Weaver, Lawrence 1876 - 1930

Lawrence Walter William Weaver [commonly known as Lawrence Weaver; and as Sir Lawrence Weaver] was born in Clifton, Bristol, England on 2 July 1876   After leaving school, he worked as a commercial traveller selling builders' ironmongery.  He became sufficiently interested the products he was selling to write as series of articles on old leadwork for Country Life. The articles were subsequently published as English Leadwork: its Art and History, published by B. T. Batsford in 1909. In 1910 he joined the staff of Country Life as architectural editor and held the position until 1916.

From 1910 onwards he wrote a series of books on contemporary cottage and country house architecture.  He also became an authority on the architecture of Edwin Lutyens and wrote the first substantial monograph on him, Houses and Gardens of Edwin Lutyens (1913). He also wrote books on Sir Christopher Wren and High Wycombe furniture.   His books were usually well-written, informative and invariably copiously illustrated.

Weaver and his wife, Kathleen were instrumental in founding the Ashtead potteries in Ashtead, Surrey in 1923.  The aim of the pottery was to provide employment for disabled ex-servicemen.  They were supported in the venture by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis and the politician Stafford Cripps. Among designers recruited by the pottery were Phoebe Stabler and Percy Metcalfe.  The pottery closed in 1935.

Weaver was appointed director-general of the United Kingdom exhibits section of the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley in 1924-25 for which he was awarded a knighthood.   He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and was made Honorary Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architect (Hon.ARIBA) in 1910. He died in Marylebone, London on 9 January 1930.