Details of Sculptor

Surname

Townesend

Alternative Surname

First Name

George, of Bristol

Initial of Surname

T

Year of Birth/Baptism

Flourished

Year of Death

- 1719

Biographical Details

The eldest son of John Townesend I of Oxford, he became a freeman of Bristol on 29 June 1706, on marrying Margaret, the widow of Malachi Harford. In August 1705 he was paid £1 13s ‘for work in the Councell Chamber ye Coves’. In 1709 he drew a frontispiece for the Bristol Council House and in January 1709 was paid £12 for it. In 1716 he agreed to complete the tower of All Saints’, Bristol, for which he was paid £251 17s 6d in April 1717. Gunnis believes he may have provided urns and vases for the tower. Townesend signed a receipt for a ‘Marble chimney piece for ye Vestry Room’ on 4 January 1717 (4).
Townesend signs monuments to Sir Hugh Smyth and to Lady Smyth both in Long Ashton Church, Somerset (1, 2). The designs are similar, consisting of Corinthian pilasters supporting a pediment on which recline mourning cherubs. The coats of arms and other details are well carved.
George Townesend is probably to be associated with the ‘Mr Towneseend’ who is referred to by Sir John Vanbrugh in one of his letters as the mason ‘who did Mr. Southwell’s masonry’ at Kings Weston, near Bristol (Colvin 1995, 982). He appears to have had no children and, by his will, proved on 14 May 1719, he left all his plate to his nephew John Townesend, son of William Townesend of Oxford.
See also Townesend Family, of Oxford and London.
Literary References: Gunnis 1968, 398; Colvin 1995, 982
Archival References: BRO, Burgess Books 14359, microfiche FC/BB/1 (j) 2, fol 16 (1705); Bristol Cash Books, fol or p.78 (1709); BRO All Saints, Churchwardens’ Accts P/AS/Ch W 3b fol 88, 93; P/AS/ChW/5/3, fol 16 (1717)