William Sharpington was a British lettering artist who worked in sign painting and the design of monuments. Born Kennington. Set up his own practice before WW2. Taught and had his workshop at the City and Guilds of London Art School.
This image (dated 27 November 1951) shows Sharpington using one of the tools of his profession, a painter's mahl stick - used to support the hand holding the brush and prevent the spoiling of work already done.
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Our colleague, Andrew Behan, adds that William Henry Sharpington was born on 26 June 1900, the second of the six children of Edwin James Sharpington (1870-1940) and Mirabel Constance Kate Sharpington née Braddle (1872-1942). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1900 in the Lambeth Registration District, London.
He is shown as aged 9 months on the census that was undertaken on 31 March 1901. He was living at 334 Kennington Road, Lambeth, with his parents and his elder brother, Edwin Sidney Sharpington (1899-1973), his maternal aunt, Elizabeth Adelaide Mary Braddle (1876-1966) - a baker's shop-woman, his paternal uncle, Harry Maurice Sharpington (1874-1939) - a builder's clerk, together with a female servant. His father was described as a baker bread maker.
On 3 April 1901 he was baptised in St Philip's Church, Lambeth, where in the baptismal register his date of birth is confirmed, that his family were living at 334 Kennington Road, Lambeth and that his father was listed as a master baker.
On 23 September 1907 he, together with two of his brothers: Frederick Charles Sharpington (1901-1989) and Ernest Arthur Sharpington (1903-1977), were admitted into Kennington Road School, Lambeth, where the admissions register shows their home address as 78 Reedworth Street, Lambeth.
He was described as aged 10 years on the census return form completed by his father on 2 April 1911. He was living in three rooms within 78 Reedworth Street, Lambeth, with his parents and his four siblings: Edwin Sidney Sharpington; Frederick Charles Sharpington; Ernest Arthur Sharpington and James Vivian Sharpington (1910-1964). His father showed himself as a chauffeur/taxi driver employed by the London Motor Cab Company.
On 4 July 1918 he was enlisted as a Rifleman in the 52nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade. He embarked on 28 February 1919 at Dover, Kent, to travel to Dunkirk, France. On 3 May 1919 he was posted to the 12th Lancers, but returned to the Rifle Brigade on 12 July 1919. On 20 January 1920 he attended the Army Commercial College for a course. It was while he was in Cologne, Germany, that was discharged from the army on 4 March 1920.
He was shown as aged 20 years, 11 months and in part time education on the census return form that was completed by his father on 19 June 1921. He was living in a five roomed property at Flat 5, 60 Upper Kennington Lane, London, SE11, with his parents and his five siblings: Edwin Sidney Sharpington - a clerk employed by Lambeth Borough Council at Cobbett Street, Clapham Road, London, SW; Frederick Charles Sharpington - a clerk employed by P. G. Mackinnon at Lloyds, Royal Exchange, London; Ernest Arthur Sharpington - an electrical engineer employed by A. Lippold Ltd at 1a Montford Place, London, SE11; James Vivian Sharpington - in whole time education and Robert Wynne Sharpington (1913-1981) - also in whole time education. His father described himself as a taxi driver employed by Mr W. Ellis at Manchester Street, Kings Cross, London.
On 26 August 1933 he married Ellen Cynthia Claire Corri (1912-2009) on her 21st birthday in St Anselm's Church, Kennington Cross, Kennington Road, London, SE11, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 33 years, a bachelor and an artist, who was living at Flat 5, 60 Kennington Lane, London, the son of Edwin James Sharpington, a chauffeur, whilst his wife was described as aged 21 years and a spinster, who was residing at Flat 6, 18 Sancroft Street, London, SE11, the daughter of Clarence Collingwood Corri, a deceased professor of music.
Electoral registers from 1934 to 1938 show him, his wife and his mother-in-law, Ellen Corri née Emmett (1878-1953) listed at Flat 6, 18 Sancroft Street, London. The registers in 1939 show that his residence had been renamed as 6 Kennington Palace Court, Sancroft Street, London, SE11
He was shown in the England and Wales Register that was compiled on 29 September 1939 as a lettering artist and instructor still residing at 6 Kennington Palace Court, with his wife who was on unpaid domestic duties and his mother-in-law who was listed as a housekeeper.
The birth of their son, Adrian W. C. Sharpington, was registered in the 4th quarter of 1943 in the Wokingham Registration District, Berkshire.
Post Office London Telephone Directories from 1951 to 1966 list him as "Sharpington W. H. Lettering, 20 Foulser Rd, SW17. BALham 4836" and from 1971 to 1972 as "Sharpington W. H. Lettering, 120 Kennington Pk Rd, SE11. 01-735 4845".
His death, aged 73 years, was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1973 in the Bromley Registration District, Greater London. Probate records confirm that his address had been 5 Cross Ashes, Rookery Road, Downe, Bromley, Greater London and that he died on 21 April 1973. Probate was granted on 18 February 1974 and his effects totalled £15,048.
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