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.

 

Welcome non-fiction author Christine Sanderson.

Christine Sanderson at rear of 78 Derngate.

I'm delighted to welcome Christine Sanderson onto my blog today talking about her non-fiction book Bassett-Lowke Art. The Making of an Identity.

Many readers will be familiar with model train sets and model boats from childhood days and may recall that the leading figure in manufacturing these wonderful old models was Mr W.J. Bassett-Lowke.

As the son of an engineer, Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke was born in Northampton in 1877. He grew up with a love of model engineering and steam trains. His model trains and scaled ships became famous the world over.

The first house Bassett-Lowke owned was 78 Derngate in Northampton, today a Grade II* Listed Building and a popular tourist attraction in the town once noted for its shoe industry. 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. Incidentally, this year marks the 150^th anniversary of his birth. Sadly, he makes headline news today because of the devastating fire at the Glasgow School of Art where so much of his work was displayed.

A visit to 78 Derngate reveals so much about both of these forward-thinking men. And I was fortunate enough to enjoy a conducted tour around 78 Derngate recently with Christine. She has been involved with this house since 2000 and is an expert and enthusiast on Mr Bassett-Lowke.

 As a member of the 78 Derngate committee, and a tour guide, there was no one more qualified than Christine to write this book. It 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 explained that it all started with her going on Northampton Radio, hoping to find people who worked for Bassett-Lowke. She explained, “Another renowned figure who worked with him at the time was skilled model maker E.W.Twining; and I was so pleased when his great-grandson’s wife contacted me. We met up and she showed me a Bassett-Lowke catalogue cover that Twining had designed. This started me wondering about all the other catalogues.”

Christine went on a year-long quest to source these rare catalogues and acquire the necessary copyright permissions to use them in her book. Christine said, “I was really lucky as everyone was so helpful and these people have been acknowledged at the end of the book. Only one museum insisted on payment for the rights to use their images – so we were very fortunate.

“The curator of 78 Derngate, Liz Jansson assisted with the editing and Friends of 78 Derngate paid for the publishing. All the proceeds from the book go straight to 78 to help with the upkeep of this wonderful property. The book is available exclusively from 78 Derngate’s shop and online. It’s a book that will appeal to lots of train people and graphic design people.”

Christine is already working on her second book which will be about the advertisements that Bassett-Lowke placed in hundreds of publications. Its title will be Bassett-Lowke Advertisements. The making of an Identity.

 

Find out more: https://www.78derngate.org.uk/

Pics of Christine and trains courtesy of Rob Tysall.