Leonard Shuffrey

Shuffrey & Co frieze wallpaper with a pattern of large scrolling leaves and dandelion plants, c. 1880–90. From the Collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum.

The Jubilee Drinking Fountain (1888) in Halstead, Essex, designed by Leonard Shuffrey.

Leonard Shuffrey (31 March 1852 – 27 December 1926) was a British architect and architectural designer of the late Victorian and Edwardian period. He was a leading figure of the aesthetic movement that had a significant impact on the development of buildings and their interiors and their settings, both across London and the South of England. Noted for his wallpaper, fireplaces and ornate plasterwork, Shuffrey was thought the equal of William Morris in his creativity and skill as a craftsman. His output is often found in decorative schemes with William Morris, Edward Ould, William De Morgan, and other preeminent Arts & Crafts and late Pre-Raphaelite decorative artists of the day.

Early life and family

Leonard Atkinson Shuffrey was born on 31 March 1852 in Wood Green, Witney, Oxfordshire, into an old Wood Green family of blanket weavers and tanners of Huguenot origin, who had lived at 7 Narrow Hill since the early eighteenth century. His parents were Samuel Shuffrey (1810–1889) and Sarah Shuffrey, née Baylis (1819–1875). One of seven siblings, Shuffrey was the elder brother of the celebrated watercolour artist James Allen Shuffrey. Their cousin was the Revd William Shuffrey (1851–1932), who was Vicar of Arncliffe and Honorary Canon of Ripon Cathedral. Leonard Shuffrey attended Bloxham School between 1856 and 1867.

Shuffrey's first marriage, in 1873, was to Sarah Fletcher, a relative of Banister Fletcher (senior), with whom he had a son, also named Leonard. Leonard senior's second wife, whom he married in 1877 after the death of Sarah, was Martha Carey, great-granddaughter of James Hardy, relative of Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, Captain of the Victory. Leonard and Martha had two sons, Gilbert (born 1891) and Paul Shuffrey (born 1889), and a daughter, Kathleen (b. 1899). All of Shuffrey's sons attended St Paul's School, London.

Work Leonard Shuffrey worked briefly for Carron's ironworks, before becoming articled to the architect Banister Fletcher (senior) in London. In 1871, after several years of architectural experience, he became an early member of the Architectural Association, where he was an associate of Aston Webb. This was the start of a long collaboration with Aston Webb, with Shuffrey providing numerous interior fittings for Webb's buildings, including at Christ's Hospital, Horsham (1902), his Birmingham University Buildings, (1909). and for Webb's Malvern College War Memorial Library (1925).

Shuffrey was, above all things, a superlative craftsman. Early in his career he developed an intense interest in decorative design, and appears to have focused on, and made a name for himself in, this area of work.

In 1880, with the help of a sleeping partner, George Campbell Sherrin, Shuffrey founded his practice, Shuffrey & Co., with the aim of supplying fireplaces, wallpaper, tiles, and later, decorative plasterwork. The firm, had premises at 38–39 New Cavendish Street in London.

In 1880, Shuffrey won a competition run by The British Architect magazine to design a terracotta fireplace. The award was presented by the architect Alfred Waterhouse, who noted that Shuffrey was already well established in this field.

Shuffrey & Co. sought business through advertising in journals and magazines, and by exhibiting at trade events. In 1882, the firm had a stand at the Fine Art & Industrial Exhibition at St James' Hall in Manchester, where their display included mantels, fireplaces, paperhangings and door furniture.

Shuffrey's achievements were unique, but parallel the decorative craftsmanship of William Morris, whom he knew.

He became a Member of the Incorporated Institute of British Decorators in 1889, the year of its creation. Shuffrey was later a Council Member, Treasurer, Vice President and President of the organisation.

Shuffrey spent his leisure time drawing architectural details and creating watercolour sketches. His notebooks were reported to be a substantial and fascinating repository of interesting historical details. Shuffrey decorated his house with William Morris wallpaper, and tiles by William De Morgan.

Shuffrey also delighted in drawing and creating the type of cotswold stone cottages he had known since his childhood, and a number of houses in Wood Green, Witney, were built and adapted by Leonard for the Shuffrey family.

Wallpaper

Shuffrey's wallpaper was thought to be second only to William Morris in its invention and its creator's craftsmanship.

A further book was produced in 1891. The paper, which was skilled yet simple in design, was printed in shades of chocolate, greens, and buffs. It was praised for its creativity and affordability by ordinary home owners: "Shuffrey appear to have met a want in producing inexpensive wall-papers of good design suitable for houses of the middle-classes, and the prices they quote are sufficiently low to enable a tenant to paper his room throughout with patterns that will form a quiet background, and be free from artistic objections." the Bank of England, Admiralty Buildings, York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate, the Royal Air Force Club and Imperial College, London.

