Joseph Southall - Collection of Letters

JOSEPH SOUTHALL, RWS, NEAC, RBSA

(1861-1944)

A large and important collection of letters from Joseph Southall (and a few from his wife Elizabeth) to Southall’s cousin Isabel Harlock

Dating from 1890s through to the later 1930s, written from the artist’s home in Birmingham as well as from holidays in Southwold, Cromer and elsewhere.  The majority illustrated with humorous drawings and sketches by Joseph Southall

Joseph Southall married his first cousin Anna Elizabeth “Bessie” Baker. Because of their close relationship they decided not to marry until later in life and not to have children. They therefore were drawn to the children of their near relations, being particularly close to the Harlock children of Banbury. John Harlock, a Quaker, had established a successful drapery business in Banbury’s Market Place in the late 1840s. In 1851 he married Anne Baker, sister to Eliza Maria, Joseph’s mother and therefore also sister to John Edward Baker, Bessie’s father. The Harlocks had six children, the youngest being Ellen Isabel, born in 1876. Her mother sadly died the year after her birth and it was natural that Joseph and Bessie would be particularly sympathetic to the situation of their young motherless cousin. The Birmingham and Banbury branches of the family would often holiday together, Southwold being a particularly favoured destination. Their closeness to the young Ellen Isabel is illustrated in their charming and amusing exchange of letters, several of which are included in this catalogue (cat.no.xx). 

Banbury was in easy reach of Birmingham by train and Joseph made many visits to his Oxfordshire cousins. During these visits he made a number of watercolours and studies of his family and the busy market town that was their home. Two of the most notable watercolours of Banbury are: Harlock’s Drapery Shop, Market Place, Banbury, 1905-6, present location unknown, The Green, Banbury, 1920, private collection (see cat.xx for a study for this work) and Autumn in Banbury, 1935, private collection (cat.no.xx) He also made a number of drawings and sketches of the town and portraits of his Harlock relations and their friends. 

22 July 1898

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

My dear Bel

   I don’t know whether in you voyage up the Rhine you may have met with any of the animals illustrated in the book which I send herewith as a token of my many-happy-returns-of-the-day good wishes to you, but if you did or even if not perhaps the said animals may interest you not only on their own merits but also on account of their being the originals from which came to idea of the wonderful animals that have recently appeared in Punch.

   I trust you are still enjoying that perfect salubriosity which nothing can better impart than a continental trip – provided always that one is reasonable and does not attempt too much.  I expect you got some good ideas from the Kindergartens of the Father-land – shall I say the thank-thee-father-land – where those kinder gardens were originated if report be true.  By the way “who was Isobel?”  I seem to have heard the name somewhere.  I fear we shall not have the pleasure of your company at Whitby this year.  Fact much to be regretted especially as we hope to have a sandy corner for bathing somewhere along the coast, dressing under shawls, poles, curtain loops and so forth.  Don’t you think you could trip across before breakfasts?  Glad to see you at our Kennels.  

   Accept the love and best wishes of your affectionately

(Drawing of JES as a dog)

The Jes

(JES – a Kind of dog)

22 July 1900

c/o Mrs Roberts

Overstrand

Near Cromer

My dear Bel

   I hope you will receive tomorrow the small chain of massive gold which “… Aunt and Bessie and I are sending you as a small birthday gift, which we hope may be a useful article more particularly with reference to the small pendant with portrait of Mea which you were recently kind enough to commission from your humble and obedient servant – me.  The chain is not made by Mr Gaskin though he obtained it for me and made the little catch which is his own invention.  I hope it may prove successful and that it will not entangle the hair of your head or neck.   My belief is that when worn it will lie down flat against you and be all right – but any complaints must be addressed to one of us, they will be attended to promptly.

   However this may be I trust that tomorrow you may have a happy and merry birthday with many a dozen more to follow.  I am much afraid that this letter will not reach you till Tuesday owing to the somnolence of the postal department here which does not condescend to do anything on Sundays but I hope that you will kindly excuse delay – the fact is when you are out for a holiday you always are so confoundedly busy, especially when you have to sketch all the pretty bits.

   I am sure you would enjoy the bathing which is most admirable both here and at Cromer.  Here we bathe from tents, there they have machines.  Thousands bathe at Cromer and a good many here – Some are graceful some are plump some are sloppy.  Of the plump order is the Germanic lady whom I have depicted above for your instruction and more so as I know you are fond of the parents of young children.

   I want to get some snapshots of various things and people – but it is difficult.  

   Please give my love to your pa and sisters and accept much from

Yours affectionatly

JOE

My mother is much obliged for Mea’s letter received this (Monday) morning.

