Subject

From Statues Hither and Thither: " (ca. 1868 - Brockworth 1930 [car accident]), chief artist of Messrs. R. L. Boulton & Sons." Information about the Boulton firm at btsarnia.

Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched this man. Ambrose Holder Neale was born on 22 March 1868 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the last of the six children of Henry Neale (1816-1898) and Harriet Neale née Battin (1829-1868). His mother died in childbirth. He was baptised on 2 April 1868 in Cheltenham where the baptismal register shows the family residing at Montpelier Circus, Cheltenham and that his father was a china merchant.

The 1871 census shows him and his eldest sister, Kate Evelyne Neale (1853-1951), visiting the home of his maternal aunt, Selina Holder née Battin (1825-1919) and her husband, Samuel Holder, at New Street, Painswick, Gloucestershire.

In the 1881 census he is shown as a scholar living at 2 Buckingham Villas, Cheltenham, with his father, who was described as a china merchant employing two men & one boy, and his five siblings: Kate Evelyne Neale, Margaret Augusta Neale (1854-1925), Montague Henry Neale (1856-1934), Francis Hubert Neale (1858-1912), Annie Harriette Neale (1863-1942), together with a female general servant.

On 28 October 1889 he married Ann Mary Curtis (1869-1902) at All Saints' Church, Cheltenham. The marriage register shows him as a sculptor and gave both their addresses to be 17 Gloucester Place, Cheltenham. Their daughter, Constance Ethel Neale (1890-1973) was born on 11 September 1890.

The 1901 census describes him as a modeller, living at 1 Ashley Villas, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, with his wife, their daughter, his brother Montague Henry Neale and a female boarder. On 27 October 1902 their son, Ernest Henry Gilbert Neale (1902-2000) was born. His wife subsequently died and was buried by coroner's order on 22 November 1902 at Charlton Kings parish church.

In April 1904 he married Rosina Rebecca Clarke (1878-1969) at St Mary Bredin Church, 59 Nunnery Fields, Canterbury, Kent. They had twins, James Neale (1909-1909) and Harry Neale (1909-1989). They were born on 12 September 1909 and both were baptised on 16 September 1909 at St Luke's Church, Cheltenham, where the baptismal register shows the family living at 'Minatou', Naunton Road, Cheltenham. James Neale died aged 11 weeks and was buried on 6 December 1909 in Section T, Grave 975 in Cheltenham Burial Ground.

In the 1911 census he describes himself as a sculptor living at 'San Remo', 14 Jersey Place, Cheltenham, with his wife, his sons Ernest Henry Gilbert Neale and Harry Neale together with a female general domestic servant.

Electoral registers and local directories from 1920 to 1927 show him listed at 'Hillside', Pilford Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham and we know from Minutes of the Borough of Cheltenham Municipal Offices on page 199 that the "Fire Brigade Captain reported that on 2 May 1930 that the Brigade was called to an outbreak of fire at 'Hillside', Pilford Road, occupied by H. S. Neale—Cause not apparent. Damage £70—£100. Brigade expenses £4-4s-0d".

Probate records confirm his address as 'Hillside' Pilford Road, Leckhampton and that that he died, aged 62 years, on 23 August 1930 near Brockworth, Gloucestershire. He was buried on 28 August 1930 at Charlton Kings parish church. Probate was granted to his widow on 18 September 1930 and his effects totalled £51-10s-0d.