Clayton & Bell (1855-1993)
Stained glass firm founded in London by John Richard Clayton and Alfred Bell. Within a few years the firm occupied a leading place in stained glass design and manufacture. Exceedingly prolific, and although usually of high standard, the 'production line' approach was beginning to show by the mid 1860s, by which time the firm was established in Regent Street with 300 employees. The firm was also prominent in the creation of decorative schemes and murals for churches. In the 1880s the two founders withdrew from active participation and Alfred Bell's eldest son, John Clement, eventually took over the firm after his partnership with John Essex Clayton. Successive generations kept the firm going until the death of Michael Farrar Bell in 1993.Clayton and Bell Stained Glass Flickr Group
Further reading
William Waters, Angels & Icons: Pre-Raphaelite Stained Glass 1850–1870 (Abbots Morton: Serapim Press, 2012), pp. 41–121.
'Clayton and Bell' Journal of the British Society of Master Glass-Painters, vol. iv, no. 3 (1932), 142–5.
Peter Larkworthy, Clayton and Bell, Stained Glass Artists and Decorators (London: The Ecclesiological Society, 1984).
Birkin Haward, Nineteenth Century Suffolk Stained Glass (Woodbridge: Boydell, 1989), pp. 153–5.
Martin Harrison, Victorian Stained Glass (London: 1980), pp. 29–33 and further references.
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Include tentative attributions
Scenes from the Life of St Anne and the Virgin Mary restorer: Clayton & Bell 1498, restored in 1872 Church of All Saints, Gresford, Wrexhameast wall of the Lady Chapel | |
Te Deum and Tree of Jesse restorer: Clayton & Bell 1500, restored in 1867 Church of All Saints, Gresford, Wrexhameast wall of the chancel | |
Medieval Fragments including Scenes from the Lives of St John the Baptist and St Anthony restorer: Clayton & Bell early sixteenth century, restored in 1915-16 Church of All Saints, Gresford, Wrexhameast end of the south aisle chapel (Trevor, or St Catherine's, Chapel) | |
Prophets and Evangelists firm/studio: Clayton & Bell Church of St Nicholas, Montgomery, Powys east wall of the chancel | |
The Crucifixion with The Supper at Emmaus and The Nativity firm/studio: Clayton & Bell about 1859 Church of St David, Llanfaes, Brecon, Powyswest wall of the north aisle | |
The Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary, St John, Mary Magdalene and the Centurion firm/studio: Clayton & Bell 1860 Church of St Catwg, Llangattock, Powysnorth wall of the north aisle | |
Virgin and Child with the Burial of Sarah firm/studio: Clayton & Bell about 1860 Church of St David, Merthyr Tydfilsouth wall of the sanctuary | |
The Resurrection firm/studio: Clayton & Bell probably 1860s or 70s Church of St David, Merthyr Tydfilnorth wall of the sanctuary | |
The Transfiguration firm/studio: Clayton & Bell 1862 Church of St Peter, Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshireeast wall of the chancel | |
The Resurrection and Ascension firm/studio: Clayton & Bell about 1863 Pentrefoelas Parish Church, Pentrefoelas, Conwywest wall of the nave |
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