Standen: Philip Webb, Morris Co. and the Creation of an Arts and Crafts Home [Hardcover]

The story of Standen, considered one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts houses by Philip Webb

In 1891, James Beale, a wealthy, middle-class Unitarian solicitor from Birmingham, commissioned architect Philip Webb to design a holiday home in the Sussex countryside. The Beale family remained sole owners of the property until Helen Beale, James and Margaret Beales last surviving child, bequeathed the estate to the National Trust in 1972.

Although Standen is recognised by architectural historians as a fine and complete example of Philip Webbs Arts and Crafts architecture of the period and is widely celebrated for its Morris & Co. wallpapers and furnishings, little has been written about how the family experienced the house, garden and estate, and the extent to which this shaped Standens later life under the National Trust.

This book fills the void, focusing on the Beales lived experience and how they collaborated with Philip Webb in the creation of Standen. Historic photographs and material from the family and estate archives, relating to both the property and its magnificent collection, reveal the extent to which the Beales appreciation for the Arts and Crafts Movement influenced the creation of Standens decorative interior, its gardens and the wider estate, from 1890 to the present day. Based on extensive new research, this lavishly illustrated publication weaves a rich historical context for Standen and its stories of human experience.

One of the great revelations of the book is the richness of the archival sources relating to Standen. The quality of the content is matched by the handsome production values; this book is highly recommended.Christopher Rycroft,Burlington Magazine

Beautifully produced, copiously illustrated, well written by the multiple authors, and excellent value. . . . It should be compulsory reading for all curators of historic houses.Annette Caruthers, DAS Newsletter

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