Case Study 16: Adeline Ayles, Ethel Ayles and Louisa Ayles by Philip Tennyson Cole, c.1885-86

“These watercolours were presented to RAMM in 1969 by Mrs Mabel Giles of Axminster, who explained they were ‘paintings of some of my sisters dated 1886 and painted by Tennyson Cole. We are descendants of the Spicer family, the Warwickshire branch some of whom were Mayors of Exeter from 1273 to 1708. There is a record of the family in the Exeter Town Hall, in, I believe the 1714 Edition of Risdon’s Chronological Survey of Devon’ (1).

 

With the extended facilities of electronic access to the whole of the census returns from 1841-1901 it has now been possible to trace the Ayles family at the time when these watercolours were produced and also to outline the history of the sitters’ parents. Charles Ayles, the children’s father was born at Sturminster Marshall in Dorset, where his father, Henry Ayles, ran a bakery and grocery shop. As a youth Charles worked as a “Shopman” in the family business (1861 census).

 

By 1871 he had moved to London as a commercial traveller and was then boarding with Henry Reeves, a grocer in Mile End. Shortly afterwards he married Louisa Spicer. Her origins, supporting the family tradition of the donor, were in Warwickshire.

 

She was born in Leamington Spa and was the daughter of an accountant, William James Spicer. By the time of the 1881 census Charles and Louisa Ayles lived at 37 Amersham Road, Deptford. His occupation was given as “Merchant”. In 1891 Charles and Louisa had moved to 80 Wickham Road, Deptford, where they stayed for at least another decade (1901 census).

 

The 1891 census records Charles as head of the household and his occupation as “Provision Merchant.” The family then comprised seven daughters ranging in age from sixteen to four. Supporting this large family were three servants – a lady’s help, a housemaid and a cook.

 

The relevant details of the Ayles family are:
Charles Ayles, aged 45, Provision Merchant, born at Sturminster Marshall, Dorset.
Louisa A. Ayles, aged 41, born Leamington, Warwickshire
Daughters:
Louisa, aged 16, born New Cross
Ethel, aged 13, ” ”
Clara, aged 12, ” ”
Nellie, aged 11, ” ”
Alice, aged 9, ” ”
Adeline, aged 8, ” ”
Mabel, aged 4, ” ”

 

Set out below is a correlation between the portraits, the supporting information supplied by the donor, and the 1891 census. Each source complements the other and demonstrates the information provided at the point of acquisition was largely correct. Mabel Ayles, the youngest child and aged four in 1891, was the donor of her sisters’ paintings in 1969.

 

Miss Louisa Ayles aged about 14 (278/1982)
note from donor: “this portrait was painted when the sitter was aged about 14. 1st daughter of Charles and Louis Ayles (Mother nee Spicer)”
In 1891 Louisa Ayles was 16, the eldest of the Ayles children.

 

Miss Ethel Ayles aged about 8 (276/1982)
In 1891 Ethel Ayles was 13.

 

Miss Adeline Ayles aged about 5
Dated 1885-6 (277/1982)
note from the donor “This portrait painted when the sitter was aged about 5. 6th Daughter of Charles and Louise Ayles (Mother nee Spicer)”
In 1891 Adeline Ayles was 8, the sixth eldest of the Ayles children.

 

 

Author: Stephen Price

 

Footnotes

1. RAMM History File Letter from donor, 27 April 1969