ACMS EVENTS - 2004
A summary of Visits and Events held in 2004
The Events Sub-Committee – led by Joan Feather, with Penny Floyd, Beryl Levett, Irene Paris, Martin Taplin and Denise Todd – are responsible for the varied and interesting programme of the year’s events. The 2004 programme provided a record number of events, six lectures, the AGM and eleven visits. They are to be congratulated for the successful programme achieved through their knowledge, creativity and hard work.
The winter lecture series saw the return of Neil Jackson, lecturing on Frank Lloyd Wright this time. Irene Cockcroft, dressed in the clothes of the period, speaking about Ernestine Mills, a suffragette and enameller and Hugh Petter lectured on Lutyens and the British School of Rome.
The programme of events included a visit to Brentham Garden Suburb, Ealing, with a guided tour of the estate by Clive Hicks followed by lunch in the Brentham Club, a lecture by Aileen Reid, author of Brentham – a history of the pioneer garden suburb 1910-2001 and a viewing of archive material. In March, the Falkner walk around Farnham with Sam Osmond was repeated, as the event was so oversubscribed in 2003. In May, an afternoon visit to the De Morgan Centre opened with an introductory speech by Claire Longworth, the Curator and was followed by an opportunity to view the collection of ceramics of William De Morgan and paintings of Evelyn De Morgan. Still in May, members visited ‘Arts and Crafts Gardens in Hampshire’, specifically the work of Robert Weir Schultz and Gertrude Jekyll in the north of the county.
Our AGM took place at the Tilford Institute and was followed by a lecture by a society member Dr. Ian Hamerton entitled ‘Luminary of the Arts and Crafts Movement and Pioneer of Modern Design’. In it, he spoke about the life and career of W.A.S Benson, illustrated by new photographic images and some of Benson’s own photographs.
Once again we were privileged to have access to Goddards for a one day event, which opened with a lecture by Alan Powers speaking about the life and work of Oliver Hill, after which members had a guided tour of the house. After lunch, members visited Woodhouse Copse and St Mary’s church at Holmbury St. Mary.
In June, members, Jan Ward and Jenny King organised a fascinating tour of private houses in Woldingham by various Arts and Crafts architects including Leonard Stokes and the parish church designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Finally at the end of June, members spent a day ‘Exploring Munstead Wood’. Following a visit to Gertrude Jekyll’s former house and garden, Munstead Wood, members enjoyed a walking tour of other properties in the Munstead area guided by Michael Edwards, who explained the architectural features, and Jane Balfour who interpreted the gardens.
The second half of the year started with a study day ‘Gentleman Architect in Surrey’, exploring the work of Henry Woodyer, well documented, organised and guided by ACMS member Robin Stannard. In August, Mervyn Miller, author of Hampstead Garden Suburb, led members on a well- informed tour of Hampstead Garden Suburb, explaining the historical background, philanthropy and architecture. The Dolmetsch Ensemble gave our third concert, this time at Rake Court, the home of Caroline and Alan Bott. The event was held for the benefit of the Watts Gallery and raised £425. A coffee morning at Harold Falkner’s Overdeans Court, Dippenhall was held in conjunction with the Friends of the Victoria Garden. The final event of the year was a visit to The Craft Study Centre, newly established at Farnham. A talk was followed by a viewing of the centre and some of the archives. The event finished with a Christmas tea at the Bush Hotel. It was with regret that our study weekend in Cambridge had to be cancelled as it was impossible to arrange access to adequate appropriate sites. It is planned to run it in the future.
The autumn lectures featured Hilary Underwood introducing some of the features of key paintings in the Watts Gallery’s exhibition ‘The Vision of George Frederic Watts’. James Ryan, head designer of the Barnsley Workshop, spoke about the life and work of Edward Barnsley and the workshop itself from 1923 to today. The ‘Art Jewel Revolution’ was the title of Stephen Park’s lecture, which provided an overview of the history of jewellery within the Arts and Crafts Movement.