The Early Days

Daisy Alcock’s story starts at Hillocks farm in the little village of Stanton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Stanton is a typical small Derbyshire hamlet that is listed in the Domesday Book. The name means ‘Stone Farmstead’ which could refer to its building material (sandstone). In 1851 the population was listed as 395. In 2001 the population had fallen to 232.

The Wolverhampton Municipal School of Art and Crafts building seen from Wulfruna Street.

Parish records for Wednesfield show that Ralph Alcock and his family still lived at 98 Neachells Lane in 1914, but sometime later Ralph acquired New Cross Farm and his family moved there.

Daisy spent a lot of her spare time working on her father's farm, which was really a small holding. Firstly, in Neachells Lane and later at New Cross Farm, but her real love was Art.

Daisy’s father Ralph was a master carpenter, who could also design and build beautiful furniture and she inherited his artistic flair.

Daisy became interested in calligraphy, which is not surprising when you see the beauty and style of this form of writing with its embellishments, which is at least 2,000 years old. She knew that she would have to move to London if she was to achieve her ambition of becoming a great calligrapher. Daisy moved to Kensington and enrolled in the Royal College of Art in the 1920's, where she became a pupil of Edward Johnston, the father of modern calligraphy. Edward Johnston was a master Calligrapher who by meticulous research laid down the principles of design for modern calligraphy.

She gained an Art Teacher's Diploma and was a Nationally Registered Designer. She also became an Associate of the Royal College of Art in London and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

As well as teaching at Hammersmith School of Building & Arts and Crafts, Daisy also worked tirelessly into the night to complete various commissions from her Kensington Studio.

She would journey back to Wednesfield as often as possible to see her family and tried to get back home every 2 or 3 weeks.

Daisy at work.

Her friend and fellow associate of the Royal College of Art, William Washington, a master engraver, painter, silversmith and calligrapher, was Head of The School of Art between 1930 and 1950. He was also Principal of Hammersmith School of Art and Building. During Daisy's time there he wrote the following in the October 1945 edition of ‘The Studio’ magazine:

Just after the outbreak of war in 1939, Daisy was told that the Hammersmith School, along with other schools was to be closed down. Her classes were disbanded and her pupils scattered, her services were no longer required. Daisy was dismayed.

Despite her diminutive size, Daisy set about persuading a cabinet minister and the Under Secretary for Education to reconsider the decision, saying that Hitler had won if we allowed him to affect our private lives in this way. The ministerial machine was set in motion and it was not long before the school reopened.

Daisy had a studio in Kensington, at 27 Kensington High Street where she often worked into the early hours of the morning on numerous commissions.

New Cross Farm

The farmhouse, originally known as Newhall Buildings, was built in the mid 18th century along with two ‘L’ shaped barns, on a site that is between the Wyrley & Essington Canal and Wolverhampton Road. One of the barns had a stable, the other was used as a cow shed. The house was remodelled in the mid 19th Century and extended in the 20th Century.

Daisy’s father Ralph acquired the farmhouse and ran the farm. After his death in 1947, his wife Fannie lived in the house until her death in 1966. When she died, Daisy returned to New Cross Farm and took-up residence. For a time Daisy continued to teach calligraphy in the local area.

The ornate railings at New Cross Farm.

The ornate railings along the front of New Cross Farm may have been designed by Daisy, but it is suggested that they could have come from Stanmore Hall near Bridgnorth, which was demolished in 1938.

Daisy died on 5th May, 1996 at the age of 95. After her death the house fell into a bad state of repair.

In March 1998 consent was given to extend the house and convert it into a public house and restaurant, but nothing was done. In 2001 plans were made to convert the house into a children’s home, providing 24 hour care, but again nothing happened.

By 2008 the house was in a terrible state, and within a few years was demolished. The site has now become a car park.