John Cassidy - Sculptor - List of known works

This site celebrates the life and work of sculptor John Cassidy (1860 - 1939).

[S] = Statue life-size or larger, [M] = smaller figure, [B] = Bust, [W] = conceptual sculpture [R]= Relief, Plaque or Tablet

This list is in no way complete. Cassidy died unmarried, and the whereabouts of any records he may have kept are unknown to this writer. They have probably been destroyed, although we do have an incomplete list of works, made (probably from memory) by Cassidy's assistant Edith Brown.

If you can add any entries, please contact us. Works inside buildings are visible to the public at certain times unless otherwise shown. PMSA links are to the detailed records of the Public Monument and Sculpture Association. Links under work titles are to features on our website.

[S] = Statue life-size or larger, [M] = smaller figure, [B] = Bust, [W] = conceptual sculpture. [R] = relief, plaque or tablet

Cassidy is known to have arranged for batch production, in bronze or ceramic, or some of his smaller works, such as The Weaver's Wife (pictured) which is signed 'John Cassidy fecit 1906.' A bronze version of this subject was on sale at the Manchester Art Gallery autumn exhibition, 1906, for £40. (The matchbox is included for scale.)

This little work is actually the seed from which grew this website.

The Ship Canal Digger (1892)

Little is known about this bust, photographed at the John Cassidy exhibition in Slane in 2004, except that is believed to have come from Manchester. Any suggestions?

Ernest Marriott (1913)

Female figure (1905)

Write to us at: charlie@johncassidy.org.uk

Website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme and Lis Nicholson, with the invaluable assistance of the John Cassidy Committee, Slane Historical Society.

List of Cassidy's known works

1. Public viewable works
2. Publicly owned but not on open display
3. In private collections
4. Others known to have been exhibited

1. Works on public display

* viewable only during opening hours

City of Manchester

Adrift [W] (1907) - St Peters Square - PMSA

Alcock and Brown Memorial [R] (1921) - inside Town Hall PMSA

Charles Hallé [B] (1897) - *Bridgewater Hall, foyer

John Rylands [S] (1899) - *John Rylands Library PMSA

Enriqueta Rylands [S] (1907) - *John Rylands Library PMSA

Enriqueta Rylands [M] (1905) - *John Rylands Library

Jubilee fountain ['dolphin' on top by J.C.] (1897) - Albert Square PMSA

King Edward VII [large S] - Whitworth Park (1913) PMSA

Richard Peacock memorial plaque [R] - Broadfield Church, Gorton, exterior

The Ship Canal Digger [M] - * City Art Gallery (CIS Gallery)

Sir Daniel McCabe [R] - *inside Town Hall PMSA

Theology directing the labours of Science and Art [W] (1898) - *John Rylands Library - PMSA

Greater Manchester, outside Manchester City centre

Benjamin Dobson [S] (1900) outside Town Hall, Bolton PMSA

James Dorrian [S] (1898) Queen's Park Terrace, Bolton PMSA

John Thomasson [R] (1893) Mere Hall gateway, Bolton. (Also plaques of Bolton coat of arms)

John Kay memorial [multi-part memorial: statues and plaques by JC] (1908) - Haymarket Street, Bury PMSA

War Memorial (1925) Eccles Church Street PMSA

War Memorial (1921) Heaton Moor, Stockport PMSA

Lancashire Dialect Writers' Memorial (1900) Rochdale [plaques by JC]

Swinton War Memorial Lych-Gate Salford (1922)[carvings by JC]

James Joule [B](1905) Worthington Park, Sale PMSA

Elsewhere

Aberdeen Duthie Park - Hygeia [S] (1897)

Clayton-le-Moors (Lancashire) Mercer Park - War Memorial (1920)

Colwyn Bay - War Memorial (1922)

Lower Peover (Cheshire) - War Memorial

Skipton (Yorkshire) - War Memorial (1922)

Stourbridge (West Midlands) - War Memorial (1923) [figures and panels by JC] - Mary Stevens Park PMSA

Bristol, Colston Avenue - Edward Colston [S] (1895)

Belfast, Northern Ireland: Queen Victoria [S] (1897) Shankill Cemetery

Drogheda, Irish Republic: *Two paintings by Cassidy in the Highlanes Gallery.