11 June 1906

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

My dear Belle

   I am glad you like the block and the design – I thought the reproduction was very well done.  The block cost 4/6 (I believe) and postage will be about 6d. which with a guinea for the design makes 26/- altogether.  I think any respectable printer would do the printing all right, and it can be done on better paper, rougher surface – almost any paper.  I am not sure whether it would be best to print them on gummer paper or not – but I should also think it would be better for Wal to have a little gum pot to stick them in as wanted that way – they would be rather large to lick!!!   (Drawing of Wal licking paper)  Even for one who had the gift of tongues – it would be a severe strain to put in a dozen or so.  If you have any difficulty about the printing – I could get it done here I think.  Only we are going to Southwold tomorrow - and I expect for 3 weeks.  I hope the place won’t be spoilt yet with the new harbour but I fear it will be soon.  We have been to tea with … ??? aunt to celebrate her birthday today.  She ………?? - as does …??? uncle also.  Love from Bessie

Yours ever

Joe

2 July 1906

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

Mr very dear Belle

   This is to wish you very many happy returns of the day – your birthday tomorrow and a happy return to the delightful old town of Banbury a few days later.  I dare say that by this time you feel willing to leave the busy port of Liverpool and stepping gaily on board of one of the many packets which I understand abound there take ship for the Cherwell and so home.  You see I’m a bit well up on these nautical affairs being just back from Southwold.

Where are you off to for your holidays – wish I could come and join your bathing parties.  I am sending a little token of love tomorrow it won’t go in the pillar post so can’t send it tonight.  You shouldn’t have birthdays on Mondays.

Much love from

Yours affectionately

Joe

(1909 – May – JES & wife in Paris & Rouen, Sept – Oct – JES with wife and sister visit Orta, Padua (with the Geres), Venice and home via Lucerne.)

21 November 1909

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

My dear Bel

I have for the last 3 or 4 days been completely absorbed by hanging an exhibition of Arts & Crafts in New Street at the Society of Artists and must apologies for delay in answering your very kind letter.  The photographs you send are very successful indeed and there are many of them that I should value very much.  I hope I am not trespassing on your kindness in accepting so many as 7 of them.  The one in which 3 of us are marching along the …….. is very fine though a little dark as to the faces.  I am reminded of one of W Morris’s tales in which the hero sees a vison of three figures on a quay going into a dip.  They are the Maid Mistress and the Yellow dwarf!

   Then the Ducal Palace & the one of the Devil’s bridge at Torcello (the Devil being a mosquito no doubt) are very effective ones.  My own films are being developed & printed – I hope they will be back soon.

   The two pictures which had not arrived in Paris from Dresden have now turned up safely to our considerable relief.

   I am getting to feel nearly right again and am most thankful that so far my digestion fully retains the benefit gained in Italy.  Indeed my gormandizing faculties are quite abnormal and I simply feed and feed and feed with carnivorous greed.  But I have given up the grog.  However, gluttony seems to suit me – for a time.  We are much interested to hear about your new venture and the place and people there and hope it will be altogether a success.  I don’t hear much about the Tempera Exhibition but there was fairly good notice in the Pall Mall Gazette the other day.  I’m afraid the gallery is not very good.  I am slowly finishing up the Italian pictures just bought back.  We shall hope to see you in Birmingham just after Xmas if not before then.

With love from us both

Yours aff.ly

Joe

8 May 1910

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston 

Birmingham

Mr dearest Bel

   We hear with so much sorrow that you are ill with a bad throat.  It brings to our remembrance, with so much gratitude all your kindness and help when Joe was likewise afflicted at Lucerne, and I very much wish you were nearer to us so that we might do something for you.  I know you will think of Joe when you are painfully trying to take your nourishment.  We send you our loving sympathy and very much hope you will be better soon.  I expect you have caught cold in some of this terrible cold and uncertain weather, it really has been most trying.  Joe sends his dear love and is much obliged for your note with enclosed cutting which he received a few days ago, and with my dear love and very much hoping you may be rather better by now.  I remain

Your loving cousin

Bessie

My dear Bel

   We are grieved indeed, and all the more so at being unable to repay the kind attentions and labours of love rendered to us in our last time of chokiness.  I do hope you may soon be better so that you may have as prettily mannered a doctor as we had in Lucerne if it comes to a doctor.  But I hope it may not get as far as that (I hear it has).  Did you get a chill in going over the pass at Filey brig ….., or through the snowy heights of Banbury?  Well, we can only send our most sincere sympathy and earnest wishes for your recovery.  Bessie is again busy with invalid relations – this time the Brady’s.  Miss B has been to a nursing home at Mosely and has to be visited there will LBB sits at some and mourns her absence so he too has to be visited daily.  Beside all this we have the Spring Cleaning, the Spring Painting, the Spring Whitewashing, the Spring Papering, and this week the deal little painters are to be all over the house and the next, outside, …. their paint all over everything and everybody – bless their deal little hearts!

