Frank and Amanda Holmes open up their collection to WHS

During the recent WHS visit to the Lincrusta factory in Morecambe, members were invited to Frank and Amanda Holmes’s house to view their fabulous archive collection and explore even more treasures in Frank’s workshop. Frank has been a painter and decorator for 35 years, incorporating traditional skills and faux finishes into his work. He officially became an advanced level Approved Lincrusta Installer in 2016, which was the catalyst for Frank and Amanda’s journey of discovery, learning about the history of relief wallpapers and the original designers from the Arts and Crafts era, which led to the restoration side and a passion for collecting and saving lost designs, books and articles for their archive collection.

Amanda Holmes shows some of their archive material with a backdrop of ‘Ruskin’ wallpaper from the G P & J Baker Brantwood collection. Members were just as interested to know the source of this design – it is fitting as John Ruskin’s Brantwood home overlooks nearby Lake Coniston.

Members initally spent time perusing the varied collection of historic books and vast array of ephemera. These documents act as valuable resource material particularly when identifing historic designs for restoration projects. In 2023, as part of a major refurbishment of the Langdale Chase Hotel, Windermere, Frank repaired and refinished several Tynecastle Tapestry embossed canvas wallpapers, friezes, dado and ceiling tiles dating from 1891, when the property was first built. Although originally thought to be Lincrusta by the owners, Frank and Amanda were able to identify the designs from their archive records. Frank also salvaged unwanted sections of old Tynecastle Tapestry wallpaper, and a sample of an old frieze with its original faux leather finish. This fell out from behind an overmantel and was destined for the skip – Frank couldn't let that travesty happen, so it has proved a welcome addition to his collection. 

Document images courtesy of Frank Holmes Ltd archive collection

The most treasured archive document in the collection is a catalogue of special Anaglypta designs for the Paris 1900 Exhibition by George C. Haite RBA. George was born in 1855, a painter and designer of textiles and wallpapers who had studied at Croydon School of Art. He was President of the Society of Designers and this catalogue lists other well-known designers of that time, also recording the artist’s name on each page. This was a rare find from an online bookseller in Spain. There is only one other known copy, which is in a library archive in NSW, Australia.

Document image courtesy of Frank Holmes Ltd. archive collection

The archive document below left, promotes Japanese leather paper from Rottman Strome & Co. Through its office in Yokohama, Alexander Rottman ensured that leather papers continued to be lacquered, a treatment that was advantageous as they were impervious to gaslight and heat. They were also washable which led to the award of a gold medal at the International Health Exhibition in 1884. They were often created in rich colours of ox blood and bronze as they offered an ideal palette for use with panelling in country estates such as Castle Howard (below right, showing the same design.)

Document image courtesy of Frank Holmes Ltd.                                          Image Caroline Bennett-Jane

                        archive collection

Having looked at all the wonderful archive documents, we were taken to Frank’s workshop, at the end of the garden, a cavern of creativity, where even more historic designs were on display from the archive, along with various Lincrusta designs where Frank has used his decorative prowess to create different finishes.

Alexander Rottman established Rottman, Strome & Co. in 1882. His associate C. J. Strome had already set up an exporting company in Japan as early as 1877 with Dr Christopher Dresser as art director. Frank and Amanda are excited to be custodians of an old folding screen, made from Lincrusta pattern no.121 by Dr Christopher Dresser c.1878, one of the designs Lincrusta-Walton exhibited at the Paris 1878 Exhibition. It was illustrated in the Art Journal and still in production c.1900.

Below left: folding screen with Lincrusta-Walton pattern no.142 attached to an ebonised frame with decorative stained glass top c.1885. Below right: second folding screen (reverse side), Lincrusta-Walton pattern c.1880s.

A selection of panels in Frank’s workshop including to the left ‘Peacock’, a reproduction of an original Anaglypta Art Nouveau design by George C. Haite for the Paris 1900 Exhibition.

Restored door panels c.1880-1914, in a range of finishes by Frank, including burnished metal which he enjoys experimenting with at the moment.

Image Amanda Holmes

Lincrusta-Walton door panels dating from the 1880s when Anglo-Japanese style was at the height of fashion. Frank has rescued these and added them to his archive collection. To the left Frank has used a pewter effect, creating an Arts and Crafts hammered look. To the right is an ivory plaster finish.

Image Caroline Bennett-Jane

Images Caroline Bennett-Jane

Above: current Lincrusta designs in various decorative finishes by Frank - the ‘Passeri’ sample board on the left has been finished with gilded highlights in 24ct gold leaf.

The versitility of Lincrusta is not just confined to the walls. Frank also has a talent for turning the designs into concept pieces whether for decorating the exteriors of boxes or  inserting panels into Victorian pot cupboards.

We were also shown how moulds are created to replicate designs onsite so that they can be reproduced for restoration projects. A surviving Gothic-style Lincrusta dado turned up in Lancashire recently, which also incorporates spider and fly motifs, suggesting it was designed by the same hand as the Christopher Dresser folding screen.

Image Caroline Bennett-Jane                                              Image courtesy of Frank Holmes Ltd.

Our grateful thanks go to Frank and Amanda Holmes for their hospitality and for sharing with our members their passion for the archive collection they’ve built up and are constantly adding to as custodians, and for giving us a insight into the exciting projects that they have undertaken.

L-R Mark Rigby, Frank Holmes, Caroline Bennett-Jane, Rowena Beighton-Dykes, Pauline Birdsall, Wendy Andrews

Caroline Bennett-Jane