information submitted by Simon Spier and Anthony Power.
Wealth at death: £390 3s. 1d.
Probate date: 26 September 1941
Locations
Address March Street York | View on map
1851 (Circa)
Address Little Shambles York | View on map
1861 (Circa)
Address 14 Bloomfield Terrace Pimlico London | View on map
1869 (Circa)
In 1871 the stained glass designer and maker Charles Hardgrave (active from 1851-1911 or later) was lodging at this address together with Matthew W. Cowton (1843-80) a wood carver. Hardgrave was the subject of the medallion exhibited by Milburn at the Royal Academy in 1869. The son of the house Arthur C. Harding was a clerk at the Kensington Museum.
Address 54 Walter Street Chester | View on map
1871 (Circa)
Lodging at this address.
Address 2 Cotford Place York | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Address 24 St John Street York | View on map
1891 (Circa) - 1924 (Circa)
Address 14 Dodsworth Avenue York | View on map
1941
Address at the time of his death, although he actually died at 75 Huntington Road, York which was the address of York City Infirmary (previously York Union Workhouse, between 1849 and 1929).
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1869
Exhibited once, one work (Medallion: Mr Charles Hardgrave cat. no. 1056)
Personal and Professional Connections
Worked with Samuel Ruddock
Milburn is said to have worked in the studio of Samuel Ruddock. (Based on information submitted by Simon Spier).
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
'Wood carver's app[rentice]' and his brother Thomas (born c.1842 in York) 'Carver's app[rentice]'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Stone Carver'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Sculptor Employ[in]g 3 Men & 4 Boys'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Sculptor' employer
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Sculptor' employer and his son Wilfred Joseph Milburn (1882-1949) 'Sculptor' worker
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Sculptor in Wood, Stone & Marble' employer and his son Wilfred Joseph Milburn (1882-1949) the same but a student and worker
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2004
Class: HO107; Piece: 2355; Folio: 47; Page: 32; GSU roll: 87620-87621
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2004
Class: RG 9; Piece: 3546; Folio: 25; Page: 10; GSU roll: 543149
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
Class: RG10; Piece: 3733; Folio: 9; Page: 18; GSU roll: 842131
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 4717; Folio: 15; Page: 24; GSU roll: 1342140
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 3891; Folio: 5; Page: 3; GSU Roll: 6099001
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
Class: RG13; Piece: 4445; Folio: 19; Page: 30
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2009
RG14PN28403 RG78PN1626 RD517 SD2 ED20 SN146
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: George Walker Milburn
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1844
Registration district: York
Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding
Volume: 23
Page: 691
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: George Walker Milburn
Probate Date: 26 Sep 1941
Death Date: 14 Sep 1941
Death Place: Yorkshire, England
Registry: Yorkshire, England AND Name: Isabella Milburn
[Isabella Fletcher]
Probate Date: 8 Aug 1924
Death Date: 11 Jun 1924
Death Place: Yorkshire, England
Registry: Yorkshire, England
Citing this record
'George Walker Milburn', 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_1394578947, accessed 01 Feb 2023]
