Designer, Entrepreneur. He was part of the English Arts and Crafts movement begun by John Ruskin and William Morris. He was educated at Wallington College and King's College, Cambridge. He then studied under the architect George Frederick Bodley, before founding the Guild and School of Handicraft in 1888. The Guild specialized in metalworking, making jewellery, wrought ironwork and furniture, while the attached school taught crafts. He also undertook complete house design, including furniture and interior decoration. The Guild operated as a co-operative, with the mission statement "seek not only to set a higher standard of craftsmanship, but at the same time, and in so doing, to protect the status of the craftsman". It was first housed in a temporary building, but by 1890 had moved to workshops in the East End of London. There was also a retail outlet in Brook Street, Mayfair. The Guild's products included a well known suite of furniture made for Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse at Darmstadt. In 1902 he moved the Guild to Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, but the market for its products became saturated and it ceased trading in 1907. In later years he founded the Essex House Press, using many of William Morris' former employees. His Guild school was the inspiration for the London County Council's polytechnic institutes. He was also a founder of the Survey of London, and his papers are kept at King's College. In 1918 he was made civic advisor to the Palestinian government, and was responsible for the protection of ancient sites and buildings. He lived in Jerusalem until 1923, when he returned to England. For the last thirty years of his life he was consultant architect of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, Seal, Kent, for which he designed three screens.
Designer, Entrepreneur. He was part of the English Arts and Crafts movement begun by John Ruskin and William Morris. He was educated at Wallington College and King's College, Cambridge. He then studied under the architect George Frederick Bodley, before founding the Guild and School of Handicraft in 1888. The Guild specialized in metalworking, making jewellery, wrought ironwork and furniture, while the attached school taught crafts. He also undertook complete house design, including furniture and interior decoration. The Guild operated as a co-operative, with the mission statement "seek not only to set a higher standard of craftsmanship, but at the same time, and in so doing, to protect the status of the craftsman". It was first housed in a temporary building, but by 1890 had moved to workshops in the East End of London. There was also a retail outlet in Brook Street, Mayfair. The Guild's products included a well known suite of furniture made for Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse at Darmstadt. In 1902 he moved the Guild to Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, but the market for its products became saturated and it ceased trading in 1907. In later years he founded the Essex House Press, using many of William Morris' former employees. His Guild school was the inspiration for the London County Council's polytechnic institutes. He was also a founder of the Survey of London, and his papers are kept at King's College. In 1918 he was made civic advisor to the Palestinian government, and was responsible for the protection of ancient sites and buildings. He lived in Jerusalem until 1923, when he returned to England. For the last thirty years of his life he was consultant architect of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, Seal, Kent, for which he designed three screens.
Bio by: js
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