The Arts and Crafts Movement was an ideology formed by a group of artists, designers and social campaigners in the late 19th century. It flourished in Europe and America between 1880 and 1910. It was one of the most important and influential styles of the 20th century and the local architect and designer, Ernest Gimson represents this style in its purest form.
The Charnwood Forest Cottages (1897-1908)
Charnwood Forest, with its wooded heathland and outcrops of volcanic rock, was well known and loved by the Gimsons since childhood and so they commissioned their younger brother to design and build them each a summer home there. Billson also commissioned Ernest Gimson to construct a pair of cottages for his farm workers. These were the first buildings to be completed in 1897.
Stoneywell Cottage, Ulverscroft (1898 - 99)
Stoneywell was built on a difficult, sloping site hidden from sight of the road, with outcrops of hard rock that Gimson used as foundations wherever practicable. A stone chimney jutted from the rock, with the house zig-zagging from it at different levels, accessed by oak steps and a slate staircase. Only Stoneywell Cottage is open to the public. The rest of the Charnwood Forest cottages are privately owned, therefore please treat these private homes with respect as access is not available to the public and appropriate permission should be gained before taking photographs.