2. Publicly owned but not on open display

Charles Hallé [M] - Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

Charles Sutton [B] (192?) - inside Central Library - damaged, awaiting repair - PMSA

Henry Clarence Whaite [B] (1898) - City Art Gallery, Manchester

Richard Roberts [B] (1914?) - National Museum Wales, Cardiff

Lived 1789-1864. Born near Llanymynech, North Wales, worked as engineer in Manchester. He was at ‘Peterloo’ in 1819, was one of the founders of the Manchester Mechanics’ Institute, was a member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and became a member of the Borough Council when Manchester was incorporated in 1838. The bust presented to National Museum Wales in 1914 by David Davies, Llandinam (1880-1944). MP for Montgomeryshire, 1906-29

The Weaver's Wife [M] - Salford Art Gallery

Constance M. Bradley [S?] - City Art Gallery, Manchester

Frank Bradley [S?] City Art Gallery, Manchester

Frank Bradley, born in in 1903, was a fellow member with Cassidy of the Royal Cambrian Academy, also showing with United Society of Artists; at Victoria and Albert Museum; at Manchester City Art Gallery; with the Lancashire and Cheshire Artists and abroad. Had a solo show at Salford Art Gallery in 1958; was a friend of LS Lowry and lived in Mottram-in-Longdendale

Edward John Broadfield [S?] (1914) City Art Gallery, Manchester

Edward Broadfield (1831-1913) was an early graduate of Owens College and went on to become a founder of Manchester University. He was a member of the School Board in Manchester and a governor of Manchester Grammar School. He was active in Liberal politics. He also had strong musical interests and was a founder of the Royal Manchester College of Music, was associated with the Halle Orchestra and wrote music criticism for 'The Manchester Guardian'. All this as in addition to being a most active member of the New (ie Swedenborgian) Church in the city and a lay preacher.

Albert Jarret [R] (1904) City Art Gallery, Manchester

Eve [M] (1915) City Art Gallery, Manchester

Adam [M] (1915) City Art Gallery, Manchester

Joseph James Phelps [R] (1929) City Art Gallery, Manchester

J.J. Phelps (1855-1928) was a Manchester Archaeologist and Photographer: his collection is now in Chetham's Library, Manchester.

William Powell Frith [B] (1909) City Art Gallery, Manchester

Presented by James Gresham: exhibited at the Royal Academy, London in 1909 along with bust of Gresham. Frith was one of the most popular British painters of the Victorian era; Friend of Gresham, who owned specially-commissioned copies by Frith of his famous painting Derby Day and other works.

George Milner [B] (1900) City Art Gallery, Manchester

(Photo of bust by John Cassidy, of George Milner, J.P., President of Manchester Literary Club is held in Manchester Literary Club archive,)

3. Works in Private Collections

If you have a work by Cassidy in your private collection, please let us know the details and subject (charlie@johncassidy.org.uk): we will not publish your name or location unless requested.

Cardinal Vaughan [B] (1888)

Herbert Alfred Vaughan (1832 - 1903) was Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford from 1872 - 1892, then Archbishop of Westminster until his death. During his tenure at Salford he established St Bede's College in 1875.

The weaver's wife [M] (See picture, left)

Ernest Marriott [M] (1913)
Marriott was a well-known figure on the Manchester cultural scene, a writer, artist and Librarian of the Portico Library.

Harry Houdini [B] (1914)

Rishton Conservative Club - war memorial

Self-portrait [oil painting]

A female figure (title unknown) (1905)

3. Other Works known to have existed

(With information so far located about the subjects)

Commerce [R] (1886) South Kensington Museum exhibition

John and Sebastian Cabot [M] (1896) New Gallery, London. Also exhibited Royal Hibernian Academy, 1899, described as a 'model for colossal sculpture'

Ben Brierley [S] (1898) - destroyed - PMSA

Harold H. Hilton [B?] (1904) Royal Academy, London

Lived 1869-1942. Amateur Golf champion and writer on golf.

