The Glasby Family

In the Donald Green Archive there is a lot of information on the Glasby Family which we presume he found at Henfield Museum. This was not available when we visited and wonder if it has been lost? In particular Green refers to a scrapbook created by Dulcima.

Donald Green appears to have access to many notes relating to Dulcima – described as her “scrapbook”, which was in the possession of Mrs Colgate whom Green met on a visit to Henfield. We didn’t find any evidence that he met Lucie Bishop or Mrs Chalmers.

There is more information in the Collins’ archive  about the family, including newspaper articles, and these must have been in the possession of Lucie Bishop/Mrs Chalmers and not seen by Donald Green.

Letters received from Mrs Colgate appear to show her on good terms with Lucie Bishop and Mrs Chalmers. There is no evidence of the letters from the son where he disputes the ownership of the Vidimus (found in the Collins’ archive and in the V & A).

Phyllis Dulcima Glasby 23 July 1893–22 March 1975

Born on 23 July 1893, 20 Church Row Hampsted,  father, William Glasby, was twenty-nine  and her mother, Emily Constance Brett, was thirty-one. Born seven years after Barbara.

In 1906 the Glasby family moved [by 24 April] to 23 Clarendon Road,  from the Henry Holiday tied house to Putney.

She lived in Wandsworth, London, in 1911 and at “Three Oaks” 65 Worthing Road, Horsham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom in 1939. She died on 22 March 1975, in Henfield, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom, at the age of 81.

1899. photograph of Dulcima aged 6. Seen by Green when visited Henfield in June 1992.

Wrote poetry, stories especially for parents. A neighbour of Dulcima in Henfield, Mrs Gladys Colgate confirms that the Glasby family  created books and scrapbooks of poems, music and drawings. When Donald Green visited Henfield in June 1992 he saw  scrapbook created by Dulcima.

1918. Booklet of poems written by Mother Constance and Dulcima and Barbara decorated it. One poem about a lost love may suggest that Dulcima had a lover at war and maybe he died? There is a copy in the Green Archive.  The Contents page was produced by Barbara, called “Daisy” at this time.

1910. aged 17 Dulcima edited and provided material for a home-produced magazine “The Bud” – Dulcima and Barbara provided the decoration.

Worked in an Income Tax Office during WWI.

1914-1917. Dulcia’s sketch book seen by Donald Green when he visited Henfield in June 1992. Portrait of Mother and father and Barbara.

1919. Theatre Notice and The Brighton Herald  refers to Dulcima performing in “The Younger Generation” at the Palace Pier Theatre, Brighton. There are Notices of performances later in 1919 at Northampton, Liverpool, Ipswich and Hammersmith.

Writing fairy stories and “Red Indian” stories  for children’s magazines; journalist. “Fish and Actors – What Railways Are Used for on Sundays”; “In the Depths of the Earth (Young Folk Tales”; advice on how to revive a shabby handbag with brown boot polish.

1920-21. Actress. Appeared in “The Wandering Jew” , New Theatre, London 1920-1921, played the lead opposite Matheson Lang.  A souvenir of the production was designed by Dulcima.

1922. August 1922 “My Magazine” published a poem by Dulcima entitled “Thistledown”. Green describes it as “rather sweet for modern tastes.”[1]

1922. 22 December Radio Station L20 London, a Programme for  London broadcasting (on 365 metres) from 5.30 – 6.15 “CHILDREN’S CORNER” included a transmission of the first episode of Dulcima’s story.

1923. July “Bubbles” a weekly publication published a fairy story about a convalescent child  by Dulcima entitled “CLEVER DOCTORSUN”   Toby – a monthly publication – published a story by Dulcima about anthropomorphic jungle animals called “The Blue Monkey”.

