Lawrence Herbert Beecroft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 15 Dec 1864 - Reading, Berkshire, England
Christening:
Death: 5 May 1951 - Woollahra, Sydney, NSW, Australia 1
Burial: 7 May 1951 - Eastern Suburbs Crematorium
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Biography
http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/articles/1/3660/sdfsdfsfd• Occupation, Painter, Artist
Retro: Sketchy history lesson
Profile by David Cliffe
Ye Historic Reading Calendar
IT IS still surprising what turns up in the Strongroom.
While searching for something else entirely, I found a calendar for the year 1898 between two books. It was headed 'Ye Historic Reading Calendar'.
The picture on it shows King Charles I, on horseback, turning from Broad Street into Minster Street, with Walsingham House on the corner.
The artist's monogram, 'H.B.', shows it to have been the work of Herbert Beecroft.
I already knew about his impression of Civil War troops marching up Southampton Street, past St. Giles's Church, which has had its spire damaged by artillery fire, but I didn't know about this artistic reconstruction. I was pleased, of course, to have rescued it from oblivion, and to have it published on the Retro page.
The life of Herbert Beecroft is an extraordinary one. He was born in Reading in 1864, the son of Joseph John Beecroft, a printer.
Herbert continued the business, but also possessed an extraordinary artistic talent. He specialised in portraits and caricatures, and for some years gave "sketching lectures and entertainments," in London and elsewhere, during which members of the audience were invited onto the stage to have their portraits sketched.
This was as well as more conventional portrait painting, in the studio, or in people's homes.
It is not entirely clear why he decided, at the age of 41, to emigrate to Australia.
He did much the same kind of thing there, making a good living, and it was there, in 1927, that he painted his most famous picture. He was a devout and life-long Methodist, and the story went that one day, after a time spent in prayer, he had a vision of the face of Christ.
This he set down in oils, and it was subsequently copied many times.
I can remember a copy of it hanging of the wall of my Sunday school superintendent, and finding it distinctly unnerving.
It had the caption: "And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter........and Peter remembered."
• Census, England, 1881 in Reading, Berkshire, England
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability• Immigration, 11 Feb 1905 in Australia
Joseph John BEECROFT Head M Male 42 Lowestoft, Suffolk, England Printer Master Emp 6 Men Paas 3 Boys
Sarah Ann BEECROFT Wife M Female 43 Retford, Nottingham, England
Lawrence Herbert BEECROFT Son U Male 16 Reading, Berkshire, England Booksellers Apprentice
Hettie Roberta BEECROFT Daur U Female 13 Reading, Berkshire, England Scholar
Hester LAWRENCE Wifes Mother W Female 71 Fillingham, Lincoln, England
Ellen LAWRENCE Wifes Sis U Female 36 Retford, Nottingham, England Assist In Baby Linen Shop (Dressmaker)
Hettie LAWRENCE Wifes Sis U Female 32 Retford, Nottingham, England
Edith Mary GHEY Niece U Female 9 Bath, Somerset, England Scholar
Source Information:
Dwelling 24 Market Place
Census Place Reading St Lawrence, Berkshire, England
Family History Library Film 1341317
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1305 / 94
Page Number 1
Number 1
He arrived in Australia on the Ortona.• Event, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 Apr 1905
CENTENARY HALL.• Obituary, The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 May 1951
Mr. herbert Beecroft, lightning sketch lecturer and caricaturist, made his first Australian appearance at the Centenary Hall on Wednesday evening last. During the evening Mr. Beecroft drew sketches of a dozen typical Londoners, and concluded the entertainment with a caricature of a member of the audience.
Beecroft, Herbert Lawrence - May 5, 1951, at his residence, 23 Roslyndale Avenue, Woollahra, relict of Dulcie Julia Beecroft, aged 86 years. At rest.• Obituary, The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 May 1951
BEECROFT.- The Relatives and Friends of HERBERT LAWRENCE BEECROFT are invited to attend his Funeral; which will leave St. Columbia Presbyterian Church, Nelson and Ocean Streets, Woollahra This Afternoon, after service commencing at 2.45 o'clock, for the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium.
JOSEPH MEDCALF, A.F.D.A,
172 Redfern Street, Redfern,
Phone MX2315 (2 lines)
Parents
Father: Joseph John Beecroft
Mother: Sarah Ann Lawrence
Spouses and Children
1. *Dulcie Julia Pearson
Marriage:
Status:
Notes
Death Notes:
23 Roslyndale Avenue
Sources
1. Online Australian Birth-Marriage-Death Index (http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/familyHistory.htm).