ACMS EVENTS - 2023
The following lectures were presented during 2023:
Carolyn Smith - A Shopping Trip in the West End in the Time of William Morris. Online 22 February 2023
Fiona Rose - In the Garden with William Morris. Online 29 March 2023.
The following visits and events were held during 2023:
Great Tangley Manor House and Garden - 26 April
AGM - 16 May
Goddards - 15 June
Ladywell Convent - 18 July
Rake Court - 17 August
Tour of the North East – 18 to 21 September
Autumn Meander - 27th October
Christmas Lunch at Frimley Hall Hotel, Frimley – 3 December
Goddards - 15 June 2023
The Lutyens Trust again kindly allowedg the society to hold a study day at Goddards during their summer week at the house. Sir Edwin Lutyens designed Goddards in 1898-1900 for Sir Frederick Mirrielees as a place where ‘Ladies of Small Means’ might rest and enjoy the courtyard garden planted by Gertrude Jekyll. Goddards was given to the Lutyens Trust in 1991 and has been expertly restored by the Landmark Trust for holiday lettings. The Lutyens Trust archive is held in the Study-Library. The study day will start at Goddards with an opportunity to tour the house and garden. This will be followed by a bring-your-own picnic lunch in the garden followed by the first of two lectures on the architect C.FA.Voysey by Dr Anne Anderson titled Voysey’s Surrey houses.
After a break for tea and cake this will be followed by a talk on The De Morgans, the Lovelaces and Voysey exploring their relationships. Mary, Countess of Lovelace, and Evelyn Pickering De Morgan became friends after studying at the Slade.
Dr Anne Anderson is an Honorary Associate Professor at Exeter University, a tutor at the V&A and lecturer. Her specialist knowledge is the Aesthetic Movement, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism. Previously, she taught on the Fine Arts Valuation degree at Southampton Solent University.
Details for joining will be sent in advance of the event.
Ladywell Convent 18 July 2023
The Society was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Ladywell Convent, a Grade II listed building, formerly known as Tuesley Court. In 1956 the house was purchased by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood. We shall be guided by two Franciscan sisters. Tuesley Court was designed in 1910 in the Arts and Crafts style by the distinguished architect Sir Guy Dawber for Major-General D A Scott. The listing describes it as Jacobean in style. There are Scottish pyramidal roofs and crow-stepped gables. Constructed in local Bargate stone with mullioned windows and casement leaded lights. As a house it originally had 16 bedrooms, three bathrooms and five reception rooms as well as a billiards room all set in 36 acres. The architect Sir Guy Dawber was born in Norfolk and studied under Sir Ernest George. He became particularly interested in the architecture of the Cotswolds, setting up a practice there in 1890 and specializing in vernacular buildings. He expanded into Kent and Surrey with his stonebuilt country houses and Tuesley Court is a fine example of one of these. Some years later he would become well known for his design of the Reptile House at London Zoo, Regents Park, which opened in 1927. Dawber became president of RIBA and was knighted in 1936.
Rake Court - 17 August 2023
Visit to Rake Manor 17 August 2023 (formerly Rake House, the home of the owner of Rake Mill – hence Milford) is a fine brick and timber building dating back to c.1600. Rake Court is the home of two long standing members of ACMS who are kindly hosting our visit. The old house was to have many additions. The architects for these additions were successively: Ralph Nevill (1882), Sir Edwin Lutyens (1899-1902), M H Baillie Scott (1906- 1930), Raymond Cary (1936) and Martin Caroe (1987). Baillie Scott worked at Rake on at least four occasions with a new Drawing room in 1908 and Music/Billiards Room (1909-14).
In 1892, Herbert Jekyll, Gertrude’s brother, was living with his wife Agnes as tenants at Rake. Gertrude visited the house and advised on the planting of the herbaceous border.
The house was divided into Rake Manor and Rake Court in 1978.
Autumn Meander - 27th October
Starting with a visit to a Queen Anne Renaissance home for a talk by Mrs Margaret Smart on this style of architecture (otherwise known as Domestic Revival ) which was so popular in the 1870’s and was to a large extent anticipated by the Arts & Crafts architects of the previous decade. We saw important features of this style in the house and perhaps also in the exterior of nearby similarly designed properties, before departing for a light lunch.
After lunch we moved on to our second venue of the day, Dorich House, which is a ten to fifteen minute drive. One of London’s hidden gems , it is the former studio home of the sculptor Dora Gordine and her husband the Honourable Richard Hare. Built in 1936, it is Grade 2 listed and is regarded as an exceptional example of a “modern studio house” where Dora lived until she died in 1991. The museum also houses a Russian collection of arts and artefacts from the early 18th to early 20th century.
Having partaken of a post-lunch tea or coffee at Dorich House ( plus cake if required !!) we shall move on again to Cote Cottage , the home of two of our our fellow members. Cote Cottage was built by the Arts & Crafts architect James S. Brocklesby in 1927. Featured in “ The Ideal Home “ magazine in December 1928 as ‘a large small house’ we shall have the opportunity of a house tour. And there’s tea and biscuits.
Christmas Lunch at Frimley Hall Hotel, Frimley – 3 December
This December we will be returning for our Christmas lunch to Hermon House built by a wealthy wine merchant, Thomas Boyes, in the 1880s. Under later owners it was called Frimley Hall. One was a Mr J.F Wright, whose family wealth came from Wrights' Coal Tar Soap, which many people still use today. His wife, formally Miss Avery, came from the family who had manufactured Avery Scales, which were soon to belong to many housewives in the country.
Frimley Hall is listed as a building of local significance, with listed William Morris wallpaper, and is one of the few remaining buildings of this size and age in the area. Frimley Hall is now owned by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts.
This year’s event will include an illustrated presentation reviewing the year’s visits and lectures with a preview of events for 2024, as well as a raffle and a quiz. Lunch will be served in the Frimley Suite. Tickets: Members - £65.00 and Members’ guests - £69.00 to include a three-course lunch with wine served as a pre-lunch drink and with the meal. Ticket confirmation, directions and parking details and menu choices with options for vegetarians, will be emailed if you provide an email address, or enclose a SAE to receive details by post.