Lilian Josephine Pocock


Lilian Josephine Pocock was a stained glass artist who provided stained glass for a number of buildings, including Ulverston Victoria High School, The King's School and Ely Cathedral. She was also a theatrical costume designer, book illustrator and watercolourist. In her later years, failing eyesight prevented her from continuing her work in stained glass. After some years of retirement she died in 1974.

Early years and studies

Lilian Josephine Pocock, born on 6 May 1883 in Paddington in Middlesex, was the daughter of the Victorian artist, Lexden Lewis Pocock. From the late 1890s to 1906 she attended Royal Academy Schools and then the Regent Street Polytechnic School of Art, which is now the University of Westminster.
In 1906 she enrolled at the London County Council Central School of Arts and Crafts and was taught there by Christopher Whall, Karl Parsons and Alfred J. Drury.

Career

In 1910 she left the LCC School and worked for a time as an assistant to Parsons, who at the time was completing a series of windows for the Apse of Cape Town Cathedral. In 1915 she completed her first church window, a two-light window featuring St Christopher and St Nicholas for Little Marlow church in Buckinghamshire.
Undoubtedly her most prestigious commission was for the series of windows in Wilton church and Christ Church in Golden Square. She also completed three windows for the chapel at Tonbridge School; a three-light window of 1919 depicting St Denis, a three-light window of 1925 depicting St Christopher and a three-light window of 1936 depicting St Augustine of Canterbury. Christopher Whall had made six windows for the chapel from 1903 to 1909 and Parsons had added another in 1915 so Pocock was in illustrious company. It was after the Second World War that Pocock designed and made windows for St Paul's in Herne Hill and Christ Church in Brondesbury.

Works

Wilton Parish Church

Wilton Parish Church in Hawick, Scottish Borders was the source of work for Lilian on many occasions in her life. For instance, within the church hall she completed a stained glass window in 1947.

Other works

Churches and cathedrals