Ernest Hasseldine 1875 - 1944

An appreciation by Pat Wilson and an obituary from a newspaper

Ernest Hesseldine

The Society holds two sources of information about Ernest Hasseldine, artist.  An article in the Society’s Newsletter No. 21 p7 by Patrick (Pat) Wilson and a newspaper cutting of an obituary. 

Pat Wilson’s article

Ernest Hasseldine was a professional artist.  He is better known in Harpenden for his watercolours of local scenes, some of them done for his own pleasure but many commissioned by local residents.  He always painted or sketched on holiday, especially the mountains and lakes of Cumberland and, over the years with particular enjoyment, the scenery of Norway, Switzerland and Italy.

Although watercolour was Mr.Hasseldine’s favourite medium, to his regret he was not widely enough known to earn a living in it and his bread and butter was earned by pen and ink drawings. For many years he illustrated various educational publications of the Harmsworth Press such as the Childrens’ Encyclopaedia (later My Magazine), of which Arthur Mee, the Editor, was a close friend. He also worked at composing and illustrating publicity material for various religious and charitable bodies. Among these were the Church Army, the Salvation Army and, later the South London Mission in Bermondsey. This work was always close to his heart and he spent time in the slums, seeing for himself and talking to the people on whose behalf he was appealing.

At home, he was a member of the committee which raised funds for Harpenden’s Nursing Centre and, later, the Red House Hospital. He had a lively appreciation for the local scene and was always concerned to safeguard Harpenden’s amenities.  He was a member of the Harpenden Preservation Society from its inception in 1930. In the twenties, he designed the War Memorial on Church Green and visited Cornwall with Eustace Salisbury, the Architect, to choose the granite for it. In spite of having to work at his talent for a livelihood, now and then producing an obvious pot boiler, Ernest Hasseldine had a real gift, as well as an enviable technical skill, and with these his love of landscape stayed alive and inspired a number of genuinely moving pictures during his lifetime.

Pat Wilson acknowledged the help of Howard Hasseldine (Ernest’s son) for the facts in this appreciation.

The Obituary

The following is a transcription of an obituary in a newspaper – presumably local – with a hand written date of 2-11-1944

ERNEST HASSELDINE – DIES IN HARPENDEN

Harpenden has lost a public-spirited resident by the death of Mr. Ernest Hasseldine, the well-known artist, of 4, Overstone Road,who passed away in Harpenden Auxiliary Hospital on Friday, after six weeks’ illness.

Aged 69, Mr. Hasseldine was a native of King’s Lynn Norfolk.  He was educated in London and trained there for his profession as a black and white artist.

Making his home at Harpenden forty years ago, for health reasons and because the charm of the place attracted him, he soon began to take an interest in local affairs.

He declined nomination for the Urban District Council because he was not robust physically, but played a useful part in the life of the community in other ways.

LOVER OF BEAUTIFUL

While Harpenden was growing rapidly he was eager for the retention of the district’s natural amenities wherever possible.  An outspoken critic of anything which appeared likely to offend the eye, he attacked by cartoon and otherwise the new Public Hall, which was out of harmony with the adjacent property in design and, until it toned down, in colour also.  Previously he had been much concerned over an apparent threat to the existence of Bowers House, the fine old building in High-street now hidden by a row of shops and offices.

HELPED DESIGN MEMORIAL.

Dedication of the War Memorial, October 1920

Mr Hasseldine placed his artistic talents at the disposal of Harpenden in a practical way,his chief contribution being in connection with the memorial which was erected after the last war.  With Mr Stanley Salisbury he designed the Celtic Cross of Cornish granite which stands on Church Green.

In more recent years he designed the Village Sign which Harpenden Preservation Society, of which he was a member, placed on the Common.  These designs, together with others in connection with local nursing and hospital services, were executed by him entirely free of cost.

WORKER FOR METHODISM

From the time of his arrival in Harpenden, Mr Hasseldine was associated with the Methodist cause, working first at the old church in Leyton-road and subsequently at High-street.  At the old church he became associated with Mr Frank O Salisbury, and at one time was co-superintendent of the Sunday School with him.

