Peter Boston
Encyclopedia
Peter Shakerley Boston was a British architect and illustrator, best known for the illustrations he made to the books written by his mother, author Lucy M. Boston
(1892–1990), who wrote under the name L.M. Boston. The best known of these books were the Green Knowe
books. In those illustrations, Peter Boston included items from his childhood home, The Manor
in Hemingford Grey
, Cambridgeshire, one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Britain.
, Cornwall, to Harold and Lucy Maria Boston, who were cousins. Peter's father left his wife in 1935, but the couple's only son continued to live with both.
Boston married Diana Robertson, a widow with two sons, in 1967. They lived in a converted mill in Hertfordshire
; however, the Bostons moved into The Manor when Boston's mother died in 1990, making repairs and opening the ancient home to visitors. Boston's widow, Diana Boston, continues to preside over the house, and was still leading tours in 2010.
Boston served with the Royal Engineers in North Africa in World War II
. He received the Military Cross for his service.
Boston died at Ashwell, Hertfordshire
.
, but later switched to Architecture, and graduated with a first. He furthered his architectural training at Liverpool University after World War II, andworked as an architect for the rest of his life, even after he began illustrating his mother's books.
Boston joined a firm in 1956 that eventually became Saunders Boston, which had offices in Hertfordshire, where Boston and his family lived; Cambridge, and Ashwell. The firm remains in existence. Boston's best-known architectural work are his private homes in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Amongst Boston's more notable designs are Black Swan House, built in London in 1975 for the Worshipful Company of Vintners
but now razed ; Gilmerton Court on the Trumpington Road in Cambridge, the Fisher Building at St. John's College, Cambridge and the Mong Building at Sidney Sussex College. In Boston's obituary, The Independent stated, “Boston managed to show sympathy for both neighbours in a design which is intricate, picturesque and self-effacing, housing a music room and other functions.”
One of Boston's creations, the house he designed in 1959 for artist Elisabeth Vellacott, sister of classical scholar Philip Vellacott, served as the basis of the home in Rebecca Stott
's 2007 novel Ghostwalk.
Boston's mother based the fictional character Tolly (short for Toseland) on her son Peter. Visitors to the Manor can still see many of the rooms and items that inspired Peter Boston's illustrations. These include the mirror that first greets Tolly and Tolly's magical Japanese mouse of carved wood, which Diana Boston called "the most important thing in the house." Mrs. Boston said that the sight of the toy, a favorite feature of the novels, would provoke adults to nostalgic tears.
In addition to illustrating his mother's books for children, Boston illustrated the dust jackets of L.M. Boston's adult books, Yew Hall (1954) and Persephone (1969).
Lucy M. Boston
Lucy M. Boston was an English children's writer. She is best known for the six books in the Green Knowe series .-Biography:Boston was born in Southport in Lancashire in 1892 and died in 1990...
(1892–1990), who wrote under the name L.M. Boston. The best known of these books were the Green Knowe
Green Knowe
Green Knowe is a series of six books written by Lucy M. Boston, published between 1954 and 1976. They feature a very old house, Green Knowe, which is based on Boston's then-residence, The Manor in Hemingford Grey, Cambridgeshire. Some books in the series feature a boy called Toseland and his...
books. In those illustrations, Peter Boston included items from his childhood home, The Manor
The Manor (Cambridgeshire)
The Manor is a house in the village of Hemingford Grey, Cambridgeshire . It was built in the 1130s and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Britain — often claimed as the oldest, although this is disputed...
in Hemingford Grey
Hemingford Grey
- Location:It is situated on the southern bank of the River Great Ouse in the county of Cambridgeshire, with the northern bank occupied by the flood meadow. Until 1965 it was in Huntingdonshire and between 1965 and 1974 it was in the short-lived county of Huntingdon and Peterborough...
, Cambridgeshire, one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Britain.
