BALE, John Edward

1834 - 1913

John Edward Bale was born at Low Farm House, Pattesley-cum-Oxwick, South Creake, Norfolk on 27 July 1834 and baptised at South Creake on 1 August 1834, eldest child of John Edward Bale (1803-27 April 1862), a farmer of 620 acres, and his wife Mary née Branford (c1813-1899), who married at Horningtoft, Norfolk on 27 November 1833. In 1841, John was a 6-year-old, living at Low Farm House with his parents, 35-year-old John and 28-year-old Mary, and his two sisters, Mary 3 and Esther 1. In 1861, a 26-year-old 'artist architecture' boarding at 11 Bulstrode Street, Marylebone, London but in October 1863, he was an Ensign by purchase in the 1st West Indian Regiment. As a lieutenant, whilst on a tour of duty in West Africa, Surgeon Major Augustus Frederick Elliott (born 1834), kept a diary (now at Duke University Library) which is embellished with calligraphy and watercolour titles by Bale. During this tour, Bale was promoted to Captain and retired from the army in 1881 with the rank of major. Bale married at Christ Church, Ealing on 10 November 1868, Charlotte Gordon Lee née Johnson (c1847-1910). A painter in oil and watercolour and exhibited at the Royal Academy and as Major Bale a member at the Ipswich Fine Art Club 1886-1890 exhibiting from 9 Creffield Terrace, Colchester, Essex in 1888, 'View from Museum Street, Colchester' and 'In St John's Street, Colchester' and was not only a prolific artist but was also an architect and provided illustrations for the 'Illustrated London News' when on his military tours of duty abroad. In 1891, a 54-year-old 'retired major in West India Regiment', living at 11 Gray Road, Colchester with his 38-year-old wife Charlotte, born Bahamas, BWI, and their four children, Charlotte Gordon Lee 15, born in Lowestoft, Constantia Grace Gordon 11, born in Barbados, West Indies, with Margaret 10 and Veronica Mary Lee 8, both born at Colchester. John Edward Bale died at 11 Gray Road, Colchester on 12 March 1913.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells
1856 1105 Interior of South Creake Church, Norfolk - drawing
from 15 Frederick Street, Caledonian Road, London
1858 1075 Interior of North Creake Church, Norfolk - drawing
from 11 Bulstrode Street, Cavendish Square, London
1859 1075 Interior of West Tofts Church - drawing

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Works by This Artist