1924. first book published by J M Dent: a fantasy which opens with children playing on Hampstead Heath. [Green presumed Dulcima had grown up playing on Hampstead Heath]. The children are granted a wish to meet Queen Elizabeth and some of her courtiers (who are only visible to the children) and escort them around London. In November and December favourable reviews were published in several London journals; the Daily Chronicle printed a photograph of Dulcima with the caption: “DULCIMA GLASBY, the actress, has just published “The Queen Who Came to Town”. The message on the flyleaf indicates that Dulcima presented her sister Barbara with a copy on the book's publication day.  This book was in the possession of Mrs Colgate and the inscription states “Here, on it’s birthday, Barbara, dear, is my little book for you. From your very loving sister, Dulcima. 7.10.24.”[2] Green used this signature to match with the Glasby letterhead of 1924 where Dulcima appears to be signing her father’s name.

1924. 13 August. Letterhead used by  Glasby . Green thinks it is signed by Dulcima Glasby – the signature is like the dedication found in the book [ES – and to some extent on her Will]. This is interesting because it has been assumed that Dulcima was not very involved in the family business. It may be that she was responsible for business admin?

24 January “Home Chat” published a piece by Dulcima about a young woman who is taught how to walk in the wet without splashing

1925. joined the BBC. [age 32]. Was the first person to adapt a play for radio.  Worked for seven years adapting stage plays for broadcasting . One was John Gallsworthy’s “The Forest”.

1929. [ES found BBC Archive note that Dulcima arranged the play  Electra (1929) | APGRD for broadcasting.]

1933. resigned from the BBC. She had adapted over 200 plays for radio. Said it was to devote more time to writing. But there may have been a clash of personalities. In an interview with Mrs Colgate Green discovered “ that Mrs Colgate thinks there was some sort of trouble which caused Dulcima to resign.”  Green says “Dulcima was a woman of strong character.”

1933/4.  Opens a wool shop in Putney where the family had lived since 1906 (when forced to leave the Henry Holiday tied house). Later opened a branch at “The New Wool Shop”  14 East Street, Horsham. We do not know why Horsham was chosen, or if there were any family/friendship ties . Green says was because of the economic slump – we do not know if this is just a hunch or he found evidence of this.] In a letter of 1975 written by the son of Mrs Gladys Colgate, [3] he says that the sisters “kept The New Wool Shop” which was on High Street, Brick Lane, Henfield.

We do not know if the wool shops were operated consecutively or concurrently. It would make more sense to close the shops when the family moved.

1939. Family moved to “Three Oaks”, 65 Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1TD . May 1939 . The house was sold by a “developer” [4] Florence Ethel Ludgater for £1600 and owned by the “Misses Glasby”, owning the freehold and taking out a mortgage   of £1050. [5] The conveyance was witnessed by Edgar Charles Seely, who was described as an “artist in stained glass”. [6]

This move may have been a personal move, due to William’s poor health. Or the family may have had foresight of the imminent war. Green discovered their house in Putney was bombed.

1941. Dulcima complained to a Board of Trade representative who had come to Horsham to explain the new clothes rationing scheme to  a meeting of local traders. Dulcima is reported as giving the Representative a hard time. [Copies of newspaper articles in the Green archive].  The Glasby family appear to be having a difficult financial time and Dulcima says that the wool shop is supporting a family of four with no other income.

26 August 1941 William Glasby died at Horsham. His Estate was worth less than £700 [ES: £1130 in today’s money).

There was a copy of an Obituary in the Green archive.

Green notes that less than a month later Albert Lombardini died in a nursing home at Maidenhead, aged 58.

Glasby and his wife Constance are buried in Horsham William Glasby & Emilie Constance Glasby nee Brett Grave in Horsham Sussex | Memories on FamilySearch. Dulcima asked to be cremated]

1942. Published second book “Tim the Traveller”. Dulcima Glasby - Tim the Traveller 1942 scarce 1st HB/DJ lovely vintage cat | #1783312357 described as “A handful of illustrations throughout by the author. Green cloth boards with silver decoration and lettering to front and spine.” Printed on “War Economy Standard Paper”.

