Charles Summers - Early Life

Early Life

Summers was born at Charlton Mackrell, near Ilchester, in Somerset, son of George Summers, builder and mason, and elder brother of Joseph Summers. George Summers had roaming ways which caused his family to be frequently in financial difficulties; his mother, however, was a woman of good character. Summers went to work from eight years of age and while working as a mason began to show ability in carving fancy stone work. This led to his being employed as an assistant in setting up a monumental figure at Weston-super-Mare which had been modelled by Henry Weekes, R.A. He saved money from his wages and at the age of 19 went to London and obtained work at Weekes's studio. Summers subsequently worked under L. Watson, another sculptor of the period, and studied at the Royal Academy schools. In 1851 he won the silver medal for the best model from life and the gold medal for the set subject, Mercy interceding for the Vanquished.