Frank Clifford Lording (1860-1944), was born in Melbourne on the 10th of October 1860 to architect and builder, Frederick Henry “Harry” Lording and Marianne Coulsell.
Frank became an apprentice glass stainer and embosser with the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company in his early teens. In 1879 was awarded a prize at the Hotham School of Art as a senior student in the category of “Ornamental Shaded” under the tutelage of Ferguson & Urie’s stained glass artist David Relph Drape (1821-1882).
His name is mentioned a number of times in the press articles about the company dinners of 1886, 1887, and 1888. At the 1886 company dinner, he sang ‘The Old Brigade’, and at the 1887 dinner sang, ‘Romany Lass’. After the firm closed in 1899 he went into partnership with Charles William Hardess (1859-1849), another employee of the firm, to become ‘Hardess & Lording’. Lording was also a capable footballer and was selected for the Victorian team in the first Inter-colonial football match against South Australia on Tuesday 1st July 1879 [1] which the Victorian team won. The Hotham Football club later became the North Melbourne Football Club and he was selected as a state representative in 1879 and 1881.
Frank married Mary Ann Christie in 1884 and had three sons, Frank Clifford ‘Cliff’ Jnr, Frederick ‘Fred’ Alexander, and Walter Leonard ‘Len’.
Frank died at his home at 18 McDonald Street, Mordialloc on the 7th October 1944 aged 84, and was interred at the Cheltenham New Cemetery.
Coincidentally Frank’s father ‘Harry’ was the architect and builder of James Ferguson‘s house in Leonard Street Parkville in 1887
In April 1937 Frank’s brother Frederick ‘Harry’ Lording (1855 – 1939) wrote to the Melbourne Age about his brother’s football history.
The Argus, Melbourne, 14th October 1944, page 15.
“LORDING.- On October 7, at his residence, 18 McDonald street, Mordialloc, Frank Clifford, beloved father of Cliff, Fred, and Len, aged 84 years.”
Related Posts:
- The 1886 Employee Dinner
- The 1887 Employee Dinner
- The 1888 Employee Dinner
- 19-02-1874: The Hotham (North Melbourne) School of Art.
Footnotes:
[1] The Argus, Melbourne, Wednesday 2nd July 1979, page 5.
Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-OC
Ferguson and Urie 
This is my great grandfather. I have the original photo of him in his football uniform. My grandfather’s house in Barkly St Mordialloc which is still standing has a couple of his stained glass windows in it.
Ian Lording.
Thanks for your comment Ian. I’m glad you found my site and the clues around the stained glass windows. Thanks for sharing Frank’s football uniform so many years ago. it all makes the history come to life and adds context to the other old photos and stories.
Ray