Author who wrote about Shrawley Village
W. P. Hodgkinson was an artist, a philosopher and an author. He lived in Penrose in Shrawley and spent his boyhood there. In later life he wrote two books The Eloquent Silence published in 1946 and The Kingdom is My Garden published in 1947. The latter concerns his wanderings and observations in a small Worcestershire village called Ridding. Ridding was in fact a pseudonym for Shrawley, he disguised the name to protect the village from too many visitors. Hence Ridding Wood was Shrawley Wood and Ridding Brook was Dick Brook.
We are indebted to Elaine Fellows who has researched the following potted history of the Hodgkinson family.
Wilfred was born on April 30th 1912. His birth was registered in Martley in June 1912. His father Edmund was a tin burnisher from the Black Country whilst his mother Annie was a dress maker, born in St. Austell, Cornwall. Their home was recorded on the 1911 census as "The Stores" but this was probably the property now known as Penrose. Annie was by then a shop keeper. Wilfred had older siblings; Evelyn, Ivy and then Edmund Austin born in 1911 the year before Wilfred was born. By 1939 Edmund senior was recorded as a news agent and general shop keeper living in Penrose. Penrose is a black and white cottage (see above), typical of the area but there is no sign of a shop now.
He was educated at the local Shrawley village school and then at King Charles 1st, a local grammar school in Kidderminster. Next he went to Kidderminster School of Art followed by Birmingham School of Art. By the age of 21 he was Acting Headmaster of Redditch School of Art, then Headmaster. Then Assistant Master at King Edward's Grammar and Warwick School. Three years as Principal at Truro School of Art were followed by a stint as Principal of Bilston School of Art and Crafts. (The 1939 register shows him living in Bilston as Principle of Bilston School of Art). His interests were in the making and design of stained glass windows, pottery, metalwork, landscape painting, oils and book illustration. Was there anything he couldn't do!
He married Joyce Smith who came from Cornwall as had his mother. He gave up his academic career to concentrate on his writing.
His father had died by 1948 and is buried in St. Mary's Church Shrawley but to date we don't have any further information as to the rest of the family.
Wilfred died in 1991 in Winchester, Hampshire
Wilfred was born on April 30th 1912. His birth was registered in Martley in June 1912. His father Edmund was a tin burnisher from the Black Country whilst his mother Annie was a dress maker, born in St. Austell, Cornwall. Their home was recorded on the 1911 census as "The Stores" but this was probably the property now known as Penrose. Annie was by then a shop keeper. Wilfred had older siblings; Evelyn, Ivy and then Edmund Austin born in 1911 the year before Wilfred was born. By 1939 Edmund senior was recorded as a news agent and general shop keeper living in Penrose. Penrose is a black and white cottage (see above), typical of the area but there is no sign of a shop now.
He was educated at the local Shrawley village school and then at King Charles 1st, a local grammar school in Kidderminster. Next he went to Kidderminster School of Art followed by Birmingham School of Art. By the age of 21 he was Acting Headmaster of Redditch School of Art, then Headmaster. Then Assistant Master at King Edward's Grammar and Warwick School. Three years as Principal at Truro School of Art were followed by a stint as Principal of Bilston School of Art and Crafts. (The 1939 register shows him living in Bilston as Principle of Bilston School of Art). His interests were in the making and design of stained glass windows, pottery, metalwork, landscape painting, oils and book illustration. Was there anything he couldn't do!
He married Joyce Smith who came from Cornwall as had his mother. He gave up his academic career to concentrate on his writing.
His father had died by 1948 and is buried in St. Mary's Church Shrawley but to date we don't have any further information as to the rest of the family.
Wilfred died in 1991 in Winchester, Hampshire