Trafford Gallery

The Gallery was founded by Charles Alvar Harding (1915-2001) a respected socialite in the drawing rooms and art galleries of London. He was born the son of a wealthy Birmingham businessman who died in Lugano, Switzerland in 1942 leaving the 2024 equivalent of nearly £5.5 million. It is assumed that Charles Jnr inherited his father's wealth and lived a life of luxury in Cadogan Square, Chelsea where he entertained diplomats, aristocrats, politicians and courtiers. He was raised and educated in London, read modern languages at Gonville and Caius, Cambridge, and became fluent in French and Swedish, the latter being his mother's nationality.

After World War II when he served in the Norwegian campaign he opened the Trafford Gallery at 119, Mount Street, Mayfair, London in 1948. The gallery gave a start to the career of artists including John Ward who eventually became a member of the Royal Academy. 'Established' artists such as Cecil Beaton also showed at the 'Trafford' as it was known which was eventually to close in the early 1980's.