George Cawdery 1834-1898

George Hagen Cawdery [1] (1832-1898) was the son of George Cawdery (1811-1862) and Elizabeth Smart (1809-).  He was born in Lambeth, and christened at St. Mary-at-Lambeth Church, which lies adjacent to the Tudor gatehouse of Lambeth Palace, on 7 July 1833. He had two sisters, Mary Hagen Cawdery (1823-1898) and Elizabeth Cawdery (1837-).

St Mary-at-Lambeth

George was married three times. His first wife was Mary Elizabeth Tricks (1833-1872), whom he married on 12 October 1852 at the Old Church,St. Pancras,  London. Their children were Susannah Cawdery (1854-); George Edwin Cawdery (1855-1913); Mary Jane Cawdery (1857-1929); John William Cawdery (1859-1929); Joseph Samuel Devereux Cawdery (1861-1944) and Richard Cawdery (1869-1877).  Mary Elizabeth Tricks Cawdery died in Dublin, Ireland, probably early in 1872.

Old Church, St. Pancras

George's second wife was Teresa Scott (1842-1879). They were married in Dublin, Ireland, probably late in 1872. They had four children: Michael Charles Cawdery; Francis Arthur Cawdery, Mary Georgina Cawdery (1876-) [2] and Susan Cawdery (1874-).  Teresa Scott Cawdery died at Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire.

Teresa Scott Cawdery

In 1880, George married Jemima Adams, a widow living in Camberwell.  Her maiden name was Richens (1835-1892), and she was born in Elcombe, and christened in Wroughton, near Swindon, Wiltshire.  They had no children. The marriage took place at St. Giles, Camberwell in Southwark. Jemima died in 1892 in Lambeth.

St. Giles, Camberwell

George Hagen Cawdery died on 15 July 1898. The following notices marked his passing.

• MR. S. F. Langham held an inquest on Monday, at the Southwark Coroner's Court, respecting the death of George Cawdery, sixty-eight, late a stage carpenter, who was found dead in a lodging-house, 109, Blackfriars-road, last Friday. The deceased had been a master stage carpenter, and was one of the most familiar figures behind the scenes at the London and provincial theatres. In the old days he worked for Phelps at Sadlers' Wells, and he had erected scenery for Sir Henry Irving at the Lyceum. Death was due to syncope from heart disease. A verdict of natural death was returned. (The Church Weekly [London] Friday, July 22, 1898 page 10) 

• [Theatrical, Musical, and Equestrian Obituary: From December 1897 to end of November 1898] CAWDERY, George, Master Stage Carpenter, aged 68, July 15. (The Era Dramatic and Musical Almanack 1889 page 97)

George's career as a master carpenter specializing in theatre scenery began in London.    He appears to have been given an entrée into the business by his paternal uncle, William Cawdery (1809-1875). We see William's name on a playbill for an 1857 production of Othello at  Sadler's Wells Theatre. [4]

source: University of Kent

However, it is wrong to think that George's job was merely to build scenery. He is frequently described as a 'machinist', the person responsible for the stage machinery and technology operating above, on and below the stage. This machinery is used not only for moving scenery, but in creating special visual effects.

"The sophisticated technology and machinery of the late 19th century stage produced a succession of 'sensation' dramas in which special effects became the principal attraction. Scene painters working with expert technicians produced realistic reproductions of the natural world. Using ropes, flats, bridges, treadmills and revolves, they could produce anything from a chariot race in Ben Hur to a rail crash..." Source:  Victoria & Albert Museum

EXPRESS TRAIN,

EXPRESS TRAIN, The Mechanisms! this Scene has been adapted and arranged for the present Stage by Mr George Cawdrey, Machinist, Theatre Royal, Dublin.

Headline: Waterford Standard 18 June 1870

• Mr Magician Cawdery, our excellent master carpenter, having transformed the arena, into a stage again in a very short time. Saturday 10 April 1886, The Era, London,

• more than the usual number of startling mechanical effects, supplied by Mr. George Cawdery (late of the Prince's Theatre, Manchester) Saturday 02 January 1886, The Era, London

• Mr George Cawdery is again responsible for the numerous mechanical effects, all of which work smoothly. Saturday 29 December 1888, The Era, London,

• The mechanical arrangements of Mr George Cawdery are first-rate. The Transformation, Ariel's Dream, designed by Mr Cawdery, is grand. Sunday 05 January 1879, The Era, London,

• A word should be said for Mr. Cawdery, stage constructor and carpenter, whose work is of the very best, and has met with the approval of the directors [of the Theatre Royal, Exeter] without exception.  Trewman's Post, 8th of October 1889. 

