Joseph King (MP)
Encyclopedia
Joseph King was the eldest son of Joseph King and his wife Phoebe (née Powell). King played a key role in the Peasant Arts movement in Haslemere, a number of the items produced are in the Victoria and Albert Museum
. He was the financier, provider of buildings and promoter of the cause through the Peasant Arts museum and the support of his wife, Maude Egerton King’s, role in the movement.
, making Greville MacDonald
, another key figure in the Haslemere Peasant Arts movement, and Joseph King cousins. King’s father was a surgeon and his grandfather was a co-founder of the Liverpool
Stock Exchange. Joseph’s brother, John Godwin King, created the Priest House museum in West Hoathly
.
The family are described as ‘non-conformist stock’, Joseph went to Trinity College Oxford were he was active in founding the non-conformist union that aimed to bring free churchmen together. After graduating he entered into the Temple with the intention of studying for the Bar. But he continued his theological studies studying at the University of Geissen in Germany in the summer of 1885. For family reasons Joseph returned to the UK and completed his legal training. Interestingly both King and Godfrey Blount, another key figure in the Peasant Arts movement had considered becoming non-conformist ministers, but instead had decided upon more orthodox career paths.
By 1885, King was engaged to Maude Egerton Hine who were both living in Hampstead
. Greville MacDonald
first met Maude that year when he sat beside her at a dinner party and discovered that she was engaged to his cousin, Joseph King, who was at the time a young barrister. In 1887, Joseph and Maude married. The Kings moved to Lower Birtley, Witley
, near Haslemere
in 1894. In 1895 Maude’s brother, William Egerton Hine painted a pencil and watercolour picture ‘A House at Lower Bertly, Witley’ which doubtless was painted whilst visiting the Kings.
candidate for the New Forest
constituency. In 1894, shortly after moving to Haslemere, King served on Surrey County Council
, eventually losing his seat six years later. His parliamentary career continued unsuccessfully, losing two elections in 1904 and 1906, until in 1910 he was finally elected MP for North Somerset
in the landslide Liberal victory that year, holding the seat until 1918. Like his friend, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
, of nearby Shulbrede Priory, King defected to the Labour Party
.
, where the Kings lived until 1922 when they moved to Hill Farm, Camelsdale, near Haslemere until Maude’s death in 1927.
King donated Foundry Meadow to the Peasant Art Guild in 1914. This was the land where the weaving houses and workshops were. It also housed the Peasant Arts museum from 1912. On several afternoons, King took groups of children in the Peasant Art Galleries, in order to stimulate their interest in folk history and the appreciation of art and handicraft. During the development of the Haslemere Educational Museum Joseph King spoke to the Museum committee on the peasant arts collections and supervised the move from the King’s road site to the museum in 1926. The Guild offered the collection to the Museum committee as a free gift together with a building fund of £500 which King matched using his own private funds. The Guild furnished, fitted and decorated two rooms to house the collection and King authored a handbook describing the collection. He was appointed Honorary Curator of the collection until his death in 1943.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
. He was the financier, provider of buildings and promoter of the cause through the Peasant Arts museum and the support of his wife, Maude Egerton King’s, role in the movement.
Family and early life
Phoebe’s younger sister Louisa married George MacDonaldGeorge MacDonald
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. It was C.S...
, making Greville MacDonald
Greville MacDonald
Greville MacDonald , was the son of influential fantasy writer George MacDonald and his wife Louisa . He has provided some interesting insights into his father's life and circle of friends. Greville was a notable ear, nose and throat doctor...
, another key figure in the Haslemere Peasant Arts movement, and Joseph King cousins. King’s father was a surgeon and his grandfather was a co-founder of the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
Stock Exchange. Joseph’s brother, John Godwin King, created the Priest House museum in West Hoathly
West Hoathly
West Hoathly is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England, located south west of East Grinstead. In the 2001 census 2,121 people, of whom 1,150 were economically active, lived in 813 households. The parish, which has a land area of , includes the hamlets of...
