Harold Fenton

• Birth date            20 September 1886 at Salford
• Christening         24 June 1888
• Marriage              28 February 1920 to Gladys Maud Mary Shaw at St Paul’s Church Chorlton-on-Medlock
• Death date          24 February 1934

Born in Salford on 20 September 1886, Harold Fenton was the fourth and youngest son of John and Alice Fenton. John Fenton was a cardboard box manufacturer in Pendleton. (G and J Fenton). He enjoyed considerable early success particularly in stained glass design, as recorded in the Studio Yearbook of 1909:

Mr. Fenton is a designer of stained and leaded glass, ecclesiastical decoration, gesso, mosaics, wallpapers and textile fabrics, and a craftsman in stained glass and gesso. His recent work includes figure windows at Risley Presbyterian Church and the Infirmary, Ashton-under-Lyme, and two saloon domes for the S.S. “Principe di Udine,” (built by Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd., Glasgow). Most of Mr. Fenton’s designs have been carried out by Messrs. Wragge of Manchester. Other illustrations of his work appeared in The Studio Year Books for 1907 and 1908. [Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts, 1909, page 47-49].

His work continued to be illustrated regularly in the Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts until 1915 after which he seemingly disappears into almost complete obscurity. He married Gladys Maud Mary Shaw at St Paul’s Church Chorlton-on-Medlock in 1920 and died on 24 February 1934.

Residence
1891-1895    4 Nursery Street Pendleton (Census/ Directory)
1903            40, Bolton Road Pendleton
1909            Harold Fenton, 21 Brentwood, Eccles Old Road, Pendleton, Manchester.
1920            Harold Fenton, Firwood Woodlands Road, Fairhaven (Marriage Certificate)
1934            31 Leigh Road, Hale, Cheshire (Probate)

WORKS

1907           Decorative landscape panel. Designed by Harold Fenton, Executed by Geo. Wragge, Ltd.
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts, 1907 page 147

1908           Hall Window [B187}. Designed by Harold Fenton, Executed by Geo. Wragge, Ltd.
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts, 1908

1909           Staircase Windows Designed by Harold Fenton, Executed by Geo. Wragge, Ltd.
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts, 1909 page 116

1910           Stained glass windows. Designed by Harold Fenton, Executed by Geo. Wragge, Ltd.
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts, 1910 page 116

1910           Stained Glass: Hall and Stair Windows. Designed by Harold Fenton, Executed by Charles Lightfoot
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts 1911 page 109

1910           Panel. Designed by Harold Fenton, Executed by     Geo. Wragge Limited
Reference    J H Elder Duncan: The House Beautiful and Useful page 41 illustration

1915           Drawing Room window; Designed by Harold Fenton. Executed by William Gamon and Co.
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts 1914 page 53

1915          Inglenook window; Designed by Harold Fenton. Executed by William Gamon and Co.
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts 1915 page 141

1915          Window; Designed by Harold Fenton. Executed by Williams Brothers and Co.
Reference    Studio Yearbook of Decorative Arts 1915 page 143