• the magnificent effects in the gorgeous spectacular opening fell most largely to the share of the machinist, Cawdery, who has now made his seventh wonderful hit. (Irish Times 20 February 1874)

The Western Morning News (24 Dec 1889, Devon, England) reports that George was operating "complicated machinery" during the Christmas season performance of Cinderella at the Grand Theatre in Stonehouse, Plymouth.

George's knowledge of stagecraft was an invaluable resource. When the Salford architect, Alfred Derbyshire, was hired to design the Lyceum Theatre (Crewe) in 1885, he recruited George Cawdery to design the entire stage area.

George and his family moved to Dublin just before the Gaiety Theatre opened in 1871 in order to take advantage of the city's thriving theatre business. The Waterford Standard (18 June 1870) places him at the Theatre Royal, Hawkins Street, Dublin.  His sojourn in Ireland was eventful. His first wife died and he remarried. His four children to Teresa Scott were born in Ireland's capital.  During this period, he lost his son, Richard, and probably his daughter, Susan.  His return to England appears to coincide with the opening of the Royal Opera House at Leicester in 1877. Teresa died outside Leicester in 1879.

Theatre Royal, Hawkins St., Dublin
Source: National Archives of Ireland

George's lifelong connection with the theatre had a profound influence on most of his children. George Edwin, John William and Francis Arthur all followed in their father's footsteps.  George and George Edwin actually worked together at times (e.g. Freeman's Journal, Dublin 23 Jan 1874).  His son,  the very agile Joseph Samuel Devereux Cawdery, became a pantomine favourite, performing in London, the Provinces and in Ireland.  We read in Freeman's Journal (Dublin 21 Dec 1876 ) that Joseph was performing in the Christmas production at the Queen's Royal Theatre on Pearse Street (formerly Brunswick St.), while his father worked behind the scenes.

QUEEN'S ROYAL THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager Mr. Arthur Lloyd. ST. STEPHEN'S DAY, at 1.30 and 7.30, The Splendid Christmas Pantomime, entitled SINDBAD THE SAILOR, THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA, THE MAGIC HAT, AND THE DEMONS or THE DIAMOND VALLEY. 

In another issue of Freeman's Journal (29 Sept 1876), the "Brothers Cawdery" performed a "grand pantomimic ballet" as the final perfomance in a lineup of acts organized to benefit the Royal Dramatic College.[5]

        

Joseph Samuel Devereux Cawdery

Joseph Samuel Devereux Cawdery

Yet it used to cause roars of laughter to see the Sprite,—the imp—roll down the centre of the stage, disappear through the Grave Trap and immediately afterwards fly up into the air through the Vamp Trap. Devereaux Cawdrey's leaps through the scenery were uncanny. He was an unusually clever pantomimist; he once closed the scene at Stockport by springing into the air through the Vamp Trap and disappearing into the flies, leaving the men chasing him looking in wonder at the ceiling. His was an outstanding exhibition.
On his retirement, Cawdrey became equally noteworthy as a stage layer or designer. He designed, and laid for the Revill's in 1891, the stage at the Theatre Royal, Ashton-under-Lyne. That stage is also fully equipped with traps, graves, sinks and rises.  (From the Theatre Royal, Stockport's Jubilee Programme June 6th, 1938).

• Lightning "Trap" Scene invented and performed by Mr Devereux Cawdery (Freeman's Journal, Dublin, 26 December 1896)

• Robinson Crusoe. The leading feature of the pantomime, however, is the dancing, the jumping, and the acrobatic feats by Devereux Cawdery (an admirable Man Friday) (The Grand Theatre and Opera House, George Street, Hull) Hull Daily Mail 28 Feb 1893.

• Familiar is the name of Mr. Devereux Cawdery, who is loudly applauded for his trap door business, which is as praiseworthy as the ingenuity displayed in the construction. The Stage (London, 10 Oct 1895)

Joseph Samuel Devereux [3] Cawdery's first wife was Laura Rosina Teague (1858-1905). Their daughter, Violet Florence Devereux Cawdery (1891–1961), also appeared on the stage at the Adelphi and the Strand Theatre, both in London.

George Cawdery was buried in Nunhead Cemetery (Southwark).

click on image to enlarge

[1] Hagen also rendered as Agin and Hagin.
[2] Mary Georgina Cawdery was born on 29 Dec 1876. Her birth was registered 20 January 1877.
[3] Devereux also rendered as Devereaux and Deveraux
[4] See playbills 1; playbills 2; notice 1; notice 2; 1846; 1849; 1853; Royal National Opera.
[5] The composition of the "Brothers Cawdery" is unclear, but it was not a singular event. The Freeman's Journal (14 July 1876) reports:  "the whole to conclude with Comic Sensational Demon Ballet, entitled THE ICE FIND, - In which the Brothers Cawdery will introduce their Inimitable Star Trap Performance, High Leaps".