Frederick Herbert Crossley [also known as Frank Herbert Crossley] was born in Yorkshire, England on 2 August 1868. He moved to Cheshire in 1887. While working on a farm in Knutsford, he took local classes in wood-carving and subsequently ran the class. He also studied part-time at Manchester School of Art. In 1898 he was appointed a peripatetic teacher of drawing and wood-carving by Cheshire County Council.
He is known to have worked as an architect, however, this is an area yet to be researched. He studied and drew vernacular buildings throughout England and amassed a large collection of photographs of buildings that have been deposited at the Courtauld Institute in London.
Examples of Crossley's woodcarvings can be found in several churches in Cheshire and in the roof of Chester Cathedral refectory. In addition to his work as an architect and woodworker, he was also the author of several books on churches and woodworking. He died in Chester on 6 January 1955.
Armstrong, Barrie and Armstrong, Wendy. The Arts and Crafts movement in the North East of England: a handbook. Wetherby, England: Oblong Creative Ltd., 2013
Armstrong, Barrie and Armstrong, Wendy. The Arts and Crafts movement in the North West of England: a handbook. Wetherby, England: Oblong Creative Ltd., 2006
‘Obituary’. Chester Archaeological Society Journal vol. 42, 1955 pp. 50-51