Catherine Mawer (1803 - 11 April 1877) was an architectural sculptor who worked alongside her husband Robert Mawer, then following his death in 1854 she ran the family stone yard as a master sculptor at Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, until 1859. The other master sculptor in her 1854–1859 company, which was known as Mrs Mawer, was her nephew William Ingle who supervised the stone yard and onsite works from 1854. Her apprentices were Matthew Taylor, Benjamin Payler, and her son Charles Mawer. All the apprentices later had independent careers as sculptors. After her son came of age in 1870, she continued working alongside Charles and her nephew William in the partnership Mawer and Ingle at the same address. Catherine was a founder member of the Mawer Group, which comprised all of the above Leeds architectural sculptors. During her lifetime, the Mawer group produced some strongly lifelike and often unflattering portraits, full of movement, including portraits of men with overhanging moustaches and cavernous mouths. These portraits continued after the deaths of Robert Mawer and William Ingle, but stopped appearing at her death in 1877. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that this style of work was her own.
Personal life Catherine Mawer's father was Anthony Scriven, alehouse keeper, and her mother was Elizabeth Scriven (1767 – 2 December 1841).Information from Robert and Catherine Mawer's gravestone in St Mark's churchyard, Woodhouse, Leeds Catherine was born in Bilton, Harrogate in 1803, and baptised in Knaresborough on 27 February 1804.FamilySearch "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," (database 30 December 2014), Catharine Scriven, 27 Feb 1804; citing KNARESBOROUGH-RC, KNARESBOROUGH, YORK, ENGLAND, reference FHL microfilm 0599712 IT 1 She had a sister Mary Ann Scriven (d. Tadcaster 15 March 1861). Deaths Mar 1861 Scriven Mary Ann Tadcaster 9c 391 Catherine married Robert Mawer at Ripley, West Riding of Yorkshire on 15 May 1837.Robert Mawer married Catherine Scriven on 15 May 1837 at Ripley, York. "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch 10 December 2014, Robert Mawer and Catherine Scriven, 15 May 1837 citing Ripley, York, England, reference FHL microfilm 98,551, 207,572, 98,551. She was the mother of Charles Mawer, who was present at her death.
Catherine died on 11 April 1877 aged 74, at 7 Oxford Place, Leeds, of old age, having had bronchitis for five days. She was buried on 14 April 1877 with Robert in the churchyard of St Mark, Woodhouse, Leeds. Deaths Jun 1877 Mawer Catherine 74 Leeds vol9b p323. Her death certificate gives her age as 74, and describes her as widow of Robert Mawer, stone carver.West Yorkshire, England, Church of England deaths and burials 1813-1985 Burials in the parish of St Mark, Woodhouse, Leeds, 14 April 1877, no.5181, page 644 At her death she left effects worth less than £1,500.Probate granted 7 June 1877 Administration granted to her son Charles Mawer of Great George Street, Leeds, marble and stone masonCatherine Mawer, Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 accessed 21 Oct 2016
Career
She worked as a top sculptor alongside her husband Robert Mawer.The evidence for this is that the unusual habit of carving men's portraits with oversized moustaches and cavernous mouths continues before and after the deaths of Robert Mawer (d.1854) and William Ingle (1870), and ceases after Catherine's death in 1877. From this it is reasonable to conclude that this was a style produced by Catherine. See Wikimedia Commons category Mawer (architectural sculptors). She was a partner in Mawer & Ingle, but she does not describe herself as a stone carver in the 1861 and 1871 Censuses, although her son does so.United Kingdom Census 1861: Class: RG9; Piece: 3392; Folio: 119; Page: 16; GSU roll: 543124United Kingdom Census 1871: Class: RG10; Piece: 4565; Folio: 100; Page: 37; GSU roll: 847142White's Directory and Topography of the Boroughs of Leeds and Bradford, 1861, p. 330McCorquodale & Co.'s Topographical and Commercial Directory of Leeds and Neighbourhood, 1876, pp. 292, 436, 450 She is credited by the Leeds Intelligencer for her Caen stone carving in 1857, however, and by other newspapers for other work between 1854 and 1859, listed below. In 1856 she summonsed an apprentice to court for disobeying orders, but her case was dismissed. The apprentice was Matthew Taylor, who was "exceedingly clever at his business."Leeds Intelligencer, Tuesday 19 February 1856 p3 col3: Important decision respecting apprentice The case sheds some light on the conditions of work for apprentices at the stone carving works:Leeds Mercury, Thursday 21 February 1856 p3: "Important to masters and apprentices" "On Saturday (19 February 1856), at the Leeds Court House, Mrs Mawer, widew of the late Mr Mawer, stone-mason, near the new Town-hall, summoned one of her apprentices to show cause why he did not obey her lawful command to go into the country to work. Mr. Horsfall appeared for Mrs Mawer, and Mr. Ferns for the apprentice. The case was brought into Court for the purpose of deciding the legality of the apprentice's claim for 2s. (equivalent to £9.68 in 2016)Historical UK inflation rates and calculator a week for expenses when from home performing his employer's work. It appeared that Mrs Mawer paid him 8s. (equivalent to £38.72 in 2016) per week, and by reason of his proficiency in his business he was frequently sent into the country to carve stone in churches and churchyards, and on such occasions his railway fare was paid, and 6d. (equivalent to £2.42 in 2016) per night allowed for lodgings. Mr. Horsfall called several master stone-masons, who proved that the custom of the trade was to allow 6d. per night only when apprentices or journeymen were sent into the country to work. Mrs Mawer had, however, made occasional presents to the apprentice; but he now claimed 2s. per week for expenses. Mr J. Hope Shaw decided that, although the apprentice's indenture compelled him to obey all the lawful commands of his employer, yet, if the means were withheld whereby he could perform such command, he could not be punished for refusal. It was the same when a witness was subpoened; if a reasonable sum were not tendered to him for expenses, he could not be punished if he failed to obey the command. The sum of 2s. per week for expenses when an apprentice was away from home, the Bench considered a reasonable sum; and that not having been paid, they were of opinion that it was not a disobedience requiring punishment. The summons was therefore dismissed."
