author
Aymer Vallance
1862–1943
An Arts and Crafts writer with a deep love of old buildings and early design, he wrote lively, informed books on figures like William Morris and Aubrey Beardsley. His work also grew out of hands-on restoration, giving his pages the feel of someone who knew historic places from the inside.
1 Audiobook
Old Crosses and Lychgates
by Aymer Vallance
About the author
Born William Howard Aymer Vallance in 1862, he was an English antiquary, art historian, and writer with strong ties to Kent. Archival records describe him as a painter, stained glass designer, illustrator, and art historian, and note that he grew up in Lynsted. He became especially known for books on art, architecture, and decorative history, including studies of William Morris and the old colleges of Oxford.
Vallance was closely linked to the Arts and Crafts world. The National Trust credits him with restoring the medieval house Stoneacre in Kent during the 1920s, using traditional building methods and period materials. That practical interest in historic craft and architecture helped shape the subjects he wrote about, from church furnishings to notable artists and designers.
He was also active as a scholar of local history. Kent archival sources note that he published many articles in Archaeologia Cantiana and served as its Honorary Editor from 1918 to 1929. He died on July 16, 1943, aged 81.