William Smedley-Aston
Encyclopedia
William Smedley-Aston was a Victorian
Pre-Raphaelite Arts & Crafts
photographer and member of the Linked Ring Brotherhood. He was also known as W. S. Aston or W. Smedley.
He was married to Irene Smedley-Aston, who featured in many photographs, paintings and drawings of the Arts and Crafts movement because the couple were friends with member of the Birmingham School of Art
, such as Joseph Southall
.
He lived at The Yew Trees, Henley-in-Arden
, a 16th century timbered house, which housed his famous collection of early English Furniture
& Glass. The Yewtrees is now three houses, having been sub-divided, and the 5 acre gardens built upon.
Much of his collection is pictured in the book Early English Furniture & Woodwork. The collection was slowly sold off by the auctioneers Grimleys through a series of three sales.
They had three children:
The family were relatives of John Smedley
, who had constructed Riber Castle
and whose company still exists as a luxury garment producer. William's brother, J. Herbert (Bert) Aston, founded what became (after its 1919 merger as Tube Investments Limited) TI Group
, the worlds largest tubing firm. In turn his son John Aston went on to run Reynolds Tubing, which was part of TI Group, and included Raleigh
bicycles
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Pre-Raphaelite Arts & Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
photographer and member of the Linked Ring Brotherhood. He was also known as W. S. Aston or W. Smedley.
He was married to Irene Smedley-Aston, who featured in many photographs, paintings and drawings of the Arts and Crafts movement because the couple were friends with member of the Birmingham School of Art
Birmingham School of Art
The Birmingham School of Art was a municipal art school based in the centre of Birmingham, England. Although the organisation was absorbed by Birmingham Polytechnic in 1971 and is now part of Birmingham City University's Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, its Grade I listed building on...
, such as Joseph Southall
Joseph Southall
Joseph Edward Southall RWS NEAC RBSA was an English painter associated with the Arts and Crafts movement.A leading figure in the nineteenth century revival of painting in tempera, Southall was the leader of the Birmingham Group of Artist-Craftsmen—one of the last outposts of Romanticism in...
.
He lived at The Yew Trees, Henley-in-Arden
Henley-in-Arden
Henley-in-Arden is a small town in Warwickshire, England. The name is a reference to the former Forest of Arden. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 2,011....
, a 16th century timbered house, which housed his famous collection of early English Furniture
English furniture
English furniture has developed largely in line with styles in the rest of northern Europe, but has been interpreted in a distinctive fashion. Regional styles are significant, for example between the North Country and the West Country....
& Glass. The Yewtrees is now three houses, having been sub-divided, and the 5 acre gardens built upon.
Much of his collection is pictured in the book Early English Furniture & Woodwork. The collection was slowly sold off by the auctioneers Grimleys through a series of three sales.
They had three children:
- Michael Smedley-Aston - film director and producer who developed the early careers of Sean ConnerySean ConnerySir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and Peter SellersPeter SellersRichard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
, among others. - Rosemary Smedley-Aston - medieval historian and wife of John Milward, one of the heirs to Milwards NeedlesHenry Milward & SonsHenry Milward & Sons is a British manufacturer of sewing needles..Entaco as featured on the One Show on BBC One are the suppliers of John James Needles but with the majority being imported from China to their specifications and not in Redditch as portrayed on the programme.The earliest reference...
. They lived at Barlow Woodseats HallBarlow Woodseats HallBarlow Woodseats Hall is a Grade II* listed manor house situated at Barlow Woodseats, on the edge of the village of Barlow, in Derbyshire. It remains the only manor house in the Parish of Barlow, and the current house dates from the early 17th century, although there are much earlier origins.-...
in Derbyshire. - Ivo Smedley-Aston.
The family were relatives of John Smedley
John Smedley (industrialist)
John Smedley is the name of four generations of owners of Lea Mills, near Matlock, Derbyshire. The most famous of these was John Smedley , born Wirksworth, Derbyshire.-Lea Mills:...
, who had constructed Riber Castle
Riber Castle
Riber Castle is a 19th century Grade II listed country house situated in the hamlet of Riber on a hill overlooking Matlock, Derbyshire. It was built by John Smedley in 1862 as his private home...
and whose company still exists as a luxury garment producer. William's brother, J. Herbert (Bert) Aston, founded what became (after its 1919 merger as Tube Investments Limited) TI Group
TI Group
TI Group plc was a holding company for specialised engineering companies. It was based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It was registered as Tube Investments in 1919, combining the seamless steel tube businesses of Tubes Ltd, New Credenda Tube , Simplex and Accles & Pollock. In 1928 Reynolds Tube joined...
, the worlds largest tubing firm. In turn his son John Aston went on to run Reynolds Tubing, which was part of TI Group, and included Raleigh
Raleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham, UK. It is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. From 1921 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company.-Early years:Raleigh's history...
bicycles