Benjamin Hancocks
Other names: Usually Ben Hancocks
Born 1888
Died 11 December 1962
Active: 1903 - 1951
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, painter, teacher
Born in Birmingham. He was the son of Benjamin Hancocks (born c.1861 in Birmingham) post clerk. Around 1903 Benajmin junior was studying in Birmingham and then went on to art school in London c.1911. He was appointed as Assistant Teacher of Modelling, Stone Carving, and Letter Cutting at Birmingham Municipal School of Art, Central School in 1915 but seems to have been teaching since 1914 (possibly initially in London). Hancocks was on the staff of the Central School in Birmingham till his retirement in 1953 apart from breaks during the two world wars (1917-19 and 1939-45). Hancocks' death was registered in Worthing, Sussex.
This record includes information supplied by the artist's great nephew, Robin Norton. There are some additional details about his career in 'Benjamin "Ben" Hancocks: British Artist' (Sculpture/oil/watercolour/drawing) by Robin D. W. Norton, published by Norton, 2003 ISBN 0952947323, 9780952947325 and also at http://www.britishartists.co.uk/ben%20hancocks/biography/index.html (accessed 5 February 2012)
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Portrait Bust
1909 (Presumed)
H. R.
1910 (Presumed)
Golden Pheasants
1948 (Presumed)
Locations
Address 155 Finborough Road Kensington London SW | View on map
1911 (Circa)
Lodging here together with Leonard Davies, both art students
Address 67 Aston Street Birmingham | View on map
1916 (Circa)
Address 93 Livingstone Road Kings Heath Birmingham | View on map
1948 (Presumed) - 1950
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Eighty-Third Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1909-1910
'Portrait Bust'
Exhibited at The Eighty-Forth Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1910-1911
'H. R. '
Exhibited at Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Spring Exhibition of Oil Paintings and Sculpture, 1948
'Golden Pheasants '
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1916
Exhibited once, two works ('The studio mirror', cat. no. 280 and 'Edna', cat. no. 320), listed as a painter
Organized Classes for Modellers, Carvers, Letter Cutters, Plaster Workers and Others (Birmingham School of Art), 1921-1932
1921 - 1932
Assistant teacher
Institutional and Business Connections
Assistant teacher of modeling at Birmingham Municipal School of Art, Central School
1915 - 1953
Assistant teacher of Modelling, Stone Carving, and Letter Cutting. He was absent, presumably on military service between 1917-19 and 1939-45. He retired from the school in 1953.
Elected ARBSA Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
1948 - 1950
First listed in the Society's exhibition catalogues as an Associate in Spring 1948. Still listed as an Associate in Autumn 1950.
Personal and Professional Connections
Colleague of William James Bloye
1915 - 1953
Hancocks was an assistant in the Department of Modelling, Stone Carving, and Letter Cutting where Bloye was Head of Department
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Art Student' lodging here together with Leonard Davies (born c.1889 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire) also 'Art Student'
Occupation given in London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
'Teacher'
Sources
Birmingham College of Arts and Crafts Prospectus 1949-50 College of Art and Branch Schools
1949
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN128 RG78PN4 RD2 SD1 ED41 SN34
College of Arts and Crafts Birmingham. Prospectus 1950-51 College of Art and Branch Schools
1950
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
2007
Name: Benjamin Hancocks
Birth Date: abt 1888
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1962
Age at Death: 74
Registration district: Worthing
Inferred County: Sussex
Volume: 5h
Page: 837
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Benjamin Hancocks
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1888
Registration district: Aston
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Volume: 6d
Page: 295
London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
2010
London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Peter, Fulham, Register of marriages, P77/PET, Item 019 Name: Benjamin Hancocks
Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1888
Spouse Name: Mary Elizabeth Oldfield
Spouse Age: 25
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 20 Sep 1914
Parish: Fulham St Peter
Borough: Hammersmith and Fulham
Father Name: Benjamin Hancocks
Register Type: Parish Register
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Autumn Exhibition, 1950
1950
p. 6.
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Spring Exhibition of Oil Paintings and Sculpture, 1948
1948
p. 13.
Citing this record
'Benjamin Hancocks', 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=msib4_1203795652, accessed 01 Oct 2023]