.
The family are described as ‘non-conformist stock’, Joseph went to Trinity College Oxford were he was active in founding the non-conformist union that aimed to bring free churchmen together. After graduating he entered into the Temple with the intention of studying for the Bar. But he continued his theological studies studying at the University of Geissen in Germany in the summer of 1885. For family reasons Joseph returned to the UK and completed his legal training. Interestingly both King and Godfrey Blount, another key figure in the Peasant Arts movement had considered becoming non-conformist ministers, but instead had decided upon more orthodox career paths.
By 1885, King was engaged to Maude Egerton Hine who were both living in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
. Greville MacDonald
Greville MacDonald
Greville MacDonald , was the son of influential fantasy writer George MacDonald and his wife Louisa . He has provided some interesting insights into his father's life and circle of friends. Greville was a notable ear, nose and throat doctor...
first met Maude that year when he sat beside her at a dinner party and discovered that she was engaged to his cousin, Joseph King, who was at the time a young barrister. In 1887, Joseph and Maude married. The Kings moved to Lower Birtley, Witley
Witley
Witley, in Surrey, England is a village south west of Godalming. The village lies just east of the A3 that runs from Guildford to Petersfield. Witley together with the neighbouring area of Hambledon have a population of about 4,000. Neighbouring villages include Milford, Chiddingfold and...
, near Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
in 1894. In 1895 Maude’s brother, William Egerton Hine painted a pencil and watercolour picture ‘A House at Lower Bertly, Witley’ which doubtless was painted whilst visiting the Kings.
Political career
By 1892, King was drawn into politics, unsuccessfully standing as a Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate for the New Forest
New Forest (UK Parliament constituency)
New Forest was a county constituency in Hampshire which elected one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
constituency. In 1894, shortly after moving to Haslemere, King served on Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Surrey in England. The council is composed of 80 elected councillors.The council is controlled by the Conservative party.The leader of the council is David Hodge....
, eventually losing his seat six years later. His parliamentary career continued unsuccessfully, losing two elections in 1904 and 1906, until in 1910 he was finally elected MP for North Somerset
North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)
North Somerset is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in the landslide Liberal victory that year, holding the seat until 1918. Like his friend, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede was a British politician, writer, and social activist. He was the third son of Sir Henry Ponsonby, Private Secretary to Queen Victoria, and the great-grandson of Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough...
, of nearby Shulbrede Priory, King defected to the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Arts
MacDonald described King as “keenly appreciating genius, though his inclinations embraced rather politics and non-conforming orthodoxies, gave her (Maude Egerton King) every opportunity for her hopes in spinning-wheel and loom”. King owned the land on Kings Road, Haslemere, that was then called Foundry Meadow, and it was here that the Peasant Arts buildings were erected, with the architect Francis Troup designing them. Around 1902, Francis Troup completed a large arts and crafts country house called Sandhouse, in WitleyWitley
Witley, in Surrey, England is a village south west of Godalming. The village lies just east of the A3 that runs from Guildford to Petersfield. Witley together with the neighbouring area of Hambledon have a population of about 4,000. Neighbouring villages include Milford, Chiddingfold and...
, where the Kings lived until 1922 when they moved to Hill Farm, Camelsdale, near Haslemere until Maude’s death in 1927.
King donated Foundry Meadow to the Peasant Art Guild in 1914. This was the land where the weaving houses and workshops were. It also housed the Peasant Arts museum from 1912. On several afternoons, King took groups of children in the Peasant Art Galleries, in order to stimulate their interest in folk history and the appreciation of art and handicraft. During the development of the Haslemere Educational Museum Joseph King spoke to the Museum committee on the peasant arts collections and supervised the move from the King’s road site to the museum in 1926. The Guild offered the collection to the Museum committee as a free gift together with a building fund of £500 which King matched using his own private funds. The Guild furnished, fitted and decorated two rooms to house the collection and King authored a handbook describing the collection. He was appointed Honorary Curator of the collection until his death in 1943.