James Ayton Symington

Very little is known about his early life. Kirkpatrick notes that he did not appear in the census records until 1891, when he was 34 years old, and there is no record of his birth in the Civil Registration Birth Index.^[2] The first public notice of Symington appears to be in the Leeds Mercury in April 1886, which announced that The Rivers of Yorkshire by George Radford would be published in October by Richard Jackson and would have 12 etchings by Symington, a Yorkshire etcher of rising popularity.^[3]The book was published by subscription, with ordinary subscribers paying 10s. 6d. (half a guinea), 200 copies on Japan paper at a guinea (£1 1s.). and 25 proofs on satin at two guineas (£2 2s.).^[4] The book was eventually published on 8 December 1886 with the revised title Rambles by Yorkshire Rivers.^{[5][6][note 2]}

Symington illustrated a number of other books for Richard Jackson including Yorkshire by the Sea, another published by subscription volume by George Radford,^[7] Jackson's New Illustrated Guide to Leeds and Environs (1889),^[8] and Some Historic Mansions of Yorkshire and their Associations (1888),^{[note 3]} by civil engineer and amateur antiquarian William Wheater (19 October 1840 – 30 December 1911)^[10][11]

The 1891 census (5 April 1891) shows Symington with a wife Kate (18 January 1859 – 18 November 1944).^[12][13] Kirkpatrick speculates that this was Catherine Tindall who married a James Symington at the Parish Church in Doncaster on 19 May 1889.^[2][14] There are a number of facts that suggest that this is not correct:

• In the 1911 Census (2 April 1911), Kate give the number of years married as 29, suggesting that their marriage took place between 3 April 1881 and 2 April 1882. Of course, errors in ages and durations in the census returns are not uncommon.
• Secondly, the bridegroom gave his name as James Symington, rather than as James Ayton Symington, at a time when it was the normal practice to give one's full names for such formal occasions.
• Thirdly, the James Symington that married Catherine Tindall in Doncaster on 19 May 1889 gave his occupation as a labourer, the son of John Symington, a painter. Catherine Tindall was the daughter of the late Henry Tindal, also a labourer. The couple were living together at 27 March Gate in Doncaster at the time of their marriage.^[15]
• Fourthly, both bride and groom gave their ages as 26,^[15] which would have given them birth dates between 20 May 1862 and 19 May 1863, whereas Kate Symington was born on 18 January 1859,^[12] and Symington was born c.1856.

In any case, Symington and Kate had one son, Arthur Ayton (30 Jan 1898 – 3rd quarter of 1955)^[16][17] who trained as a civil engineer and was his mother's executor.^[13]

The 1891 census found Symington and his wife living at 71 Cheverton Road, Putney, Wandsworth, London. They were still there in 1896, but 1901 found them living with their young son at 1 West Park Gardens, Kew Gardens, Kew, London. They were still at that address in 1912. Symington was granted permission to erect a house at Old Church Lane, Stanmore, Edgeware, North London in October 1912.^[18] He seems to have built the house as, in 1916, the next-of-kin address on his sons enlistment papers gave his address as "Loidis" Old Church Road, Greater Stanmore.^[19]

They were still in Church Lane in 1922, but had moved to Dale Cottage, Meadowside, Great Bookham, Surrey by 1927. and were still there ten years later. Although living in London, Symington maintained his connection with Leeds. His son was born in Leeds, and in 1934 Symington donated 7 black-and-white drawings of Yorkshire windmills to the Leeds Museum.^[20]

Symington illustrated both magazines and books. He seems to have done almost no illustration from his late fifties, after the start of the First World War.

Symington seems to have stopped working by 1914. Kirkpatrick lists no book illustrations by him later than that year,^[2] and Hoofe gives his active years as ending in 1908.^[1]

Symington was living at Yewby, Yew Tree Gardens, Woodcote Side, Epsom, Surrey when he died on Epsom and Ewell Cottage Hospital on Monday, 6 February 1939. ^[33] He was buried the following Friday at Lawnwood Cemetery in Leeds.^[34] His estate was valued at only £211, 2s and 6d, and his widow was executrix.^[33]

Blewett considered that Symington's 16 colour and 45 black-and-white illustrations for the 1905 J. M. Dent edition of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe were on the whole superior to rival editions.^[35] The Sheffield Independent offered this book as one of a set of six children's classics in a promotional offer in 1934.^[36] The Scotsman referred to Symington's work for this book as tasteful coloured illustrations^[37]