Newbury Abbot Trent

Newbury Abbot Trent (14 October 1885 – 2 August 1953) was an English sculptor and medallist. Trent studied at the Royal College of Art and Royal Academy Schools, where he became an associate. His works include reliefs, statues and other forms of sculpture. Many of his most notable works are war memorials in England, Scotland and Wales.

Newbury Abbot Trent
Newbury Abbot Trent, photographed in 1921.
Born	(1885-10-14)14 October 1885 Forest Gate, Essex
Died	2 August 1953(1953-08-02) (aged 67) London, England
Nationality	English
Education	Royal College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools
Known for	Sculpture

Background

Newbury Abbot Trent was born in Forest Gate in Essex on 14 October 1885. He was one of eleven children of Walter F. Trent who was a builder and ship fitter by trade.^[1][2] His cousin was the cinema architect William Edward Trent.^[3]

When Newbury was about eleven years-old, the painter and arts administrator Thomas Armstrong recognised his artistic talent when he discovered the boy drawing at the South Kensington Museum. Armstrong, whose own son had died at about the same age, persuaded Newbury's parents to allow him to adopt the boy and bring him up as an artist.^[1][2] Trent received early tuition at an art school at West Ham. In 1894 he gained an art scholarship to the Royal College of Art, where he studied for five years. In 1900 Trent entered the Royal Academy Schools.^[4]

In 1902 Trent was awarded a commission in open competition for a memorial to King Edward VII at Brighton and Hove.^[4] Other major commissions during his career included the recumbent effigy of Dean Pigou in Bristol Cathedral and war memorials at New Barnet, Beckenham, Wanstead, Ilford, Tredegar and Wallsend.^[1]

Trent married (Phyllis) Hilda Ledward who was the daughter of the sculptor Richard Arthur Ledward (1857–90) and sister to Gilbert Ledward (1888–1960). They had two daughters: Margaret (Peggy) and Jennifer 1917–2002, who both trained as architects.^[1]

Trent became an Associate of the Royal Academy and worked throughout his life from a studio on Beaufort Street, Chelsea, London.^[4]

Newbury Abbot Trent died on 2 August 1953. His cremation took place at Putney Vale Crematorium.^[1][5]

Works

List of works

The following is a partial list of Trent's work, other than war memorials.

