English Arts & Crafts: Early William Morris on the Isle of Man
William Morris Red House Tiles 'The Hill' Overview Arts & Crafts
William Morris Red House Tiles 'The Hill' Overview Arts & Crafts
Cronkbourne House on the Isle of Man is also known as Tromode House and is perhaps best known as one of the site where Edward Burne-Jones Beauty and the Beast tiles were installed. Sadly, the "Tromode version" of those tiles were removed from the fireplace overmantel and sold at Christie's before the estate was purchased and restored piece-by-piece by the current owner, Mr. Graham Warwick, who has graciously provided the photos on this page.
Additional information about Edward Burne-Jones fairy tale tiles painted by Lucy Faulkner and sold through Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. and installed at 'The Hill', please see:
William Moore, however, was a good customer of William Morris and Cronkbourne has several other Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. tile installations, as well as a stunning daisy window.
Cronkbourne house sits on the banks of River Glass on the Isle of Man. It is perhaps best known for the Beauty & the Beast tiles that were installed there by the original William Moore / Clucas family. Mr. Warwick has, over a lifetime, acquired the home and much of the surrounding land to restore the estate.
In the early years, of the 20th century, Cronkbourne was a social hub, with frequent visits from royalty. Some of these visits are commemorated in the house interior architectural.
A small fireplace in Cronkbourke has been restored with a combination of Delft blue and white tiles, and early blue and white Morris, Marshall, and Faulkner tiles in Longdon, Swan, Daisy, Primrose, and Peterhouse Clump designs.
The original Beauty and the Beast overmantel tiles were removed and sold at Christie's. Replacement with reproduction tiles is under discussion. The current state of the overmantel:
The library still contains William Morris tiles, however. The WFM and HM initials on these tiles refer to William Fines Moore and his wife Hannah, the original mid-Victorian owners of Cronkbourne.
Apparently unrecorded, two Cinderella side panels brace the hallway fireplace, showing Cinderella before and after her life transformation.
The design for the Cinderella side panels was created by Edward Burne-Jones in 1862. A slightly different later version flanked the grate in the Cinderella fireplace at 'The Hill'.
The surrounding 'leaves and berries' design, implemented in blue and brown and yellow, was drawn by William Morris in 1860.
Cronkbourne has a beautiful Morris, Marshall, and Faulkner Daisy window, reminiscent of the garden window at Red House.
Daisies were a major theme in Morris's designs from early tiles, needlework and stained glass, through the Membland tile panels.
William Morris Overview and Tile Listing
William Morris Tiles - Visual Catalog
