Barclay Henry 1869-1946  > 

Barclay Henry 1869-1946

  Barclay Henry was a painter of oil and watercolour, landscape, coastal scenery and of figurative works. He was born in 1869 at Dumbarton and at the tender age of 12 went to sea as a sea cadet serving on the HMS Worcester under Captain (latterly Admiral) J. Henderson Smith, his uncle. He is referenced on the Census of 1881 as such whilst at Kent.

Upon returning from sea he was educated at Bonnington Park, Peebleshire, then at Madras College, St. Andrews. He was associated for a time with the Craigmill School, Sterling as a budding artist, having been interested in painting since a very early age.

He moved to Arrochar in 1892 and lived in Fascadail. Barclay Henry originally intended to follow in his father's footsteps and trained as a Doctor but unfortunately dropped out of University to nurse his mother who was dying of breast cancer.

He married Olive Stackhouse Paynter who was born in 1893. They had two daughters Elizabeth (Betty) and Heather. Heather married Jimmie MacTavish and she still resides in Glenloin house with her son Jamie. Betty now lives with her family in Canada.

He also had a houseboat that the family used to live in during the Summer season when they let our Fascadail. Olive used to lay the table for the family to eat on the deck in fine weather using nothing but the family's best silver.

She had a habit of pulling the table cloth from under the silver and cutlery in order to shake it over the side of the boat. One day after the family had eaten she attempted to pull the table cloth but unfortunately took the silver with the cloth and it all fell into the Loch never to be seen since to this day. 

The boat sank in the head of Loch Long in the 1920's following bad weather, going down with many of the family's possessions. Nothing has been recovered to date.

Barclay Henry became  an accomplished artist. Most of his work was done as commissions.

He had his first piece of work exhibited in 1891 and his piece 'The Flowing Tide' was exhibited at The Royal Academy (RA) in 1899.

In 1930 he moved to Glenloin.

He continued to paint until his death in 1946.

By all accounts, Barclay Henry was a somewhat eccentric character. He used to like to drive a nice car. When the car became old or he became tired of it rumour has it that he simply drove the car into Loch Long and bought another one! Divers have reputedly discovered parts of old motor vehicles in Loch Long.

During the war when the family lived at Glenloin House. Coal was scarce at this time. Barclay became aware that someone was stealing his precious coal from the bunker at Glenloin House. In order to find out who the perpetrator was he had the cunning ideas of selecting a few lumps of coal, drilling the out to hollowing them and then filling them with gun powder from his rifle (he was an excellent shot also). The perpetrator was soon identified when his fireplace blew out.

Another interesting story around the same time concerns his growing of vegetables. Barclay believed someone was pilfering his cabbages so he installed a barbed wire fence which subsequently injured the postman.

Above the Lucas King Road headlamps from one of Barclay Henry's cars including a close-up of the plate on the lamp.

His survivinging family, Heather his daughter and her family still live in Glenloin, Arrochar. They have many beautiful pieces of Barclay Henry's work. Many of these were painted by Barclay Henry for his own pleasure and were never framed or shown in public. Betty and her family live in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Here are images of the two homes Barclay Henry resided in at Arrochar.

    
  Above Left - Fascadail, Arrochar circa 1926                                                    Above Right - Glenloin House, Arrochar with local youth group.      

see also 'Memories Of Arrochar Before The Railway' written by Barclay Henry

 Paintings Known To Have Been Painted And Exhibited by Barclay Henry 1899-1944
 

Here is a list of those paintings we know were exhibited by Barclay Henry between 1889 and 1944.

