Caroline Townshend

Caroline Charlotte Townshend (4 September 1878 – 10 June 1944) was a British stained glass artist, suffragette and representative of the Arts and Crafts movement. In 1920, Townshend and Joan Howson established Townshend & Howson.

Early life and education Caroline Charlotte Townshend was born on 1878 in London to Chambré Corker Townshend, an architect, and Emily Townshend , a social reformer and suffragette. Townshend was the one of five siblings, and was the paternal niece of Isabella Frances Townshend.

In 1882, the family moved to Switzerland before relocating to Florence in 1885. She assisted in his studio and attended his classes at the Central School of Arts and Crafts until 1903.

Career She set up her own studio at The Glass House in Fulham, South-West London

It was at The Glass House in 1913 that she met Joan Howson, a student of the Liverpool School of Art, who would become her student and apprentice. In 1920 they set up their company Townshend & Howson. Neighbours included Edward Woore and other stained glass artists.

Fabianism She was member of the Fabian Society, a democratic socialist organisation, and in 1910 was a candidate of the Labour Party for the Board of Guardians in Fulham, London. In 1918, Townshend designed banners for the Fabian Society, executed by 19 women, and for the Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association.

Death Caroline Townshend died on 10 June 1944 in Pwllheli, North Wales, leaving just over £30,000 to Joan Howson. Howson continued to use the name of their partnership after Townshend's death.

St Mary, Greenhithe

Location: Greenhithe, Kent Year: 1904

This church, designed by Lewis Vulliamy dates back to 1855. Townshend completed a three-light window for the church's north aisle, an interpretation of the “Presentation in the Temple”. or 1908.

Exchange Buildings, Newcastle upon Tyne Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland Year: circa 1910

Townshend carried out some glazing work for this building.

The "Fabian Window" Year: 1910 The "Fabian Window", on loan to the London School of Economics (LSE) Shaw Library since 2006, was made by Townshend in 1910, to a design by George Bernard Shaw. The window, shows Edward R. Pease, Sidney Webb and other members of the Fabian Society "helping to build "the new world"". The window was bought back by the Webb Memorial Trust following its reappearance at Sotheby's in July 2005.

St Nicholas, Willoughby Location: Willoughby, Warwickshire

This church has a three-light window by Townshend. The central light contains a Salvator Mundi ("Saviour of the World") and those on either side the lights show St Nicholas and Mary Magdalene.

St Nectan's Church, Hartland, Devon Location: Hartland, Devon years: 1930 and 1933

Townshend and Howsen painted windows for both St Nectan's church, Hartland and for St john's Chapel of Ease, Hartland. The windows were commissioned by Richard Pearse Chope and possibly John Lane. The subject matter is not religious but depicts the history of Hartland through the years. In order south east to north east: The Gytha window; The manorial window; the William window; the Alfred window & the Arthur window. Further work is three small roundels in the Mary Chapel window. Within St John's Chapel of Ease a window showing St Augustine & St Francis is in situ as a memorial to the wife of Mr Wilton, headmaster of the local school.

Other work Townshend's work was included in an exhibition organised by the William Morris Gallery in 1985 to celebrate the contribution of women to the art of stained glass. Exhibits included her 1906 design for a window depicting St Crispin, the patron saint of cobblers, this window destined for the Cripples' Cobbling School which was part of the Southwark Settlement and also the 1905 design for a window commissioned by the Newcastle antiquarian William Street, of 9 Charlotte Street in North Shields. It is not known whether these windows have survived. Townshend's mother's family were from Newcastle and this connection lead to her receiving several commissions in the North East.

Gallery