William Henry Grimwood

Born 1847
Died 27 July 1904

Active: 1860 - 1904

Country of birth and death: England

Wood carver, teacher of wood carving

Born in St Pancras, London. At present it has not been possible to trace details of his parents and early life. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed as a wood carver. Grimwood progressed to become an accomplished carver who was able to work directly from a drawing. Because of his exceptional skill, he was fully employed in the trade for over twenty years, latterly at Messrs. Gillow and Co.

Grimwood was appointed teacher of wood carving at the School of Art Woodcarving. He probably started there in 1882 but some sources say he joined the School in 1884. Initially he worked three days a week but this rose to five days in 1891 because the number of his students greatly increased. During the 1890s, Grimwood exhibited his work, and received several prizes including a silver medal at the Carpenter's Hall Exhibition of 1891. He remained working at the School until his death in 1904.

William's son, Herbert Henry Grimwood (born 1874 in St Pancras) was also a wood carver and teacher. His younger son Sidney A. Grimwood, born c.1878 in St Pancras, London, was a gold and silversmith. William died in St George's Hospital, London. Probate was granted to his widow, Emily and his son Herbert Henry, wood carver. After his death a tribute appeared in 'Arts and Crafts Magazine', vol 1-2 (Hutchinson, 1904) entitled 'Modern English Wood-carvers. 1.—The Late W.H. Grimwood' and information from that article has been used in the preparation of this biographical note. (Gavin Selerie drew the project's attention to this article.)

Wealth at death: £1,391 1s. 4d.
Probate date: 28 November 1904

Citing this record

'William Henry Grimwood', 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_1211298325, accessed 08 Dec 2021]