Iris Wedgwood
Encyclopedia
Lady Iris Veronica Wedgwood (1887–1982) (née Pawson), was a British
author of novels and non-fiction works on the topography and history of England.
and the son of William Pawson who had been the Mayor of Leeds in 1841. She became engaged to Ralph Lewis Wedgwood in 1905, and on 24 October 1906 they were married in St Margaret's, Westminster. Shortly after her marriage, she met the philospher G. E. Moore, who had been at Cambridge
with her husband, and became his closest female friend. Other friends of the couple with whom she maintained a correspondence were the writer Joseph Conrad
and the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams
. Vaughan Williams (a second cousin and life-long friend of Ralph Wedgwood) wrote to him on hearing of his engagement to Iris:
Very early in their marriage, Vaughan Williams stayed at the Wedgwoods' home in Northumberland
with his colleague Cecil Sharp
, and in 1944 Iris and Ralph became the tenants of Vaughan Williams' childhood home, Leith Hill Place near Holmbury St Mary
in Surrey. She first met Joseph Conrad in 1913 through his friend Richard Curle
who was staying at Stonefall Hall, the Wedgwoods' house near Harrogate
. Conrad dedicated his short story collection Within the Tides (1915) to her and her husband.
Iris Wedgwood became Lady Wedgwood upon her husband's appointment as a Knight Bachelor
in 1924. (He was subsequently created the first Baronet Wedgwood of Etruria
in 1942.) They had three children: John Hamilton Wedgwood (1907 - 1989), Ralph Pawson Wedgwood (born and died in 1909), and Cicely Veronica Wedgwood (1910 – 1997) who became a noted historian of the English Civil War
and early 17th century Europe.
Non-fiction
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author of novels and non-fiction works on the topography and history of England.
Life
Iris Wedgwood was the daughter of Albert Henry Pawson (1850-1935) of Farnley, Leeds, a fellow of the Linnean Society of LondonLinnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
and the son of William Pawson who had been the Mayor of Leeds in 1841. She became engaged to Ralph Lewis Wedgwood in 1905, and on 24 October 1906 they were married in St Margaret's, Westminster. Shortly after her marriage, she met the philospher G. E. Moore, who had been at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
with her husband, and became his closest female friend. Other friends of the couple with whom she maintained a correspondence were the writer Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist.Conrad is regarded as one of the great novelists in English, although he did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties...
and the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
. Vaughan Williams (a second cousin and life-long friend of Ralph Wedgwood) wrote to him on hearing of his engagement to Iris:
I am so glad... You have everything to make a wife happy for ever and ever—you have everything in you which cries out for it. [...] I would venture to send a message to Iris (may I call her so?) if I dared, so if I may you can invent one for me—you will do it so much better than I shall! Bless you. This is quite illegible, but my hand shakes from excitement.
Very early in their marriage, Vaughan Williams stayed at the Wedgwoods' home in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
with his colleague Cecil Sharp
Cecil Sharp
Cecil James Sharp was the founding father of the folklore revival in England in the early 20th century, and many of England's traditional dances and music owe their continuing existence to his work in recording and publishing them.-Early life:Sharp was born in Camberwell, London, the eldest son of...
, and in 1944 Iris and Ralph became the tenants of Vaughan Williams' childhood home, Leith Hill Place near Holmbury St Mary
Holmbury St Mary
Holmbury St. Mary is a village near Abinger in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England located within the Hurtwood, the largest area of common land in Surrey. Nearby to the south is Holmbury Hill, which at is the fourth highest point in Surrey. The village itself is named after the hill and...
in Surrey. She first met Joseph Conrad in 1913 through his friend Richard Curle
Richard Curle
Richard Curle was an American author. His many books cover the subject of Joseph Conrad and his works.-Selected works:* Aspects of George Meredith * Joseph Conrad: A Study * Life is a Dream...
who was staying at Stonefall Hall, the Wedgwoods' house near Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
. Conrad dedicated his short story collection Within the Tides (1915) to her and her husband.
Iris Wedgwood became Lady Wedgwood upon her husband's appointment as a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1924. (He was subsequently created the first Baronet Wedgwood of Etruria
Wedgwood Baronets
The Wedgwood Baronetcy, of Etruria in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1942 for Ralph Wedgwood, chairman of the World War II Railway Executive Committee...
in 1942.) They had three children: John Hamilton Wedgwood (1907 - 1989), Ralph Pawson Wedgwood (born and died in 1909), and Cicely Veronica Wedgwood (1910 – 1997) who became a noted historian of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and early 17th century Europe.
Works
Novels- The Livelong Day. London: Christophers (1925)
- The Iron Age. London: Hutchinson & Co.Hutchinson (publisher)Hutchinson & Co. was an English book publisher, founded in 1887. The company merged with Century Publishing in 1985 to form Century Hutchinson, and was folded into the British Random House Group in 1989, where it remains as an imprint in the Cornerstone Publishing division...
(1927) - Perilous Seas. London: Hutchinson & Co. (1928)
- The Fairway. London: Hutchinson & Co. (1929)
Non-fiction
- Northumberland and Durham. London: Faber & Faber (1932)
- Fenland Rivers: Impressions of the Fen Counties (with drawings by Henry RushburyHenry RushburySir Henry George "Harry" Rushbury was an English painter and etcher.Born the son of a clerk in Harborne, then on the outskirts of Birmingham, Rushbury studied on a scholarship under Robert Catterson Smith at the Birmingham School of Art from the age of thirteen...
). London: Rich & CowanRich & CowanRich & Cowan Ltd was a book publisher, based at 37 Bedford Square, London WC1, England.They specialized in literary books.- Books :* A Ghost in Monte Carlo by Barbara Cartland,...
(1936)
Reception
- The Geographical Magazine called Fenland Rivers "A pleasantly rambling description of the fen country".
External links
- Works by Iris Wedgewood in WorldCatWorldCatWorldCat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories which participate in the Online Computer Library Center global cooperative...