Poignant anniversaries are marked at Stoneywell
SATURDAY, August 10, marked a very special occasion for the National Trust’s Stoneywell cottage in Ulverscroft.
Some 100 members of the Gimson family gathered there to mark the 120th anniversary of Stoneywell’s completion and the centenary of the death of Ernest Gimson.
Ernest (1864-1919) was the arts and crafts designer and architect who designed the delightful and unique place for his brother.
He was a prominent figure in the Arts and Crafts movement which championed traditional craftsmanship and the creation of beautiful, functional objects – a reaction to the industrialisation and mass production of the late 19th and early 20th century.
The family reunion was organised by Barley Roscoe, an arts and crafts specialist, consultant curator, writer, lecturer and Gimson family member.
The purpose of the day was to gather together as many direct descendants as possible of Ernest’s grandfather, Josiah Gimson (1784-1827).
More than 120 family members were contacted around the globe, from as far away as Australia, and as many as possible made the journey to Stoneywell from all across the UK, including the last private owner of Stoneywell, Donald Gimson (95), who lived there from 1953 until 2012.
Many of the family were meeting each other, and seeing Stoneywell, for the very first time.
Donald Gimson is the great grandson of Josiah Gimson’s youngest son - another Josiah (1818-1883) - who was a leading Secularist and Liberal councillor and prominent businessman in Leicester.
He founded the Vulcan engineering works in the city, and, amongst the firm’s many other engineering achievements, later manufactured the beam engines which powered the Abbey Pumping Station.
Josiah had twelve children: five from his first marriage to Elizabeth Orton Farmer and seven by his second wife Sarah Ansell.
His fourth son, Ernest Gimson went on to become a leading figure in the British Arts and Crafts Movement and was commissioned by his older brother Sydney, a director in the Gimson engineering firm, to design a summer residence
he could use with his family.
Regrettably the weather wasn’t ideal for the celebration and rain beforehand followed by unseasonably high winds on the day caused some last-minute alterations to the event.
Fortunately the village hall at nearby Newtown Linford was available, where a picnic was held with family members travelling to Stoneywell throughout the course of the day.
Jennie Lloyd, operations manager at Stoneywell, said: “We were delighted to be able to welcome so many members of the Gimson family to Stoneywell.
“Ernest Gimson was both an architect and a designer of furniture, metalwork, plasterwork and embroidery and his eye for incredible detail and skill ensured that when Stoneywell was completed it was the epitome of all that is great about Arts and Crafts. It was a real privilege to be able to welcome the family here to mark a special occasion.”
Barley Roscoe, great, great granddaughter of Josiah Gimson, added: “It was wonderful to be able to mark two such important anniversaries with such a memorable celebration.
“The Gimson family is deeply grateful to the National Trust staff and volunteers at Stoneywell for not only ensuring the day was such a success but also for their dedicated and sympathetic care of Stoneywell so that all may enjoy it in future.”