The Cloisters (Letchworth)
The Cloisters in
Annie Jane Lawrence
The Cloisters was built by
As a young woman she undertook social work in the slums of London, which urged her on to action. Lawrence decided to build a centre dedicated as a school of thought from which adults could go out and effect social change. She chose Letchworth because it was the world's First Garden City; here she leased three acres of land on which she built The Cloisters and Cloisters Lodge, intending that the former should be a School of Philosophy while she lived in the latter.[2]
Design
The design reputedly came to Miss Lawrence in a dream. The building originally consisted of a large half-oval 'open-air room' called the `Cloisters Garth' with an open colonnade to the south and large glazed bays to the north; this was flanked by two wings, one housing the kitchen and store rooms and the other the cubicles and dressing rooms for an oval open-air swimming pool. It was designed according to the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement, and was built using marbles and other materials from all over Europe.
1905–1907
Originally built as an open-air school dedicated to Psychology, with accommodation for 20 students, students were encouraged to study "how thought affects action and what causes and produces thought." Through healthy outdoor living it was intended that the students would develop healthy minds. The building was also designed to hold lectures, conferences, drama and musical performances as well as organ recitals. Students were also taught skills from the Arts and Crafts movement.[1]
Designed by architect William Harrison Cowlishaw, building commenced on the 3-acre (1.2 ha) site in 1905, and the building opened on 17 January 1907, having cost the then huge sum of £20,000. Miss Lawrence built a house for herself, 'Cloisters Lodge', alongside.[4]
1907–1939
A small community developed at The Cloisters dedicated to
History since 1939
The Cloisters was commandeered by the Army during the
Miss Lawrence eventually moved out of Cloisters Lodge into a house on Willian Way in Letchworth but her increasing frailty led to her moving to St Catherine's Nursing Home where she died aged 90 on 3 August 1953.[2] She is buried in the churchyard of All Saints Church in Willian in Hertfordshire. In her will she left £41,246 2s 6d to George Ernest Hinman (Solicitor) and her brother the Rt. Hon. Frederick William Pethick-Lawrence.[3] Bar and kitchen staff and others in the building late at night have experienced hearing the voice of a woman calling out in greeting leading to the theory that it is haunted by its founder, Miss Annie Lawrence.[8]
The Cloisters has been designated by Letchworth Garden City Corporation as one of the 'great historic buildings' of
Although structurally sound, in October 2013 the building was put on English Heritage's 'At Risk Register' owing mainly to the poor condition of its roof tiles which have allowed water to cause damage.[11][12]
Freemasons at The Cloisters
- Leonard Parkin, ITN newscaster
- Christopher Reynalds, child actor of the 1960s and 1970s
Gallery
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A hand-cast lead drainpipe with design of bees and bats from The Cloisters
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The grave of Annie Lawrence in the church of All Saints at Willian in Hertfordshire
References
- ^ a b Miles, V.W., The Cloisters, Letchworth, 1907–1967 Published by The Lawrence Cloisters Trust (1967) pg 7
- ^ a b c About The Cloisters – A Brief History – The Cloisters, Letchworth website
- ^ a b Annie Jane Lawrence – Ancestry.com – pay to view
- ^ Utopia Britannica – British Utopian Experiments 1325 – 1945
- Letchworth Garden CityCollection
- ^ Gifford, Jack The Cloisters, Letchworth in Freemasonry Today Issue 11 (Winter 1999/2000)
- ^ Christodoulou, Glenn, The Cloisters Lodge: the Next Twenty-Five Years, Privately printed by the Cloisters Lodge No. 7100 Festival Committee (2001) National Library of Australia]
- ^ Gifford, p.2
- ^ Historic England. "The Cloisters (1102019)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ 'Britain's Secret Homes: Episode 4' on the English Heritage website
- ^ Historical building 'at risk' says English Heritage' – 'Hitchin, Letchworth & Baldock Advertiser 16 October 2013 pg 7
- ^ 'The Cloisters on at risk register' – The Hitchin Comet 17 October 2013 pg 7