The North Belfast Heritage Cluster is home to many stunning and unique artistic masterpieces! This quarter, we are highlighting some of our favourites and telling the story behind the men and women who made them! Today, we are focusing on a rather colourful character, whose time in Belfast, though short, left a prominent legacy – Harry Hems.
Hems was born in Islington, North London, on the 12th June 1842. The Hems family were proud and prominent artisans. His grandfather was George Wostenholm, who was a prominent and celebrated cutler, whilst his father Henry was a cutler and ironmonger. The family’s mastery of tools clearly passed to Harry, however, Harry’s primary material was stone, as he soon became a celebrated architectural and church sculptor.
Though born in London, and operating out of a workshop in Exeter, Hems was no stranger to Belfast, having completed his first works in the city in the early 1860’s during a somewhat nomadic apprenticeship phase. During this time he added carvings to the pulpit in St Anne’s Church on Donegal Street. His most notable works in Belfast would be commissioned over 20 years later, when Hems had truly mastered his craft. Many of you who have walked down Donegal Place have walked under the gaze of his work. The busts and faces carved on the side of the Robinson & Cleaver Building are by Hems, and they go largely unnoticed by the commuters passing below.
Hems’ other prominent work has become something of a landmark for commuters travelling along the Westlink. It is the statue of King William that sits atop the Orange Hall on Clifton Street. Cast in bronze, it was unveiled on the 16th November 1889. The archives in the hall contain the original correspondence between Harry Hems, the hall’s Architect, William Batt, and leaders within the hall. Whilst you would expect these letters to be rather matter of fact, primarily negotiating cost, size and materials, they also include a chance find by Hems – a chair that was purportedly used by King William when he first landed in England. Hems animatedly describes his find to the leaders of the hall and is adamant that the chair belongs in Belfast. And so it is, that over 130 years later, the same chair now sits in pride of place within the Belfast Orange Hall archive and library room. Through the work of the project, the correspondence relating to the Statue of Belfast Orange Hall has been catalogued and stored in the hall’s archive.
At the beginning of this article I mentioned that Hems was something of a ‘colourful character’. Whilst his talent was clear, he had occasional brushes with the Tax Collectors. His workshop was actually raided as he was working on the statue for the Orange Hall, with the ‘study’ of the statue one of the items up for sale, to cover Hems’ income tax, which he refused to pay. The study ended up selling to a Mr Mousall for £3.6s in an auction sale that was described as being “as merry as a marriage bell”. It was the auction to cover his owed tax in 1907 that perhaps best display his eccentricities.
By this time, Hems owed nearly £70 in unpaid income tax (approximately £7,150 today). He had been operating out of his workshop in Exeter for over 30 years and was widely respected and beloved by the locals, and the full saga of the auction is detailed in the Western Morning News. When prospective bidders arrived at the workshop to view what lots were up for auction, they were warned to avoid Hems guard dog- a Bulldog simply called “Bob”. There was also a notice on the door, warning that those “who may attempt to enter this house without permission are […] stand the risk of being shot.” This warning was signed and dated by Hems himself.
Rather than this being seen as a promise, all in attendance saw it as being part of Hems’ good humour. His good nature was prominent, even on a day when his personal items were being sold against his will, when, after he addressed the gathered crowd, he publicly asked the auctioneer:
“[Hems]: I have to ask whether I shall be allowed to bid?
[The Auctioneer]: Certainly, sir.
[Hems]: Then I bid you good afternoon!”
Western Morning News- 30th April 1907
Much to the amusement of those in attendance.
Some of the lots that sold that day reflect Hems characterful outlook on life. Not only was “Bob” the faithful bulldog among the lots, as well as “second hand tombstones, suitable for the graves of the Income Tax Commissioners, or other Inland Revenue Officials.” Perhaps the most surprising lot up for auction, was the crowbar that the Tax Commissioners had used to previously gain access to Hems property.
It appears that the residents of Exeter had become well used to Hems sense of humour, and in-spite of his brushes with the Tax Collectors, was well respected in the City. This is highlighted in his obituary, dated January 6th, 1916:
“Deceased was a remarkable personality. There were few men whose interest and activities ranged over so wide a field…It may safely be said that “Harry Hems” was known either personally or by reputation by a larger number of people in more places in the world than any other Exonian… By his death, Exeter has lost one of its most notable citizens, remarkable for his great and varied gifts and interest; for his commercial enterprise, which contributed much to the city’s prosperity, and made it known far and wide; and for his practical consideration for the poor and suffering.”
Western Times- 6th January 1916
Henry Hems prominence in Exeter is long lasting. Many of the items he collected during his life were donated to Royal Albert Memorial Museum, (a building that Hems had worked on in his youth!). His workshop still stands today, and is home to a restaurant, simply called ‘Harry’s’. In Belfast, whilst some of his work has been lost, his most significant statue in the city still stands prominently on Clifton Street, and over the next few months, the Archive Co-ordinator will be working with the Orange Hall to make the correspondence between Hems and the Orange Hall available to a wider audience.
About the archivist:
James Cromey is the Archive and Project Coordinator for the North Belfast Heritage Cluster. He has a background in Victorian, Industrial and Medical History and has received degrees from the University of Glasgow and Queens University Belfast. All research has been conducted to a high academic standard and has been fully referenced. If you would like to know more about a story or piece of research, or if you wish to tell us about your own story, email us at: archiveproject@nbheritagecluster.org