Details of Sculptor

Surname

Gayfere

Alternative Surname

First Name

Thomas I

Initial of Surname

G

Year of Birth/Baptism

1685 -

Flourished

Year of Death

Biographical Details

He was born on 28 January 1685 at Bury St Edmunds and married Mary Townshend of Burford, who was probably a member of the family of Oxford masons. He became foreman to Christopher Cass I and by 1730 had his own mason’s yard in St Ann’s Lane, Westminster. About a decade later his name appeared at this address in a list of assistants and livery of the Masons’ Company. He had at least three sons: James was apprenticed in 1736 to a joiner, Thomas Adey, and in 1748 he was described as ‘of Westminster, mason’ when another son, Richard was apprenticed to George Mercer (TNA IR 15/21). The third was Thomas Gayfere II. Thomas I was probably the Thomas Gayfere who was the mason for Westminster Bridge, opened in 1750. He died on 26 June 1756.
Literary References: Chester 1876, 483; Toynbee 1927, 157; Gunnis 1968, 165
Archival References: Masons’ Co Assistants, f6; GPC