A unique expression of the Arts & Crafts movement .

In 1899 Frank and Florence Dickinson got engaged and began designing their home in leafy Surrey. It was a long engagement since Frank was unprepared to marry until he had built their dream home.  He left school at the age of 13 and worked for most of his life as a draftsman for Doultons Pottery in Lambeth.  When he met Florence, he was living in crowded accommodation with his family in Paddington.  He became a follower of William Morris and John Ruskin and the house was created to reflect their ideals.

Frank studied books on construction and borrowing £300 built Little Holland House himself with the help of his brother and a friend. He went to night school to learn metalwork and furniture making.  Florence was a talented embroiderer and seamstress. Virtually everything in the house was made by one or other of them over a period of sixty years. They raised a family at Little Holland House, Frank encouraging his son in furniture making. Their well-crafted pieces show the influence of Charles Voysey.  The house remains exactly as it was left on the death of Frank in 1971 and the departure of Florence a year later, when it was bought by Sutton Council and opened to the public. 

To join this visit please book on-line: sutton.events.mylibrary.digital  or dial Sutton Library: 020 8770 4740.  Visits are available for limited numbers at half-hour intervals 11-17:00.  Some members are booked for 11:00, so I suggest aiming for a similar time . If you do book please contact Jeremy Bate, events organiser so that he has an idea of who will be visiting. 

Little Holland House , 40 Beeches Avenue Carshalton, Surrey.  There is free parking on the road and the house is a 5 minute  walk from Carshalton Beeches station ( 44 minutes from Victoria )