In the course of time, he held many other offices in the church.  He was also a member of the old Harpenden Nursing Centre Committee.

As a black-and-white artist, Mr Hasseldine’s work was mostly of a religious character and connected with advertising.  His hobby was the depiction of local and foreign scenes in watercolours.  He had a vivid colour sense and produced many beautiful and arresting pictures.

Mr Hasseldine married Miss Edith Mary Barrett of Hampstead, who survives him, together with one son, Mr Howard Ernest Hasseldine who is serving in the R.E.M.E., and one daughter, Mrs. Jackson Summerson of Luton.

“LIFE WELL SPENT”

The funeral service in Harpenden Methodist Church on Tuesday was conducted by the Rev. C. C. Mayes assisted by the Rev. Walter Spencer, a former minister of South London Mission, where Mr Hasseldine was a helper for many years.

The hymn “The King of Love,” was sung, and Mr. Mayes in a short address paid tribute to Mr Hasseldine , whose life, he said, was well filled and well spent.

Mourners were Mrs Hasseldine, widow, Crfm. and Mrs. Howard Hasseldine, son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs J. Summerson, son-in-law and daughter; Mrs. Clymo, sister; Mr. John Barrett. Mr. and Mrs. Nodes Lello and Mrs Frank Hasseldine, brothers-in-law and sisters-in –law; and Miss Norton, representing Miss Barrett, sister-in-law.

Methodist Church Trustees attending were Messrs. W E. Bentley, B. H. Brigham, J. Fouldes, J M. Goodrich, W. C. Moore, Edwin Nott, G. Phillips, H. E. Salisbury, W. E. Sanders and Owen Green, the last named als(o) representing Harpenden Auxiliary Hospital.

Others present included Mrs. Walter Spencer, Rev. C. J. Tribe (South London Mission), Miss Arrowsmith (representing N.C.H. Sanatorium), Mr. E. Shutt (N.C.H. Branch), Mr. and Mrs. R. Summerson, Mrs. Norman Lello Mrs B. E. Barrett, Mrs A. Hall, Mrs. G. M. Saul-Brown, Mrs. A. E. Bird, Mrs Fudge, Mrs B. Wren, Mrs. C. M. Hill, Mrs Edwin Nott, Mrs. Lionel Davies, Mrs. H. E. Salisbury, Mrs .Harold Raban, Mrs Brigham, Mrs. J. F. Wibberley, Mrs. Norman Farmer, Mrs. Mayes, Mrs. Myrtle,  Mrs. Owen Green, Mrs. A. D. Bottoms, Mrs Angood, Mrs. Thackray, Mrs. Austen, Mrs. A. L. Downey, Mrs. G. Facer, Mrs. G. H. Ordish, Mrs. J. Fleet, Mrs. W. C. Game, Miss Line, Miss G. Williams, Miss Jackson, Miss M. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. C.  S. Howe, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Tomlinson, Mr. and Mrs. M. Lockhart, Mr. and Mrs. A. Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. R. Oxley, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Rumbles, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Burchmore, Rev. D. Matthews, Messrs. J. F. Yeoman, P. J. Tigg, A. Puddephatt, H. Sanders, F. Benbow, O. G. Harvery, E. Mettam, C. J. Squires, Paine, H. W. Howe and R. Gillham.

Mr E. H. Jones at the organ, played “O rest in the Lord” at the close of the service and the internment was in Westfield Cemetery.

Further information on Ernest Hesseltine can be found on the page by his grandson, Des Summerson and some of his sketches, paintings, family photographs and other items at  a selection of sketches and paintings by Ernest

Comments about this page

  • A recent search of Kelly’s Directories shows that Ernest Hasseldine first lived at Melrose Cottage, Tennyson Road (1906), then from 1907 for about ten years at Melrose, St James Road. By 1929 he moved into 12 Elliswick Road for about five years, before moving to 33 Fairmead Avenue in 1935/6. The 1941-2 Directory finds him at 4 Overstone Road, where his widow was still living in 1946.

    By Rosemary Ross (23/01/2014)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.