William Gershom Collingwood (1854 - 1932) - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

After a brilliant academic career at Oxford, where he was a pupil of John Ruskin, he married and settled at Gillhead, Windermere. He was an artist, writer and antiquarian of more than local reputation, also an accomplished musician, climber, swimmer and walker.

Collingwood is buried with his wife next to his son's grave. The Collingwoods are buried next to Ruskin's grave, which has a headstone to a design by W.G. Collingwood. His book, 'The Lake Counties', was first published in 1902, and re-issued in 1988 in a revised edition with photographs, and notes and revisions by William Rollinson. Hugh Walpole said it is 'the grandest prose writing about the Lake District in existence'. He later developed another career - that of novelist. 'Thorstein of the Mere, A Saga of the Northmen in Lakeland' (which was set around Coniston) is probably his finest novel. It was the favourite childhood book of Arthur Ransome, who later became Collingwood's friend after they met while walking on 'The Old Man of Coniston'.
William's son Robin was a philosopher of note, and wrote books and papers on Ancient and Roman Britain. He carried out archaeological work at the Galava Roman Fort in Ambleside.
After Ruskin's death, he became Professor of Fine Art at University College, Reading. He founded the Lake Artists Society in 1904. The Armitt Museum in Ambleside contains a display of the life and work of the Collingwoods, William, his wife Edith who was a noted painter of miniatures, their son Robin, his sister Barbara who was a noted sculptor, married Oscar Gnosspelius (nearby Waymark (visit link) and their sister Dora a fine watercolour painter. You can see examples of the work of all these people.
After a summer of teaching Collingwood's grandchildren to sail in Swallow II in 1928, Ransome wrote the first book in his Swallows and Amazons series.

Links
National Archives (visit link)
Online Encyclopaedia (visit link)
Find a grave (visit link)

Description: He was an author, artist, antiquary and was also Professor of Fine Arts at the Reading University. For many years Collingwood dedicated himself to helping Ruskin, staying at Brantwood as Ruskin's assistant. In 1883 he married and settled near to Ruskin. Collingwood edited a number of Ruskin's texts and published a biography of Ruskin in 1893. Probably his most lasting legacy was his influence on his son R. G. Collingwood, the famous philosopher and historian. Date of birth: 09/06/1854 Date of death: 01/01/1932 Area of notoriety: Literature Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daylight Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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