   So even we have our trouble, but not like yours – at least not just at present, though we know what it is, and can truly be deeply sympathetic.  With love

Yours affectionately

Joe

2 September 1913

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birm.m.

My dear Bel

   Many thanks for your card and your letter.  It is very kind to let me know about the arrangements of Miss Wood as to visits.  As she is coming to Birmingham it would be a great advantage if she could manage to come and see us – though of course the difficulty of not letting on to her parents must be considered.  Still she could make an excuse for slipping off from a while I should think.

   I wonder whether Sunday afternoon at 3.30 or perhaps a bit of time early on Saturday morning – say between 9.30 & 11 am could be contrived.  We are only about 10 mins walk from Arthur Road.  Would it be giving you too much trouble to drop her a short line to this effect?   A note from you could arouse no curiosity – one from Bessie might do so.

   With regard to London & a sitting, I would write you again.  Sorry you had such a bad day yesterday – same here, and pretty dull and cold today.  With keeping indoors I expect “Johnnie” and “Little Wallie” would get quite fretty.  Have they got their bricks to play with, or puzzles?  Fortunate that little Frankie had to go to school that day.

(drawing of playing with bricks)

Much love to you all

Yours affectionaly

JOE

24 August 1915

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

My dear Bel

   Very many thanks for your kind letter and good wishes from Frank and yourself.  Wal left here the admirable carafe which was duly presented to me yesterday morning and which give me great pleasure.  I think it has fine qualities and rather grows upon one too;  also I like its weight which seems goodly and speaks of a certain generosity of disposition not skimping material but giving good measure.  We have not at the moment any liquid worthy to find a place in it (my best port being unfortunately mixed with tannin) but we have placed it in the centre of our bedroom chimney piece where it sparkles in a crystalline manner in front of Bacchus and Ariadne and seems to be quite in harmony with the dirty aforesaid.

   We had lovely weather yesterday and a nice little family party with bowls in the garden followed by Schimmell indoors the white horse winning in great style.  No dark horse was in the running.

   We greatly enjoyed the visit of Cubbies & Wal last week.  We hope the latter will derive health from his holiday in England.  It is very nice to have him here again.  

   A man at the bank here tells me he was at Lowestoft last week and found dreadful havoc from Zeppelins just lately – an avenue cut through the town and vessels sunk in the harbour.  Not safe for visitors, and residents are leaving.  Also much damage at Woodbridge, between Ipswich and Southwold.  What a murderous world we live in.  

   I am afraid I have never acknowledged a letter Frank wrote me some time ago.  Please thank him for it and give my apologies.

   I am glad to see there is a strong party in Germany against annexation.  May they grow and flourish.  I don’t yet know whether “The Ghosts of the Slain” was seized in the raid or not.

With our dear love to you both

Yours affectionately

Joe

(Drawing of a rabbit)

Love from all cats, rabbits, parrots.

1 February 1917

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

Mr dear Bel

   I found a growler at Euston & went to Bourlet and fetched 5 pictures from thence & carted them home.  The train was slow but not crowded and I got here about 9.50 pm.  I very much enjoyed my visit to your house and the pleasure of your company both there and at the Congress.  I think I hardly ought to have troubled you at a time of such sore pumping and melting but I am deeply grateful for all our kindness.  Another time when things are awkward you must be firm with me and say NO.

   Today at lunch time we had a surprise call from Miles Malleson and his wife Lady Constance – a very attractive young person in fashionable attire.  I showed her my sketches from Essex Hall and she recognised several, among others her sister Lady Clare Annesley who was it appears the lady in the hat like this (drawing) & … cat fur.  Wasn’t that amusing.  The Mallesons are going back to London on Saturday as the Puss in Boots pantomime closes sooner than was expected.  So they are coming to me at tea here tomorrow.

   My drawing from March has never come which is awkward, but the post office does as it likes in a war for liberty.  Perhaps it will turn up some time.

   I hope you were not the worse for draughts at the Congress.

My love to you & Frank and renewed thanks.

Yours affectionately

Joe 

Letter from Bessie enclosed.

2 March 1920

13 Charlotte Rd

Edgebaston

Birmingham

Mr dear Bel

   Many thanks for your kind sympathy.  I have had a small quinsy …..… I healed it on starvation principles & got off lightly as such things go though the left tonail (sic) was sore for 3 days.

   However, on Sunday night at supper punctually to its 3 day cause, the quinsey broke and I was able at once to swallow without pain, and it goes on well only I am not allowed out yet.

