Francis Skidmore (1817- 1896) – A Coventry Craftsman

This section celebrates the work of Coventry craftsman, Francis Skidmore. During his lifetime Skidmore was known as one of the best metalworkers in the country. His innovative iron, brass and silverwork won him great acclaim and prestigious commissions like the Albert Memorial, the Hereford Cathedral Screen and the Oxford University Museum roof.

Early years

Francis Skidmore was born in 1817 in Birmingham, the son of a jeweller. The family moved to Coventry shortly afterwards and Skidmore was apprenticed to his father, learning the skills of metalworking and jewel setting. In 1845 Skidmore registered as a silversmith and by about 1850, based in West Orchard, he was also producing large-scale work in iron and brass.

One of his first Coventry commissions was to light St Michael’s Church, Coventry, in 1851. He later made an eagle lectern and a colourful metalwork pulpit for the same church. At Holy Trinity in Coventry, Skidmore’s brass light-stands, altar rail, ironwork and carved wooden pews can still be seen.

Skidmore’s Art Manufacturers Company, Alma Street

In 1859 Skidmore moved to larger premises in Alma Street, Hillfields, setting up “Skidmore’s Art Manufacturers” in 1861. By 1865, the Alma Street premises boasted an extensive showroom, 2 drawing offices, pattern shops, a 14-horse power engine, a boiler room, a large workshop equipped with lathes and a steam hammer, as well as separate rooms for enamelling, stamping and electrotyping.

Exhibitions

In 1851 the Great Exhibition was held at the Crystal Palace in London. This was intended to show the world the strength, skill and inventiveness of Britain’s industries and gave rise to many more exhibitions over the following decades. At the Great Exhibition, Skidmore exhibited silver plate based on medieval designs. His work was well received and the prestige of the exhibition must have helped launch his career.

At the International Exhibition of 1862, Skidmore won a medal for “progress, elegance of design and excellent workmanship” for his exhibits, which included the Hereford Screen.

In 1867, Coventry had its own International Exhibition featuring a whole section devoted to Skidmore’s firm.

The Hereford Cathedral Choir Screen

The Hereford Screen, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, was made by Skidmore in 1862. Before installation in Hereford Cathedral, the screen was shown at the International Exhibition of 1862 where it was hailed as a “masterpiece”.

In 1967 the screen was dismantled and removed from Hereford Cathedral. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum bought this magnificent monument, saving it from possible destruction. The Herbert had neither the space or the funds to restore the screen so it was eventually transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Skidmore and the Gothic Revival

The mid-19th Century saw such a rise of interest in medieval architecture that many modern designs were based on medieval forms. This movement became known as the Gothic Revival and, linked to religious reform, led to both the building and restoration of many churches. Skidmore’s work in the medieval style and his interest in the lighting and heating of churches meant that he received many commissions from the movement’s leading architects and designers.

Skidmore’s most productive working partnership was with the architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. The two met in the early 1850s when Scott was restoring several Coventry churches.

Scott and Skidmore shared interests in medieval design, ironwork and the use of colour in architecture. Skidmore provided monuments and accessories for many of Scott’s buildings, their most famous collaborations being the Albert Memorial and the metalwork choir screens for Hereford, Lichfield and Salisbury Cathedrals.

Later years

Despite his success, Skidmore’s perfectionism lost him money. Employees described how he destroyed work or materials which didn’t meet his exacting standards. In 1872 he had to sell the Art Manufacturers company, setting up a smaller business in Meriden. His work still in demand, Skidmore continued until 1883 when he merged with Winfield’s of Birmingham.

Disabled by a carriage accident, and having neglected the commercial side of his business, Skidmore was relatively poor by the time he returned to Coventry in 1893. To help make his last years more comfortable, local dignitaries raised a special pension for him. Skidmore died at his house in Eagle Street in1896 and was buried at London Road Cemetery.

The Herbert has several examples of Skidmore’s decorative metalwork in its collections. Additionally, the Hereford Screen can be seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

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