Welsh Journals

Museum, 16 which replaced the short-lived Government School of Art which had closed after barely one year. He continued in this post to the end of the 1860s. He also acted as visiting Drawing Master at a number of local private schools including Thistleboon House, Graig House, the Collegiate School, Mr. Martin's Academy, and Madame D'Austein's School for Young Ladies, as well as the Tydfil School at Merthyr." After spending more than ten years as a lodger in York Place or York Street until 1852 (though he briefly occupied a house in Rutland Street, in 1849), Butler moved his home at least six times within the next twenty. He was at 40 Oxford Street in 1852-54; 7 Dillwyn Street in 1855-56; Stockwell House in 1861; 14 Mansel Street in 1863-64); 15 Brunswick Street from 1864 and 17 Brunswick Street by 1 869-70. 18 It was at 17 Brunswick Street that he died, on the 31st March 1870. 19 His death notice in the local newspaper describes him as "Mr. William Butler, artist, aged 46 years" and continues: He was a truly honest man, and is deeply lamented by surviving relations and friends. 20 The reference to relations is interesting, but when the 1871 census was taken just over a year later no Butlers were recorded at Brunswick Street or at Stockwell House. The oldpost office in Goat Street. It has a '1620' datestone, and is typical ofmany of the town's ordinary houses of that period. No title or date, but initialled "WB". Swansea Museum (Photo: Bernard Morris)