Year Name Of Painting                                 Exhibited At                                                         Residing At

1899 The Shores Of Sky                            The Royal Scottish Academy                           Craigmill House by Sterling
1891 Neil                                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1892 Left In Charge                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts

1893 October Sunshine                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts    Fascadail
        Early Summer                                  The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1894 A Rock Bound Coast                         The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Tarbert, Loch Fyne                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1895 Bailing The Creels                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Summer Sea                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1896 The Sound Of Raasay                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1897 Portavadie, Galloway                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Valley, Tarbet, Loch Lomond        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1898 Beating Out                                     The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1899 A Highland Harbour                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1900 Crofter Fishermen                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Western Isle                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1901 Mid Western Isles                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Drift Of The Tide                              The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1902 The Island Shore                              The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Butt Of Lewis                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1903 A Summer Breeze, Island Of Lewis     The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Hills Of Mull                              The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1904 Eilean Ura                                       The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts  
        Corran, Lochaber                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Ardsheal                                         The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1905 Evening, Loch Linnhe                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Fisherfolk                                       The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Shetland Haven                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1906 A Summer Breeze                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Peaceful Haven                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Bay Of Sand                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1907 The Lee Of The Island                      The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Morning Calm                                  The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1908 The Evening Tide                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Quiet Anchorage                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1909 A Lone Fisherman                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        An Idyll Of The Shore                       The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1910 Oft To The Fishing                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1911 The Lochside                                   The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Hills Of Moidart                         The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1912 A Tidal Harbour                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Prince Charlie's Country                    The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1914 The Peaceful Haven                          The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Rising Sea                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1915 The Crofters Boat                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Shores Of The Hebrides                    The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Island Harbour                          The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1916 The Hills Of Moidart                          The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Highland Haven                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1917 The Evening Breeze                          The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        In from The Sea                               The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1918 The Rising Tide                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1919 The Sunlit Shore                               The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Western Bay                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1920 A Lobster Fisher                               The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Wind Of The Dawn                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1921 Twilight Calm                                  The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Crabbers Dinghy                         The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1922 Mists Of The Morning                         The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Island Shore                              The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1923 The West Wind                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Crofts By The Sea                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Little Bay                                   The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1924 The Misty Isle                                   The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A June Morning                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1925 The Open Shore                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1927 The Incoming Tide                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1928 Morning Haze                                    The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Sunlit Bay                                  The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Western Sea                              The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1929 Across The Minch                              The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts      

1931 Morning Calm                                   The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts      Glenloin
1932 The Crofters Boats                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Edge Of The Ree                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1934 Calm Shadows                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Tidal Haven                                  The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Crabbers Boat                            The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1935 Driftwood                                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Fisherfolk                                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Sunlit Isle                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1936 North Sea Rovers                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Inshore Fishermen                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        In The Crofters Cove                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1937 On The Sound Of Jura                       The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Crofters Haven                             The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Morning Mists                                 The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1938 The Nets Ashore                              The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        A Rockbound Cove                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        Gleamers Of The Sea                       The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1939 An Idyl Of The Shore                        The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Misty Kyle                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        In Carsaig Bay                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1940 A Summer Morning                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1941 The Patrol                                       The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
        The Misty Kyle                                The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1942 A Summer Morn                               The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
1944 The Morning Catch                           The Royal Glasgow Institute Of The Fine Arts
 

 For current information on the sales of Barclay Henry paintings click HERE

The picture shown here is 'Unloading The Pots' painted in 1906 but never exhibited. It is now privately owned.

Here is a selection of Barclay Henry paintings still owned by his family.

Unfortunately the names of these particular pieces shown below are unknown.

This is Old Tarbet House, now demolished. It was situated at the rear of The Tarbet Hotel at the top of Still Brae in the area that is now the back of the car park. The owner was a friend of the Henry family. Barclay painted this picture for him and he subsequently took the picture with him to sea. When he returned he brought the picture back to Old Tarbet House. When the owner died he had no immediate family and the painting returned to the Henry family. The small image is the reverse of the painting where the words 'Old Tarbet House Pulled Down 1987' are written.

Inscribed as follows: -
Presented in 1908, Vice Admiral & Madame (Hehatch Togo) To Captain and Mrs. J. Henderson Smith for much kind attention shown him when a Cadet aboard H.M.S. "Worcester" under Captain Smith's Command.

The Bontein Trophy presented by Shelley Bontein Esq. to The Arrochar & Tarbet Gun Club

We have a brief film showing Barclay Henry shooting at Tyvechtican  Tyvechtican Shoot

 see also 'Memories Of Arrochar Before The Railway' written by Barclay Henry

 For current information on the sales of Barclay Henry paintings click HERE