13 Facts About Ernest Gimson

Ernest William Gimson was an English furniture designer and architect.

Ernest Gimson was born in Leicester, in the East Midlands of England, in 1864, the son of Josiah Gimson, engineer and iron founder, founder of Gimson and Company, owner of the Vulcan Works.

Ernest Gimson was articled to the Leicester architect, Isaac Barradale, and worked at his offices on Grey Friars between 1881 and 1885.

Two years later, aged 21, Ernest Gimson had both architectural experience and a first class result from classes at Leicester School of Art.

Ernest Gimson moved to London to gain wider experience, and William Morris wrote him letters of recommendation.

From Sedding, Ernest Gimson derived his interest in craft techniques, the stress on textures and surfaces, naturalistic detail of flowers, leaves and animals, always drawn from life, the close involvement of the architect in the simple processes of building and in the supervision of a team of craftsmen employed direct.

Ernest Gimson met Ernest Barnsley at Sedding's studio, and through him, Sidney Barnsley, a friendship that was to last the rest of his life.

Ernest Gimson had, through the Art Workers' Guild, become interested in a more hands on approach to traditional crafts, and in 1890 spent time with Philip Clissett in Bosbury, Herefordshire, learning to make rush-seated ladderback chairs.

Ernest Gimson later built his own house in the village, where he stayed until his death in 1919.

Ernest Gimson strove to invigorate the village community and, encouraged by his success, planned to found a Utopian craft village.

Ernest Gimson concentrated on designing furniture, made by craftsmen, under his chief cabinet-maker, Peter van der Waals, whom he engaged in 1901.

Ernest Gimson designed many buildings in the UK, with the two most notable being his first new house commission, Inglewood in Leicester, and the National Trust property in Leicestershire called Stoneywell.

Ernest Gimson's rush seated chair designs are still being made today by Lawrence Neal within a village craft in Stockton, Warwickshire.