James Gresham [B] (1904) Royal Academy, London

Henry Hunt [R] (1910)

Lived 1773-1835. Speaker at the 'Peterloo' demonstrations in Manchester in 1819.

Rev. J. Hirst Hollowell [B] (1911) Congregational Church House, Manchester

Lived 1851-1909. Congregational minister and educationalist. In 1908 he was elected chairman of the Lancashire Congregational Union. His exertions broke down his health, and he died of cerebral apoplexy on 24 December 1909. A memorial bust, by John Cassidy, was unveiled at the Congregational Church House, Manchester on 3 April 1911. (Dictionary of National Biography, edited by Sidney Lee. Vol. 2. Adamant Media Corporation, 2001. p.287.) The building, designed by Henry Lord and completed in 1900, survives, but has been converted to offices, Deansgate Court, 246 Deansgate.

'Figure of a gentleman, his arms crossed.' [M] (1913) Bronze, 19 in. high. Appeared in auction at Christie's, South Kensington, on Wednesday, November 13, 1991 [Lot 97]. Estimated at £800 - £1200, it failed to reach its reserve and was not sold.

Edward John Broadfield [B?] (?1914) Swedenborgian Church, Crumpsall, Manchester [is the one now in the City Art Gallery?]

Annie Besant [R] (1925) British Empire Exhbition, London

Lived 1847-1933 Theosophical writer, campaigner for women's rights and home rule for India.

Items with full details uncertain:

Miss O. Walker [equestrian statuette]

Probably Ottoline Walker, daughter of George and Elisabeth Walker of Woodheys Grange, Sale: see our page on The Avenue

Memorial to Dr. Schunck, University of Manchester

(Henry) Edward Schunck (1820-1903) FRS was a Manchester chemist, son of a wealthy and successful textile merchant. After studying in Germany he returned to England and wrote many scientific papers, principally in the area of dyestuffs.

Memorial to Prof. Tom Jones [R] (1901?), University of Manchester

Thomas Jones (1879-1900) was born in Carmarthenshire, and came to Manchester on qualifying as a surgeon in 1875. He worked at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, and later at the children's hospital in Pendlebury. In 1900 he was called upon to take charge of a Welsh Hospital in South Africa for the wounded in the Boer War, where after three months he became 'mentally prostrated' and died there 'in tragic circumstances' at the age of just 51. His friends collected £1000 as a memorial fund, which was used for a bronze medallion portrait and the brass tablet in the Medical School, and to endow a scholarship. (Source: William Brockbank: The Honorary Medical Staff of the Manchester Royal Infirmary, 1830-1948, p.83-84)

Professor John Strachan (1909?), University of Manchester

University Vice-Chancellors's Archive , ref VCA/6/144: John Cassidy [sculptor]: (1) 2 Apr 1908, re. cost of a marble memorial to Professor Strachan [professor of Greek 1885-1907]; (2) 14 Feb 1912, says removed the bust to his studio [not identified].

Lived 1862-1907. Classical and Celtic Scholar. Professor of Greek at Owens College from 1885. 'No good portrait of Strachan exists, and the bronze [sic] bust in the possession of Manchester University only faintly resembles him' - Dictionary of National Biography. Edited by Sidney Lee. Second Supplement. Volume 3. p. 435.

Memorial to (?) Roberts, University of Manchester

May be the bust of Richard Roberts, now in Cardiff (above)?

Memorial, in silver, to Dr. Redhead. Crucifix in teak wood, Bradford

Memorial to Alderman Healey, Heywood, Manchester

Recorded as chairman of the Heywood Technical School Committee, 1894. Also a Unitarian.

Edward de Jong [B] in the Gallery, Heywood, Manchester

Memorial to Dr. Peter Horrocks (died 1909), Guy's Hospital, London

Samuel Laycock

Lived 1826-1893. Lancashire dialect writer, born in Marsden, near Saddleworth.

Clara M Codd [R]

Theosophical writer, and Suffragette

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Rosa Leo Grindon

The wife of Leopold Hartley Grindon, a notable Manchester botanist and author

Updated by Charlie Hulme March 2010.