Personal life
Boston was born in LooeLooe
Looe is a small coastal town, fishing port and civil parish in the former Caradon district of south-east Cornwall, England, with a population of 5,280 . Looe is divided in two by the River Looe, East Looe and West Looe being connected by a bridge...
, Cornwall, to Harold and Lucy Maria Boston, who were cousins. Peter's father left his wife in 1935, but the couple's only son continued to live with both.
Boston married Diana Robertson, a widow with two sons, in 1967. They lived in a converted mill in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
; however, the Bostons moved into The Manor when Boston's mother died in 1990, making repairs and opening the ancient home to visitors. Boston's widow, Diana Boston, continues to preside over the house, and was still leading tours in 2010.
Boston served with the Royal Engineers in North Africa in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He received the Military Cross for his service.
Boston died at Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Ashwell is a village and civil parish situated about four miles north of Baldock in Hertfordshire.It has a wealth of architecture spanning several centuries. The dates almost entirely from the 14th century and is renowned for its ornate church tower which stands at , and is crowned by an...
.
Architectural career
Boston began reading Engineering at King's College, CambridgeKing's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, but later switched to Architecture, and graduated with a first. He furthered his architectural training at Liverpool University after World War II, andworked as an architect for the rest of his life, even after he began illustrating his mother's books.
Boston joined a firm in 1956 that eventually became Saunders Boston, which had offices in Hertfordshire, where Boston and his family lived; Cambridge, and Ashwell. The firm remains in existence. Boston's best-known architectural work are his private homes in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Amongst Boston's more notable designs are Black Swan House, built in London in 1975 for the Worshipful Company of Vintners
Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, England.- History and origins :It probably existed as early as the twelfth century, and it received a Royal Charter in 1364. Due to the Royal Charter, the Company gained a monopoly over wine imports from Gascony...
but now razed ; Gilmerton Court on the Trumpington Road in Cambridge, the Fisher Building at St. John's College, Cambridge and the Mong Building at Sidney Sussex College. In Boston's obituary, The Independent stated, “Boston managed to show sympathy for both neighbours in a design which is intricate, picturesque and self-effacing, housing a music room and other functions.”
One of Boston's creations, the house he designed in 1959 for artist Elisabeth Vellacott, sister of classical scholar Philip Vellacott, served as the basis of the home in Rebecca Stott
Rebecca Stott
Rebecca Stott is a British academic, broadcaster, novelist and a professor at the University of East Anglia. She is the author of two historical thrillers, Ghostwalk and The Coral Thief a biography of Charles Darwin, Darwin and the Barnacle and an epic history of Darwin's predecessors called...
's 2007 novel Ghostwalk.
Illustrator career
In 1939, while Boston was still at university, Lucy Boston bought The Manor, which was to so suffuse the Green Knowe books. Mother and son worked together to refurbish the house, which dates to the time of the Norman Conquest.Boston's mother based the fictional character Tolly (short for Toseland) on her son Peter. Visitors to the Manor can still see many of the rooms and items that inspired Peter Boston's illustrations. These include the mirror that first greets Tolly and Tolly's magical Japanese mouse of carved wood, which Diana Boston called "the most important thing in the house." Mrs. Boston said that the sight of the toy, a favorite feature of the novels, would provoke adults to nostalgic tears.
In addition to illustrating his mother's books for children, Boston illustrated the dust jackets of L.M. Boston's adult books, Yew Hall (1954) and Persephone (1969).
External links
- A gallery of the real Green Knowe,The Manor at Hemingford Grey
- Interview with Diana Boston
- Examples of Boston's illustrations at Google Books
- Saunders Boston Homepage
- Home designed for artist Elisabeth Vellacott, Frances Spalding, The Independent, 27 June 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- Photograph of the Gilmerton Court flats
- Photograph of the Fisher Building at St. John's College
- Photograph of the Mong Building at Sidney Sussex College
- Dust jacket of Lucy M. Boston's Persephone (1969)