Sculptures
Statue of Sir Thomas Picton.
Thomas Mewburn Crook.
FRBS.,HRI.,ARCA.
A British Sculptor of the early Twentieth century, Thomas Mewburn Crook was born on 4 December 1869 in Tonge Moor, Bolton, Lancashire. Most of his first thirty years were spent in Manchester and Bolton, apart from a five year period in the early 1890's. These five years were spent in South Kensington during which time he studied modelling under the guidance of Professor Lanteri. On his return to Manchester in 1896, he became the modelling master and anatomy lecturer at Manchester School of Art.
His sculptural works were executed predominantly in plaster, bronze or marble. They were varied too; some were relief carvings, others, life size statues or busts and First World War Memorials.
Whilst lecturing at Manchester School of Art, Thomas was commissioned to decorate the ceiling of the Council Chamber at the School of Science and Technology (formerly called Manchester Technical School). He also exhibited his first piece of work at the Royal Academy during this period. In 1905, he moved to Chiswick to continue his work. A marble life size statue of Sir Thomas Picton (now in Cardiff City Hall) followed, together with other life size sculptures. Various busts including one in bronze of Bishop Casartelli (now in the possession of the Catenian Association) were also in his repertoire. The inside of St.Mark's Church, North Audley Street, London benefitted from Thomas's talent in the form of a marble altar panel, a bronze First World War Memorial and a Lectern (See Gallery).
Another recipient of a large amount of Thomas's work was St. Mary's Church, Wigan. This seemed appropriate as it was in his home county of Lancashire. The work here included his paintings of the Stations of the Cross, a marble pulpit, a panel of Old and New Testament Saints, an Annunciation panel, a marble Madonna figure on the Lady Altar and a marble First World War Memorial of St. Anthony (See Gallery). He was responsible for other First World War Memorials, such as the ones outside St.Saviour's Church, Raynes Park, outside St. Lawrence Church, Caterham and outside All Saints Church, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield. One of his last pieces of work was the making of nine plaques in cast stone for New Malden Library, Kingston Road in Surrey. These were completed at the outset of the Second World War in 1939/1940, ready for the official opening of the library on 22 March 1941. They were designed so that each plaque represented each of the main divisions of the Dewey classification system. Also for New Malden Library, Thomas carved a panel depicting Caxton and his printing press. This was carved out of Australian Satin wood in 1941 and was hung in the entrance hall of the library.
As 2009 marks the sixtieth anniversary of Thomas' death, this website has been created by his children and grandchildren as a tribute to him and to preserve his memory. One of his great grandsons, Dominic, was instrumental in creating this website. It is hoped that the whereabouts of some of his lost work may be established.