Pictor Family Photos Augustus F Perren February 2025
It was a sign of Augustus' status that he was allowed to take some of the rare personal photographs of the eminenet Pictor family, great quarry-owners at Clift Quarry, Box Hill. When Job Pictor died the family firm was known as Pictor & Sons, a reference to Job Pictor's two sons, Robert Newman Pictor and Cornelius James Pictor. The brothers both worked for the company but it was the elder, Robert, who became managing director until his untimely, sudden death in 1877. It was a crucial time with the Cornelius aged 35 and relatively inexperienced in the ups-and-downs of family preparing to build a tramway.
Cornelius was chairman of the Pictor family company and of the Bath Stone Firms Limited after it merged with other local quarry companies after 1887. The directors of "The Firms" struggled to agree the direction of the business.[1] We might imagine that Cornelius' natural kindly character did not relish argument and he resigned with virtually no notice to take up his hobby of growing magnificent blooms and showing them all over the country. He occasionally submitted exhibits of the grapes he also grew.[2]
Cornelius was chairman of the Pictor family company and of the Bath Stone Firms Limited after it merged with other local quarry companies after 1887. The directors of "The Firms" struggled to agree the direction of the business.[1] We might imagine that Cornelius' natural kindly character did not relish argument and he resigned with virtually no notice to take up his hobby of growing magnificent blooms and showing them all over the country. He occasionally submitted exhibits of the grapes he also grew.[2]
This is a very rare portrait of Cornelius James Pictor. Cornelius never married and became beloved by his family, who always called "Uncle Jim". His generosity to them was renouned and he supported his older sister and nieces in his own home for 35 years. Cornelius unexpectedly became head of the family and the family firm when his brother Robert died in MORE, Cornelius was only XX years old. It was an uncertain time for the family and the business.
Fogleigh House, Cornelius' architectural pride and joy, was a project which took 14 years to complete. It is possible that the greenhouse was undergoing work at the time of the photo, or alternatively that Cornelius had installed blinds to protect tender plants in the summertime. Cornelius had several gardeners to attend the exhibits: Charles Vaughan (head gardener) and James Ford and Arthur Simpkins (both under gardeners).[3] Charles Vaughan lived at The Wharf in 1911 and moved to Pickwick after Cornelius' death in 1916. Arthur Simpkins was the son of Henry Simpkins, a quarryman sawyer, who had worked for the Pictors at Clift Quaryy.
Similar view showing completed glasshouse in front of house.
Monkey Puzzle tree in the front garden of Fogleigh House was an unusual specimen put in a prominent plave in the grounds. It was part of the demonstration of status of late Victorian gentlemen who competed to have rare species to show off their gardens to visitors. Cornelius' mephew Herbert RN Pictor grew giant redwoods at his home Rudloe Park Towers.
This is Mary Pictor Pay, Cornelius' older sister. Mary married Edward Sampson Pay, a trainee missionary in 1866. They had three daughters including twins but Edward died within two years of the marriage. Mary and the girls lived in the family home at Clift House until Mary's mother died in 1872. Cornelius took pity on them and became a father figure to the girls and giving them and their mother residence with him at Fogleigh House. This photo of Mary appwars to be taken shortly before her death in 1907.
Cornelius and Mary in happier times showing off their new motot vehicle. The chauffeur was Aaron Harrold who lived at 5 The Parade, Box. Aaron had previously been a coachman but taught himself to drive and repair cars.
Another photo of Mary Pictor Pay, this time looking rather unwell. The photo was possibly taken in 1906 before Mary's demise on 21 February 1907. She was only 66 years old. The way that the Pictor family took Augustus into their inner family circle shows the esteem in which contemporaries held him.
References
[1] David Pollard, Digging Bath Stone, 2023, Lightmoor Press, p.52
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 11 August 1894
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 4 March 1916
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 4 March 1916
[1] David Pollard, Digging Bath Stone, 2023, Lightmoor Press, p.52
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 11 August 1894
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 4 March 1916
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 4 March 1916