My meeting with Edmund Bogg
from The Barwicker No.7
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Edmund Bogg, prolific writer of north-country guide books in the early years of the century, gave us one of the few historical works of consequence relating to this area; "The Old Kingdom of Elmet". I first met him in the following way. In 1925, going on for sixteen, having recently commenced studies at the Leeds School of Art, I made my purchases of artists materials at the shop, E.Bcgg, Artists Colourman, Picture Framers, in Wade Street off Wade Lane, Leeds. The following is exactly as written by the above teenager, so allowances should be made for the style of prose.
Reproduced from a drawing by Ernest Forbes who had a studio in Barwick from 1896 - 1914
During my student days, I was often in the shop for supplies and
picture framing. But my last meeting with Edmund Bcgg was in 1930 at Scarborough. An entry in my diary for Saturday August 30th 1930 reads:
Edmund Bogg died in 1931 at the age of 81.
Described as being of humble birth, from East Riding stock, Edmund Bcgg in 1891 founded the Savage Club, in Leeds, and as a lifelong member was Known as "T'wd Chief". Here, and at the picture framing shop which he had established, he met many of the artists of the day, to whom he gave encouragement by using their talents to illustrate his books. A keen walker and photographer, his great love was tramping the dales, where he gathered material for his many works on local history.
Back to the Main Historical Society page
Back to the Barwicker Contents page
Back to the Barwicker Contents page
Edmund Bogg, prolific writer of north-country guide books in the early years of the century, gave us one of the few historical works of consequence relating to this area; "The Old Kingdom of Elmet". I first met him in the following way. In 1925, going on for sixteen, having recently commenced studies at the Leeds School of Art, I made my purchases of artists materials at the shop, E.Bcgg, Artists Colourman, Picture Framers, in Wade Street off Wade Lane, Leeds. The following is exactly as written by the above teenager, so allowances should be made for the style of prose.
| The door bell rang as I entered. There were pictures in the lobby, and on all sides, hanging from frieze to floor, and standing in stacks, framed ready for customers. Some on the walls were scenes with cows going home, some of girls in large hats, and views of old houses, labelled 2/6 and 3/9 according to whether plain or coloured. There was a counter, and behind it a large man. "What do you want, Boy?" he said. "Brushes for oil painting please" I reply, timidly. "Hog hair" I added, trying not to look at his bristling moustache and eyebrows. "The Bell", he said, and gave another bell hanging on a string above my head, a fierce jab with his stick. I thereupon seized the string and gave it a good rousing ring, whilst he stood gazing at me and rattling his stick with one hand and combing up his whiskers with the other. He then picks up a handful of papers from the counter, a very easy thing to do, and commences to read them at arms length. Finding this impossible, he feels for his glasses, on the counter among the papers, then in the pockets of his Norfolk jacket. Turning over the papers he again comes face to face with me, and seems to undergo some internal explosion, and gives another violent concerto on the bell. There being a slight movement above, as if someone has thrown down a sledgehammer, he is visibly encouraged, stalks to a door behind and tugs it open. This lets loose a host of smaller sounds, a rasping, sawing, tapping medley. "May" he shouts. "May! May!! May!!!" A patter of feet on a higher flight of stairs and a chubby little woman with a fuzzy mop of hair trots in. I am duly supplied with my modest needs. |
Reproduced from a drawing by Ernest Forbes who had a studio in Barwick from 1896 - 1914
| Fine day, arrived, had tea, got fixed up at hotel in Aberdeen Walk. Back to supper to find Edmund Bogg was staying there. Had interesting talk with him. |
Edmund Bogg died in 1931 at the age of 81.
Described as being of humble birth, from East Riding stock, Edmund Bcgg in 1891 founded the Savage Club, in Leeds, and as a lifelong member was Known as "T'wd Chief". Here, and at the picture framing shop which he had established, he met many of the artists of the day, to whom he gave encouragement by using their talents to illustrate his books. A keen walker and photographer, his great love was tramping the dales, where he gathered material for his many works on local history.
| B R Hammond |
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