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
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
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Designed Renaissance panel in walnut
Designed Renaissance panel carved in walnut
Locations
Address 33 Crogsland Road London | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Address 44 Chaplin Road Willesden London | View on map
1891 (Circa)
Address 15 Lechmere Road Willesden London NW | View on map
1901 (Circa) - 1904 (Circa)
Institutional and Business Connections
Teacher at School of Art Wood Carving
1882 (Probable) - 1904
Two dates are given for his appointment. The author of ‘The School of Art Wood-Carving, South Kensington’ (The Studio, No 2, May 1893, pp. 56-60) 'E.R.' (presumed to be Eleanor Rowe, the School's manager) dates Grimwood's appointment to May 1882. However, in 'School of Wood-Carving: Illustrated History of the School and its Work', 1934, by Herbert Henry Grimwood (William's son) the date of appointment is given as 1884.
Personal and Professional Connections
Mother/father/parent of Herbert Henry Grimwood
Teacher to Edith (Editha) Ramsey Chichele Plowden
At the School of Art Wood Carving
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Instructor School of Wood Carving'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Carver & Designer Art Teacher' employed
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Wood Carver'
Sources
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Second Exhibition.
1889
pp.207-208.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 214; Folio: 26; Page: 46; GSU roll: 1341047
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 1044; Folio 53; Page 22; GSU roll: 6096154.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
Class: RG13; Piece: 1225; Folio: 93; Page: 22.
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: William Henry Grimwood
Probate Date: 28 Nov 1904
Death Date: 27 Jul 1904
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Registry: London
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 18 May 2022]