William Richard Lethaby

Born in Barnstaple he was a student in the Department of Science and Art Drawing Class there, before he was apprenticed to the architect Alexander Lauder in 1871. He then worked for another architect, Norman Shaw, where he became the Chief Clerk in 1879.

A disciple of William Morris and Philip Webb, he was active in the Art Workers' Guild, exhibited at the Art and Crafts Exhibition Society, and founded Kenton and Company. He was Art Inspector to the Technical Education Board from 1894, appointed founding principal of the Central School of Arts and Crafts in 1896, and Professor of Ornament at the RCA from 1911. He was Surveyor to Westminster Abbey from 1906. He wrote extensively on art and architecture and edited the Artistic Crafts Series of handbooks. The Collection also includes an extensive collection of writings, photographs and other material by and on Lethaby. Writings by Lethaby are listed on the TALIS database available via the Central Saint Martins library. In 2002 the collection received support from Resource/V&A Purchase Grant Fund which enabled us to
acquire a collection of corresponce with and about Lethaby