Richard Hayward (sculptor)
Richard Hayward (1725–1800) was an 18th-century British sculptor. He has several works in Westminster Abbey. Life. He was born at Weston-in-Arden in Bulkington. He was christened on 13 May 1725 the son of Richard and Mary Hayward. He was apprenticed to Christopher Horsnaile the Younger in London from 1740 and lived in his house in Holborn, London. He moved to the studio of Henry Cheere in 1742 and served a 7-year apprenticeship with him. However, he seems to have still lived with the Horsnailes and is thought to have married one of the  daughters as he is said to be related by marriage. He was made a Freeman of the Company of Master Masons in 1749. His interest in sculpture seems to have been wholly artistic as he seemed a gentleman of independent means, in no need of a trade. Until 1749 he lived in Weston Hall on the Arden estate in Bulkington, he then rented the hall to his old master Christopher Horsnaile while he travelled Europe on a Grand Tour. In these times it was fashionable for gentleman to do a Grand Tour when they reached 21 years of age. On  his tour he befriended Charles Jennens and Thomas Jenkins both of whom seem to have been familiar with Hayward's sculptural work and admired him. In 1753 he spent a year in Rome. He returned to England around 1755 and set up a sculpture studio in Piccadilly in central London. He exhibited at the Society of Arts from 1761 to 1766. Charles Jennens was a major patron of his work. He obtained commissions in important buildings such as Woburn Abbey and Blenheim Palace. In 1798, he presented Bulkington Parish Church with a carved font which he had carved from Numidian  marble brought back as a huge Roman column from his Grand Tour. He died on 11 August 1800 at his house in Half Moon Street in London. Half Moon Street, in the Piccadilly district connects to Buckingham Palace via a straight path across Green Park. He is buried in Bulkington Church.