Designer, architect, conservationist, entrepreneur and social reformer, important in the Arts and Crafts movement. Born Spring Grove, Isleworth but brought up at 46 Upper Bedford Place, in a well-off, progressive family.
Studied architecture and joined Toynbee Hall, becoming a resident. While here, in 1888 he set up the Guild and School of Handicraft. This moved into Essex House where he lived for a time in the early 1890s. He then designed a house in Cheyne Walk, number 37, for himself, his mother and his sisters, and went on to design 6 more houses in that street but only numbers 38 and 39 are still standing.
1894 founded the Survey of London.