Recognition
On 11 July 2019 Leeds Civic Trust unveiled two blue plaques at the Henry Moore Institute, commemorating the work of Catherine Mawer, William Ingle and the rest of the Mawer Group. These plaques are affixed to Moorlands House in Albion Street and 30 Park Place, both in Leeds.
Catherine Mawer's name is one of those featured on the sculpture Ribbons, unveiled in 2024.
Works by Catherine Mawer
Mawer memorial, Woodhouse, after 1854
This memorial to Robert and Catherine Mawer, in the churchyard of the Church of St Mark, St Marks Road, Woodhouse, Leeds, is Grade II listed. The sculptor is not recorded, however when Robert died, Charles at age 16 was in the early stages of his apprenticeship, and this is a mature work, so it was probably executed by Catherine. It was created before Catherine's death, because her memorial was added after Robert's, in a bolder and slightly different hand. There are additional inscriptions on the gravestone, to Catherine's mother and sister, Elizabeth and Mary Ann Scriven (died 1841 and 1861 respectively). Between 1987 when the monument was listed, and 2015 when it was photographed by Geograph, the urn and the heads of the two angels were removed. Historic England describes the monument thus, as of 1987:Historic England 1256146: Mawer memorial approximately 20 metres south west of tower of Church of St Mark "Ashlar and carved stone. Shaped podium, a stepped circular console-bracketed base supports 2 almost human-size angels who are draping the inscribed column (surmounted by an urn) with a garland of flowers. Half the urn has split away."
Susannah Blesard monument, St Mark, Woodhouse, 1856
This monument is in a Grade II listed building. St Mark's church was designed by architects Peter Atkinson and Richard Hey Sharp in 1823,Leeds Mercury, Saturday 26 April 1823 p.3 col.4: St Mark's Church, Woodhouse consecrated on 13 January 1826,Leeds Intelligencer, Thursday 19 January 1826 p.4 col.2: Consecration of St Mark's Church, Woodhouse and closed in 2001.Leeds Daily Photo: St Marks Woodhouse interior after closure, 2001 It was bought by Gateway Church in 2008, and reopened on 5 June 2014.Yorkshire Evening Post, 31 May 2014: "Leeds Nostalgia: St Mark’s Church, Woodhouse set for grand unveiling"Gateway Leeds: our story Catherine Mawer was responsible for the Susannah Blesard tomb in 1856.
The Blesard monument was placed under a three-light stained glass window designed by Michael and Arthur O'Connor of London, illustrating the Last Supper and "Our Lord blessing little children". In 1856, the Leeds Intelligencer described the Susannah Blesard tomb: "A beautiful monument ... which has been executed in Caen stone, is in the perpendicular style of architecture, and is erected under the north-east window of the church. The design consists of one sepulchre arch, enriched with double foliated hanging tracery, the spandrels filled in with foliage, and the monogram "S.B." with deep moulded jamb and arch mould, with ornaments and scriptural text. The spandrels above the arch are filled in with cut diaper work, the whole being surmounted with an enriched cornice and Tudor flower. The buttresses at the side are diapered, with niches and rich crocketed canopies, terminating with a carved capital and angels in a kneeling attitude. The base of the tomb, where the recumbent figure is usually placed, is filled in with quatrefoil pannelling and scriptural text - on the edge of the moulding. At the back of the recess is the following inscription, in emblazoned mediaeval letters: Susannah Blesard ... died 31st of March, 1855 ... The monument has been designed by Messrs Dobson and Chorley,Charles Chorley, architect architects, Leeds, and the whole has been executed by Mr. Mawer (sic)Note: Robert Mawer died in 1854, therefore the newspaper meant "Mrs" Mawer of this town, and is a work which will bear close inspection."(Leeds Intelligencer, 18 October 1856)Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday 18 October 1856 p5 col.2: "The late Mrs Blesard"
Former St Mark's, Low Moor, Bradford, 1855−1857
This is a Grade II listed building on Huddersfield Road, Low Moor, Bradford,Listed building Grade II no.1314451 designed by Mallinson & Healey, in Early Decorated style with an 80-foot spire. The stone carving throughout the church was executed by Catherine Mawer. The foundation stone was laid on 19 November 1855,Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday 21 March 1857 p.6 col.3: Low MoorHalifax Courier, Saturday 24 November 1855 p.8 col.5: Low Moor and the building was consecrated on 11 March 1857 by the Bishop of Ripon. It closed in 2002 and as of 2017 had been developed into flats and offices.South Bradford Local History Alliance record: St Mark's Low Moor In 2011 an application was made to turn part of the graveyard into a car park.Telegraph and Argus: "Bradford church in favour as deal would let money be spent in other areas", Kathie Griffiths, 14 February 2011