Work	Location	Type	Notes and References
3 St James' Square Reliefs	Westminster London	Relief	Trent created several stone relief panels depicting London street scenes- A knife grinder, a woman selling lavender, some people buying fruit from a street vendor and a town crier.[6] See photographs in gallery below.
A Sower	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1918 Seventy third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[7]
Adelphi Building	The Strand London	Sculpture	This building in John Adam Street just of The Strand has external sculpture by Bainbridge Copnall, Arthur J Ayres, Gilbert Ledward and Donald Gilbert. The building also has carved relief panels to the entrance doors by Newbury Abbot Trent depicting industrial scenes.[8]
Boy with fruit	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1920 Seventy Fifth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[9]
Bristol Cathedral	Bristol	Sculpture	Trent executed an effigy to Dean Francis Pigou which is located in the nave of Bristol Cathedral.[10]
Bronze paper weight	Unknown	Sculpture	This paper weight was exhibited at the 11th Arts & Crafts Society Exhibition in 1916.[11]
Colt	Unknown	Wood carving	Wood Carving exhibited in 1943 in The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art. Second Annual Exhibition.[12]
Dans le Rêve	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1924 Seventy Ninth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[13]
David, Son of Michael Waterhouse, Esq.	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1929 Eighty-Fourth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[14]
Eve	Unknown	Sculpture	The statuette was exhibited in 1943 in The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art. Second Annual Exhibition.[15]
Eros	Unknown	Sculpture	Bronze sculpture was exhibited in 1943 in The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art. Second Annual Exhibition.[16]
Flight Sub-Lieut Leslie E. Adlam, RN	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1918 Seventy third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[17]
Gaumont Cinema	North Finchley	Sculpture	Trent created figures for the cinema, which was demolished several years ago and it is not known whether his was saved.[18] He also created 15 Figures for the exterior the old Odeon Cinema in Cheltenham.[19] See image below.
Gaumont Cinema	King's Road Chelsea London	Panels	For the Gaumont Cinema on the King's Road in Chelsea Trent produced two Art Deco style panels which depict "The Awakening of Science to the Force of the Elements" and "The Harvesting of the Elements in the Film". Also on the facade of the building there is a bas-relief head of William Friese-Greene with masks of comedy and tragedy on either side.[20] See Images in gallery below.
Gaumont Palace cinema, now the Hammersmith Apollo	Hammersmith London	Murals	Trent carried out some murals for this cinema/theatre.[21]
Gaumont Palace Theatre (now Mecca Bingo)	Corporation Street Taunton	Relief	This work, depicting a mermaid and accompanying child, sits above the entrance to the (now) bingo hall. Originally opened as the Gaumont Palace Theatre on 11 July 1932, it become the Gaumont Cinema, then an Odeon, then a Top Rank Bingo Club and is now a Mecca Bingo Hall. [22]
Gerald du Maurier Esq	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1917 Seventy Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[23]
Hugh Craig	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1918 Seventy third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[24]
Jackie	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1924 Seventy Ninth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[25]
Jennifer	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at The Seventy Seventh and Seventy Eighth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[26]
Joan, daughter of Miss Gladys Cooper (Mrs Buckmaster)	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1918 Seventy third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[27]
Lieut-Col Guy du Maurier, DSO	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1917 Seventy Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[28]
"Margaret"	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1917 Seventy Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[29]
Mdlle Pavlova in the Swan Dance	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1917 Seventy Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[30]
Meditation	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1919 Seventy Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[31]
Mermaid	Unknown	Sculpture	The bronze statuette was exhibited at The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Eighty-Second Annual Exhibition, 1943.[32]
Morning	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1918 Seventy third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[33]
New Victoria Apollo Cinema	Victoria London	Relief panels	Trent executed relief panels for this London cinema.[34] See Images below.
Night	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1920 Seventy Fifth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[35]
One of the Nausicäas Maidens	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1918 Seventy third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[36]
Paper weight	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1917 Seventy Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[37]
"The Peace Statue"	Brighton Sussex	Sculpture	Trent created the bronze angel known as the "Peace Statue" as a monument to Edward VII. This monument, built by William Kirkpatrick Limited and the founders A.B. Burton of Thames Ditton, was unveiled on 12 October 1912 by the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Lieutenant of Sussex. It is located on the boundary between Brighton and Hove in Sussex.[38]
"Peace" Statue	Bath Somerset	Sculpture	The statue is very similar to the work in Brighton.[39]
Peggy	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1917 Seventy Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[40]
Peter Pan	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1923 Seventy Eighth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[41]
Stanley Baldwin, Esq., MP	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at 1929 Eighty-Fourth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[42]
Thalía	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1927 Eighty-Second Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[43]
The Cloud	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1929 Eighty-Fourth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[44]
The Temptation	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1926 Eighty-First Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy. The statue was shown on BBC Antiques Roadshow broadcast on 14 July 2013. Inherited by great niece of sculptor.[45]
The Water Carrier	Unknown	Sculpture	This bronze sculpture was exhibited at the 11th Arts & Crafts Society Exhibition in 1916.[46]
The Young Bather	Unknown	Sculpture	This work was exhibited at the 1923 Seventy Eighth Annual Exhibitions of the Royal West of England Academy.[47]
Thirteen	Unknown	Unknown	This work was exhibited at the 1920 Seventy Fifth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy.[48]

• 
  "Angel of Peace" in Bath. Photograph shown courtesy Jim Ebdon.
• 
  Relief on Cheltenham Cinema. Courtesy Tim Chance.
• 
  Edward VII statue in Hove/Brighton.
• 
  Close-up of one of the relief panels-Apollo Victoria.
• 
  Apollo Victoria relief panel
• 
  Apollo Victoria relief panel
• 
  Friese Greene. Gaumont Cinema. King's Road. Chelsea.
• 
  The mask of Tragedy.Gaumont Cinema. King's Road. Chelsea.
• 
  One of two reliefs on Adelphi entrance by Newbury Abbot Trent. Photograph shown courtesy John Linwood.
• 
  Buchanon House Relief
• 
  Knife grinder at work
• 
  A woman sells lavender accompanied by child.
• 
  People buying fruit from barrow
• 
  Town Crier