   I enclose a card for my one man show.  I am run rather short so will ask you to forgive the name & address written by mistake by EMS (unless she was playing me a game – one never knows).  It is a very small gallery but a select and new one so when the proprietor asked me I thought I would accept.  But even small works when 50 in number take a bit of preparing and packing. We are just sending 21 off by rail and hope to take the rest with us on Monday morning.  Bessie & I expect to be in London Mon & Tues but there is no private view to B at least will return on Tuesday I think.  

   B. She is well I am glad to say but works too hard.  I have only been a breakfast-in-bed patient but for several days have been even more useless than usual, so it is hard on her.  However, I write letters and labels and stroke the rabbit and sit like the Turk who hated every kind of work with my desk in front of me.  

   We will be staying at 76 Guildford St., WC off Russell Sq – but I am afraid to ask you to have tea with us because we may be so very busy and unable to leave and we could not go to Golder’s Gn.  But if you were near St George’s House, St Martin’s Lane after 5 Mon Monday one of us would try to be there.

Much love to you both

Yours affect.ly

Joe

10 September 1934

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham 15

My dear Bel

   Please excuse my delay in answering your very kind letter received on my birthday.  I am much obliged for it and for your share in the noble and useful jug which with its lid is very successful in keeping warm water warm until such time as one may be ready to use it.

   We had a pleasant call last week from Alen, Fan and Emily and they also went to Mosely to see poor Sophie, who is very cheerful but not doing any too well.  A second operation has been performed, and one cannot but feel anxious as to her condition and prospects.

   M & F are coming to Fowey while we are there – it will be rather like old times, only I fear M will find the steep paths rather unsuitable to her present powers of walking, and there is little or no level ground in that part.

   I sold both the little pictures I painted there two years ago, so that I feel there is still some hope.  They were reproduced in colour a year ago in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News though I cannot claim to be much of a Sportsman at present still less of a Dramatist.

   I wonder whether Olaf is with you now and what he is doing.  I believe he goes to Cornwall sometime this month – perhaps he will call at Fowey on his return.  We are rather glad not to be pulling up in a caravan ourselves

(drawing of a caravan)

With our love to you both

Yours affectionately

Joe

28 August 1936

13 Charlotte Road

Edgaston

Birmingham   15

My dear Bel

   Very many thanks for your kind letter and gift (cheque also from WEH) which I preserved till the 23rd inst.  The socks will be most useful and they fit me well.  Henceforward I must “pull up my socks”.   There are, I believe, two kinds of socks, those for the feet and those for the jaw, but as I do very little pugilistic sport in these days I am able to dispense with the jaw variety.

   As regards books, I am ever nosing round the booksellers shops and these times are very favourable when fine illustrated books are sold at enormous reductions, so that 1/6 will easily buy a 2 guinea or perhaps a 5 guinea book published 4 or 5 years ago.  Therefore I shall prowl and prowl around like “one of old”.  Bessie has a theory that you should not buy book but read those you already have, so that any purchases have been brought home by stealth.  This cheque will probably provide the necessary excuse for the next time I am caught!

   The Chubbies sent me a splendid hand-woven rug made by Janie Robb.  She little thought what they would do with it, and I don’t suppose any has yet dared to tell her.

   I had a letter from Wal – he seems to find Stockholm beset with trippers.  Probably those who would have gone to Spain or Italy if they could.

With our love to you both and many thanks

Yours affectionally

Joe

25 August 1938

13 Charlotte Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham   15

Mr dear Bel

   Very many thanks for your kind letter and good wishes, and for the noble sponge which is a most welcome and useful gift.  It so happened that shortly before I was struck down last August I had bought a fine large sponge which followed me faithfully in my afflictions and has been a real comfort to me through all these 12 months.  But as it now shows signs of wear (like its owner) and even some threatening of disintegration, your gift arrives at the opportune moment and enables me to look forward to many days of further cleanliness with a minimum of effort on my part.  In the nursing homes I was washed piece-meal by the nurse – an arm here and a leg there, and I completely lost all sense of decency and looked upon myself as a mere piece of furniture which must be rubbed up by a woman periodically.  Now I have recovered some faculty for washing myself, though I shall accept with gratitude Bessie’s assistance – particularly with the towel.  I look forward to many a good scrub with this splendid sponge. It will no doubt enable me to remove many of the dark stains that accumulate on the backs of those who long longer swim.  We were so glad to have a visit from Wal.  He must have been an immense comfort to you all and particularly to the two sisters at the Lawn – at this time of anxiety.  I expect you have head that Alfred has had to go to a nursing home for treatment for trouble with his bladder.  Very trying for Minnie as he is a long way off in London.  It seems a pity that we must needs grow old.  

   With much love to you both from Bessie and me, and again many thanks for a most welcome present.

Yours affectionately

Joe