Ernest Varley was born 11 May 1867 in Wilsden to Sharp Varley & Elizabeth Illingworth.

In 1871 & 1881 they lived at 57 Titus Street, Saltaire, with Sharp working as a weaving overlooker. In 1881 Ernest was working as a millhand. Sharp died 4 th Qtr. 1881. Ernest attended Saltaire Congregational Church Sunday School. In 1891 he was a grocer’s manager living with his mother at 57 Titus Street.

Living at 24 Victoria Road, Saltaire, Ernest married Alice Giles, 27 July 1895, at Saltaire Congregational Church. She was born, 22 July 1869. They had a son, Eric, born 6 January 1901, and a child who died in infancy. In 1901 they were living at 15 Queen’s Road, Shipley, where Ernest worked as a grocery manager for a cooperative society.

Extract from a report in the Shipley Times 5 June 1903: -

The first gathering of students and friends of the Ruskin Hall Movement, West Biding Centre, was held on Shipley Glen on Tuesday (2 June), in beautiful weather.

All the local friends, with the secretary, Mr. Ernest Varley, of Shipley, met at the Saltaire Park gates at 10 o'clock and went forward to The Glen, neat the rocks, where a conference was commenced at 10.30., and was attended by a large number of delegates from different parts of the West Riding.

By 1911 Ernest was a laundry proprietor living with his family in Lancaster. He was initiated as a Freemason in the Duke of Lancaster lodge 7 April 1919.

Ernest died 15 January 1941.

Report in the Lancaster Guardian 17 January: -

The death occurred at his home, St Michaels, Slyne Road. Lancaster last night (15 January) of Councillor Ernest Varley (73), a member of a local laundry firm, who was elected to the City Council for Skerton West Ward in January 1936.

Mr. Varley was a native of Saltaire but moved to Lancaster many years ago.

Extract from a report in the Lancaster Guardian 24 January 1941: -

RESPECTED FOR INHERENT GOODNESS

Practically every section of civic endeavour was represented at the funeral Coun. Ernest Varley, of St. Michael’s. Slyne Road. Lancaster, which took place on Saturday (17 January), at Bolton-Le- Sands. The interment was preceded by a service at the Centenary Congregational Church, Lancaster.

In his will, he left £6,872 4s 7d.

Extract from a report in the Lancaster Guardian 30 October 1942: -

At Ryelands House, Skerton, on Wednesday (28 October) afternoon, a memorial portrait of the late Coun. Ernest Varley was unveiled by his widow as a gift to the Skerton Aged Men’s Rest for which he was secretary, and later Chairman.

His widow, Alice, died 5 December 1956, at Hest Bank, Lancashire. In her will she left £849 11s 8d. Their son, Eric, died in 1981.

 

Illingworth Varley was the son of Sharp Varley. Sharp Varley was born c1836 in Bingley as Sharp Cowgill, son of Mary Cowgill, father unknown. Mary married William Varley, 2 October 1836, at St Michael’s Haworth. Sharp then took the Varley name. Sharp married Elizabeth Illingworth in 1866. They had four children.

Illingworth, their second child, was born 11 April 1869 in Saltaire. In the 1871, 1881 and 1891 Census the family lived at 57 Titus Street, Saltaire, with Sharp working as a weaving overlooker before he died in 1881.

In 1881, twelve year old Illingworth was working as a mill hand. Attending Salt School he passed an examination in outline drawing in July 1889. In October 1890 his works were on display at the Shipley Technical Schools Art Exhibition. In 1891 he was an art pupil teacher. In May 1891 he gained an art class teacher’s certificate.

View Illingworth Varley's work at www.notjusthockney.info

Excerpt from a report in the Shipley Times 11 November 1893: -

The South Kensington authorities have recognised the teaching here (Shipley Technical Schools) by the award of a bronze medal to Illingworth Varley for a painting of a giant rhubarb plant in Saltaire Park.

Illingworth received a full art master’s certificate in November 1894. In February 1895 he was reported as being second master at the Macclesfield Government School of Art.

Illingworth married Eleanor Pack, 18 December 1900, at St Augustine’s, Paddington, London. In the 1901 Census they were living in Chelsea London, with Illingworth working as an art teacher in the service of the London School Board.

They had two daughters, both born in London – Eleanor Doris, born 30 October 1902; and Mabel, born 8 January 1898.

In 1907 Illingworth was appointed Headmaster of Malvern School of Art, a position he occupied until his retirement in 1935. In the 1911 Census and the 1939 Register he was living with his family at The Knoll Lodge, Malvern Wells, Worcestershire. Illingworth exhibited work at the Royal Academy and at other London and regional galleries, including Birmingham and Worcester. Illingworth died 14 January 1942 at the Knoll Lodge.

Report in the Birmingham Daily Post 17 January 1942: -

The funeral of Mr. Illingworth Varley took place at Malvern Wells Cemetery yesterday. He was aged seventy-two.

Mr. Varley, who was for many years headmaster of Malvern School of Art, received his training in London, and was an Associate of the Royal College of Art, a National Silver and Bronze Medallist for Painting and Design, and an exhibitor at the Royal Academy.

For a short period he held an appointment under the London County Council and came to Malvern in 1907. He retired in 1935. He was a vice-president of Malvern Art Club, and a former exhibition secretary, having charge of the exhibitions held annually until just before the war.  

In his will he left £1431 12s 3d to his widow. She died 8 April 1951 at The Knoll Lodge. In her will she left £2647 2s 2d.

Report in the Birmingham Daily Post - Friday 10 October 1969

An exhibition devoted to the works of the four Varley’s of Malvern – Illingworth Varley, the centenary of whose birth falls this year, Eleanor Varley, his wife; Eleanor Doris Varley and Mabel Illingworth Varley, their daughters is to be held at Worcester City Art Gallery from 11 October until 1 November. Illingworth Varley, a Yorkshireman, was headmaster of Malvern School of Art from 1907 until 1935; his wife was an accomplished craftswoman in many media; Eleanor Doris was principal of Lowestoft School of Art until 1961; and Mabel Illingworth Varley was art mistress at St. James’s, West Malvern until 1967.

View Illingworth Varley's work at www.notjusthockney.info

 

Sharp Varley was born c1836 in Bingley as Sharp Cowgill, son of Mary Cowgill, father unknown. Mary married William Varley, 2 October 1836, at St Michael’s Haworth. Sharp then took the Varley name.

In 1851 they lived in Wilsden with William working as a labourer and Sharp as a power loom weaver. By 1861 they had moved to 1 (re-numbered 27) George Street in Saltaire with William working as a farm labourer and Sharp as a weaver.

Sharp married Elizabeth Illingworth in 1866. They had four children, including Ernest Varley. In 1871 & 1881 they lived at 57 Titus Street with Sharp working as a weaving overlooker.

In May 1875 Sharp was reported as being a past provincial grand master of the Bingley branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. In March 1879 Sharp was elected as an officer of the Saltaire Funeral Brief Society.

Sharp was associated with Saltaire Cricket Club in a non-playing capacity.

Sharp died 4 th Qtr. 1881.