War memorials

Work	Location	Notes and References
Beckenham War Memorial	Beckenham Kent	Trent designed the Beckenham War Memorial. The column made of Portland Stones is 7.5 metres high is located in the High Street of Beckenham in Kent and memorializes the 707 men who were killed in the 1914–1918 conflict and the 300 men of Beckenham who died in the 1939–1945 war, as well as 330 civilians who died in the same war. One relief features St George slaying the dragon and the other shows a phoenix rising from the ashes. The memorial was unveiled on 24 July 1921 by Sergeant B. Hanscombe.[49]
Ilford War Memorial	Ilford Essex	For the Ilford War Memorial in Ilford War Memorial Gardens in Essex, Trent sculpted a soldier[50] in full kit and shown presenting arms. A Celtic Cross rises above the soldier. HRH Princess Louise Duchess of Argyll and Lt. General Sir Francis Lloyd unveiled the monument on 11 November 1922.[51]
New Barnet War Memorial	New Barnet London	War memorial on Station Road in New Barnet, London features sculptural work by Trent. The memorial features a 109-foot high bronze figure representing "Victory" and a carving in stone over the western panel shows the victory of the "British Lion" over the "German Eagle". This memorial remembers the 278 men of New Barnet who gave their lives in the Great War. The memorial was unveiled on 20 March 1921 by Viscount Hampden.[52] See photographs in gallery below.
St Baldreds Church	Lothian, Scotland	The War Memorial in St Baldreds Church in North Berwick, Lothian has sculptural work by Trent. It commemorates Aubrey Blackwood Porter, a Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry who was killed in action in France in 1915. The monument includes a metal plaque mounted on marble with a relief portrait at the top and the Highland Light Infantry badge at the bottom.[53]
Tredegar War Memorial	Tredegar	The Tredegar War Memorial in Bedwellty Park, Tredegar, Wales features a soldier holding rifle in "present arms" position. It was unveiled by Lord Tredegar on 14 December 1924. A casket containing a roll of honour of those who died has been placed in Bedwellty House.[54] See images of some of these war memorials below.
Wallsend War Memorial	Wallsend	Memorial stands at Holy Cross overlooking Burn Closes in Wallsend in the Tyne and Wear area. A bronze "Victory" figure is at the top of a tapering obelisk. The memorial was unveiled by a Mr. Summers Hunter on 11 November 1925.[55]
Wanstead War Memorial	Wanstead	The Wanstead War Memorial in Wanstead High Street features a bronze winged "Victory" figure, half draped carrying four palm leaves and wearing a laurel wreath on her head. The memorial remembers the men of Wanstead who fought during the First World War. It was also extended after World War II to commemorate the men and women who lost their lives during the war.[56]

• 
  Beckenham War Memorial
• 
  The soldier on Ilford War Memorial, Photograph shown courtesy Chris Guy.
• 
  Bronze on New Barnet War Memorial
• 
  Carving on New Barnet War Memorial- The British Lion has slain the German Imperial Eagle.
• 
  Wallsend War Memorial
• 
  Tredegar War Memorial

References

1. Newbury Abbot Trent, Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951 website, University of Glasgow; accessed 22 July 2024.
2. Newbury Abbot Trent (1885-1953), The Victoria Web website; accessed 22 July 2024.
3. "Curzon Chelsea Cinema". Cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
4. Notable Londoners, an Illustrated Who's Who of Professional and Business Men (1922), London: London Publishing Agency, page 15; accessed 22 July 2024.
5. Newbury Abbot Trent, National Portrait Gallery website; accessed 22 July 2024.
6. Reliefs British History. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
7. A Sower Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
8. Adelphi Building British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
9. Boy with fruit Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
10. Pigou Effigy Church Monuments Society. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
11. Paper Weight. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
12. Colt Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
13. Dans le Rêve Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
14. David, Son of Michael Waterhouse, Esq. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
15. Eve Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
16. Eros Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
17. Adlam Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
18. "Gaumont Finchley in London, GB". Cinema Treasures. n.d. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
19. Odeon Cheltenham Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 29 August 2012
20. Gaumont Cinema Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
21. Apollo Theatres Trust. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
22. Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
23. Gerald du Maurier Esq Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
24. Hugh Craig Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
25. Jackie Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
26. Jennifer Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
27. Joan, daughter of Miss Gladys Cooper Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
28. Lieut Guy du Maurier Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
29. Margaret Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
30. Mdlle Pavlova Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
31. Meditation Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
32. Mermaid Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
33. Morning Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
34. Apollo History of Building. Retrieved 29 August 2012
35. Night Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
36. One of the Nausicaas Maidens Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
37. Paper Weight Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
38. Brighton Peace Statue Public Sculptures of Sussex. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
39. Bath Sculpture Bath Sculpture. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
40. Peggy Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
41. Peter Pan Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
42. Stanley Baldwin Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
43. Thalia Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
44. The Cloud Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
45. Temptation Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
46. The Water Carrier Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
47. The Young Bather Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
48. Thirteen Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
49. Beckenham UKNIWM Report. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
50. History. Ilford War Memorial Gardens. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
51. Men of Ilford Town UKNIWM Report. Retrieved 28 August 2012
52. New Barnet UKNIWM Report. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
53. "UK National Inventory of War Memorials : Lt A B Porter". Ukniwm.org.uk. n.d. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
54. Tredegar UKNIWM Report. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
55. Wallsend UKNIWM Report. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
56. Wanstead UKNIWM Report. Retrieved 28 August 2012