Christine launches her third Bassett-Lowke book.

 

I’m delighted to welcome back non-fiction author, Christine Sanderson, as she launches her third book in her series Bassett-Lowke – The Making of an Identity.

 As many people – and especially model rail enthusiasts will know, Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke was the co-owner of the renowned Northampton based Bassett-Lowke company, who were not only famous for their locomotives, model ships, stationary engines and architectural models, but also for Bassett-Lowke’s interest in art and design.

 The company was heavily involved in model making during the First and Second World Wars. Owing to their skill and expertise the company was the perfect choice to be deployed in invaluable model making for the Ministry of Defence.

The first house Bassett-Lowke owned was 78 Derngate in Northampton, today a Grade II* Listed Building and a popular tourist attraction. However, the building isn’t famous just because of the man who owned it. It’s also renowned for being the only house in England remodelled by the famous Scottish architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

 As a member of the 78 Derngate committee, a tour guide and researcher with 20-years experience of Bassett Lowke and Derngate, Christine also writes articles for the ’78 Derngate Newsletter’ and the ‘Lowko News’ for the Bassett-Lowke Society.  She is on the Committee of the Friends of 78 Derngate and gives talks on Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke.  So, there is no one more qualified than Christine to write these books.

THE BOOKS

 The first in the series Bassett-Lowke Art: The Making of an Identity, features over 80 colour pages illustrating the work of those artists who were famous in the engineering and art world such as Henry Greenly, Cecil J. Allen, Edward McKnight Kauffer and of course Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Christine went on a year-long quest to source rare catalogues and acquire the necessary copyright permissions to use them in her book.

 Her second book, Bassett-Lowke War Work: The Making of an Identity, covers the extent and importance of the work undertaken by the artisans of Bassett-Lowke Ltd and their associated companies Winteringham Ltd and E W Twining Ltd.  The work, undertaken mostly in desperation and with the utmost secrecy, bearing in mind the shortage of materials, makes for an incredible story.

And her third book, Bassett-Lowke Stationery: The Making of an Identity covers the stationery designed for the company, including letterheads, envelopes, invoices and acknowledgement cards.  Information on who designed the images, where known, is included along with original artwork and additional information from stickers found on the stationery advertising fairs and exhibitions the company attended. This book will appeal not only to those interested in the history of the Bassett-Lowke business, but also to people interested in art and design. 

 With 70+ pages and over 100 colourful images, this A5 sized book is full of fascinating facts about the ephemera of the Bassett-Lowke company.

 Printing was generously funded by the ‘Friends of 78 Derngate’ enabling all proceeds from the book to go directly to 78 Derngate.

The remodelled interior of 78 Derngate was transformed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1916/17 for W J Bassett-Lowke and his wife Florence Jane Jones as their new marital home.

78 Derngate has been meticulously restored and opened to the public.

 Next door at 80 Derngate, is the museum of W J Bassett-Lowke’s famous model making company, showing many exhibits of model locomotives, model ships and various ephemera connected to 78 Derngate and Bassett-Lowke’s life.

There is also a boutique restaurant, light filled art galleries, a stylish shop and elegant spaces that can be hired for meetings, events and functions.

GET YOUR COPY

Bassett-Lowke Stationery – The Making of an Identity By Christine Sanderson

ISBN 978-1-3999-3848-8

Priced at £7.50 +pp it is now available to buy at 78 Derngate or via the website www.78dergate.org/shop

For more information on 78 Derngate – The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House including opening times and admission prices go to: www.78derngate.org

 I'd like to wish Christine every success with her latest book.