Miss Eleanor T. Rowe
Born 21 December 1852
Died 3 January 1920
Active: 1879 - 1911
Country of birth and death: England
Wood carver, manager of art school, author
Born in Hampstead, London. She was the daughter of Richard Rowe (born c.1798 in Exeter, Devon), East India (Tea) Merchant.
Rowe trained under Anton Bulletti at the School of Art Wood Carving (founded in 1879), and was considered his most talented pupil. In 1881 she was appointed manager of the School, and also worked as an assistant teacher. After Bulletti left the School in 1882, Rowe focused on her position as manager, which she retained until 1902. Her older brother, Alfred (born c.1848) also worked as a wood carver based on his occupation given in the 1901 Census.
During her career, Rowe was widely cited as an authority on wood carving, and she published a number of books on the subject. Most of these went through multiple editions and some remained in print long after her death. The books included 'Hints on wood-carving for beginners' (1886), 'Studies from the Museums: Wood carvings from the South Kensington Museum' (1889), 'Hints on Chip-Carving, Class Teaching and other Northern styles ... With a preface by T. R. Ablett' (1892), 'French Wood Carvings From the National Museums: Printed in Collotype' (1896), 'Practical Wood-Carving: a book for the student, carver, teacher, designer, and architect' (1907).
She was a great friend of Thomas Armstrong (1832-1911) who was a painter, and director of the art division at the Department of Science and Art between 1881 and 1898. Armstrong was a member (1880-1902), and then Chair (1902-11), of the Council at the School of Art Wood Carving. After his death in 1911, Rowe collected 'the official record' of his life, which L.M. Lamont used to write 'Thomas Armstrong C.B.: a Memoir' (1912).
She died in Kensington and her brother, George William Rowe, a solicitor was named in the probate records.
Wealth at death: £2,938 2s. 1d.
Probate date: 26 March 1920
Locations
Address 5 Beaumont Terrace Kilburn | View on map
1881
Address Exhibition Road London S.W. | View on map
1894 (Presumed)
[Address given as].
Address 46 Pembroke Road Kensington London | View on map
1894 (Circa) - 1910 (Circa)
Address The Abbots House High Street Abbots Langley | View on map
1911
A visitor at this address
Address 58 Cheniston Gardens Kensington London | View on map
1918 (Circa) - 1920
She died while resident at this address
Institutional and Business Connections
Manager of School of Art Wood Carving
1881 (Circa) - 1902 (Circa)
Member of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1894 (Presumed) - 1910 (Presumed)
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Wood Carver'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Manager & Wood Carver' worker and her older brother Alfred (born c.1848) 'Wood Carver' worker
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
None
Sources
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1894
1894
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1897
1897
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1904
1904
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1907
1907
Subscription noted as £1 in arrears.
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1898
1898
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1899
1899
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1900
1900
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2004
Class: RG 9; Piece: 92; Folio: 36; Page: 26; GSU roll: 542572
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 65; Folio: 97; Page: 5; GSU roll: 1341014
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
RG13 piece 38 folio 73 page 53
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2009
RG14PN7733 RG78PN382 RD140 SD4 ED1 SN24
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Eleanor Rowe
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1853
Registration district: Hampstead
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1a
Page: 441
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Eleanor Rowe
Death Date: 3 Jan 1920
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Probate Date: 26 Mar 1920
Probate Registry: London, England
London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920
2010
London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P81/JN1/068
The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
2008
Deaths.
The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Apr 12, 1910; pg. 13; Issue 39244. (1077 words)
Category: Deaths
Citing this record
'Miss Eleanor T. Rowe', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1209076686, accessed 30 Mar 2023]