The Stained Glass of the Horwood Brothers

The Stained Glass of the Horwood Brothers – the life and times of a provincial Victorian firm.

From very humble beginnings the three youngest of the six Horwood Brothers were educated by the Rector of Mells, Somerset but it was his curate who taught them the art of stained glass. With the Rector’s sponsorship they were soon working for some of the major names in Victorian church architecture, such as Butterfield and Street. They set up their own business, first in Mells and then in Frome. Much of their work is to be found in Somerset and Wiltshire, examples can be found in many counties of England, with some in Wales and Ireland and as far afield as Australia and South Africa. One of the brothers, Harry, emigrated to Canada where he set up his own flourishing firm and two of his sons became prominent architects there. Their work in this country spans a period of over 40 years, from 1852 to 1895. Books will be available for purchase after the talk.

Jeff Hopewell is a retired priest and Canon Emeritus of Leicester Cathedral. He has long been interested in church architecture and furnishings and has written a book on the Glaswegian stained-glass artist, Douglas Hamilton. His book on the Horwood Brothers is scheduled to be available in November 2026, about the same time as the publication of an article on the stained glass of David Evans of Shrewsbury.

Booking opens to members on Friday 19 February 2027. Seats are free to members.

Booking opens to the public on Monday 22 February 2027. Seats are £5 plus a booking fee of £0.75.