Ceilings

Shuffrey & Co also designed and made decorated ceilings, chiefly in 'fibrous' plasterwork but also in wood. In 1893, Shuffrey was asked to design ceilings at Wightwick Manor near Wolverhampton, which was being built by Edward Ould for Theodore Mander, of the Mander family. The billiard and dining room ceilings which he created are in the Jacobean style with pendants, and with ornate friezes below. Other artists and designers commissioned to decorate and furnish the old English style manor were Charles Eamer Kempe, who designed stained glass windows, and William Morris.

In 1908, Shuffrey was again called into service by Edward Ould and the Maunder Family. Charles Tertius Mander, a cousin of Theodore Mander at Wightwick Manor, was undertaking an ongoing Arts & Crafts remodelling of his house, The Mount, near to Wolverhampton. The work entailed the addition of a 55-foot 'Jacobean' library; a two-story Edwardian living hall with a sprung floor for ballroom dancing, a cabin and music gallery with a secret staircase 'carried up in the fireplace recess'. Shuffrey's ceiling is lavish, with pendant bosses and armatures on wood bracketing.

Tiles

Little is known about Shuffrey's tiles. Shuffrey & Co. designed lustre tiles in the style of William de Morgan and William Morris. Just two transfer printed tile designs were registered by Shuffrey, as well as a number of moulded designs. Shuffrey's tiles were probably created on blanks by Maw & Co. Shuffrey & Co tiles and glazed fireplaces were used in the refurbishing of two starcases at Brasenose College in 1885, along with tiles by William Morris and William De Morgan.

Final years

Shuffrey's second son, Lt Gilbert Shuffrey, was killed during the Great War, casting a shadow over the architect's final years. Gilbert died fighting with the South Lancashire Regiment at the Battle of Gallipoli in August 1915, and is commemorated on Helles Memorial. He is also memorialised on Ealing War Memorial, which was designed by his father; Gilbert's is the only name to appear in full.

Gilbert Shuffrey is also commemorated at St Peter's Church, Ealing where in 1921 his father was closely involved in the design of a remarkable carved oak reredos, dominating the Church's Lady Chapel – part of the chapel's redecoration and furnishing as a War Memorial. The east wall around the reredos was further beautified in 1928 with highly accomplished painted angels by another Ealing-based artist, Henry Charles Brewer. Gilbert's name also appears on a Roll of Honour in the chapel, and an illuminated Memorial Book.

Shuffrey, who had attended and been a member of the Church Council of St Peter's with his family since the Church's completion in 1893, contributed other items to the Church, including the alabaster high altar, a font, and the Lady Chapel altar. In 1896 a visit was paid to the newly completed St Peter's by the members of the Architectural Association, who afterwards received tea at Thorncote, Shuffrey's new House a short distance away. Shuffrey also designed War Memorials for Bloxham School, his alma mater, and Henry Box School (Witney Grammar School).

Shuffrey died on Monday 27 December 1926 at Thorncote, the house he had built in Ealing almost 40 years earlier. His funeral was held at St Peter's Church, Ealing on Friday 31 December, and he was buried in Witney.

Paul Shuffrey died in 1955. His will made provision to endow a fellowship at Lincoln College, Oxford in his father's memory, since when there have been numerous notable Shuffrey Fellows. The Fellowship continues to this day. Bryn Hafod house in Kettering, by John Alfred Gotch (1896). Shuffrey designed the ceilings.

Wallpaper Six examples of Shuffrey & Co wallpaper are held by the Victoria & Albert Museum. The Leeds & Yorkshire Architectural Society, installed Shuffrey & Co Wallpaper when they moved into their new premises on Albion Street, Leeds, in 1883.

Ecclesiastical fittings St Peter's Church, Ealing. Shuffrey Marble font, alabaster high altar, Lady Chapel altar and reredos. St Paul's Church, Great Portland Street, (1894). Shuffrey & Co built a hexagonal oak pulpit, to the designs of Paul Waterhouse of Alfred Waterhouse & Sons.

Fireplaces Admiralty buildings, London Coutts Bank building, The Strand, London, 1904, designed by John Macvicar Anderson. Shuffrey & Co provided fireplaces & grates. Christ's Hospital, architect Aston Webb, 1902. Shuffrey & Co. grates and mantles. Malvern College War Memorial Library, architect Sir Aston Webb, 1925. * Rotherhithe Town Hall, London (destroyed 1944) Royal Air Force Club, London Victoria & Albert Museum new galleries fronting Cromwell road, architect Aston Webb 1899–1909. Shuffrey & Co fireplaces. The Jubilee Drinking Fountain in Halstead, Essex designed by Shuffrey in 1888. The stone fountain sits on a circular plinth with flower beds, and steps. There are two fountains, with bowls, in shell recesses with projecting keystones, and string courses and patterns. The fountain has a pediment top, with acanthus cornice and foliate panels on east and west sides. It was presented to Halstead by George Courtauld (politician), and commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.