Story of a cat taken to  from London to a farm in the West country during the Blitz and takes a long journey home. The handwritten dedication states : “To my very real friend Mrs Colgate with best wishes from Dulcima Glasby.” In a letter to Green Mrs Colgate states that the book was published in December 1942, Reprinted April 1943 and a copy given to Mrs Colgate in 1975. Seems it was a popular book and is remembered by Commentators on the Henfield Museum website.

1945.  first half of the year Constance and her daughters moved to Upper Station Road, Henfield. We do not know if the house was bought or rented. Barbara and Dulcima made plans to resume the Peachtree, Atlanta Windows. Eight Windows had been dispatched by the outbreak of war in September 1938.

Green found a sketch design for the “Good Samaritan”, completed in 1946. Presumably this was in the Henfield Museum. The designs had to be altered

1950. Magazine Article, “Painting with Glass” 1950 . Article about both sisters’ Peachtree commission.  Donald Green finds many inaccuracies in the Magazine Article.

There sisters are shown painting with Cartoons:

·       Labourers in the vineyard Window WA-2 1949-50

·       Merciful Master  Window EA-5 1949

·       Pharisee and Publican Window EA-3 1950 [this was the last Window supplied by the sisters to Peachtree for the Aisle]

Green notes that the sisters did not supply the tenth Aisle Window (it was supplied by H Vernon Spreadbury in 1954).

1953. The Article states that “eight clerestory windows have also been completed.” The sisters  supplied the very last Window in 1953 which is found in the Clerestory. (Window EC-1 “Prayer”.

In this year the family moved to “Kentwyns, Blackgate Lane, Henfield where Constance died on 2 October 1953, aged 91. We do not know if the house was rented or bought.

Donald Green must have discovered this Magazine cutting in either the Henfield Museum or in Dulcima’s scrapbook. Green finds many inaccuracies in the Article and the type-written captions.

Inaccuracies spotted by Green:

·       Green points out that the Article “Painting With Glass” appears to suggest that the sisters supplied all the Clerestory Windows when in fact Glasby had made seven of  the Windows between 1929-1939. The sisters supplied  EC-2 Prophets in 1947 and WC-1 Pentecost in 1952 and EC-1 Prayer in 1953.

·       There is mention that the sisters would supply the glass for the large west Window did not materialise. It was supplied by H  Vernon Spreadbury.

·       In a Zoom call in May 2022 with the current Minister The Rev. Dr Jarrod Longbons of Peachtree we heard that there are letters at Peachtree which complain about the quality of the work. We don’t know if this relates to the Windows supplied by Glasby or Barbara and Dulcima. But it may explain why H. Vernon Spreadbury supplied the remaining Windows.

·       Green points out that the sisters and their widowed mother, Constance moved to Henfield in 1945, not 1946.

·       In the typescript caption,  lower picture,  Dulcima is modelling for Barbara – not the other way round (Barbara modelling for Dulcima).

·       Article has Barbara dying in 1972 but she died at Blackgate on 20 October 1961. The  sisters lived 1945 – 1953 at Sunnyside.  1953 moved to Blackgate Lane.  

We wondered if this had been a a poster for an exhibition at Henfield  Museum.

There is a lot of new and useful information on St Mary Abbots Hospital Chapel.

St Mary Abbots Hospital Chapel[7]

Writing a letter to Mrs A Jameson in June 2000 Green states that the figure of St George is one of Glasby’s standard figures. The Window created for the Chapel of St Mary Abbots Hospital in Kensington in 1949 featured its use.  Green describes the design as:

“The Window uses two of Glasby’s stock designs – an Angel of peace at the top and a Saint George in the middle plus figures of two kneeling nurses at the bottom, probably designed by Barbara Glasby.”

The sketch design was at the Henfield Museum when Green visited in June 1992 the cartoon is in the V& A – signed by Dulcima.

The Window commemorate nurses who were killed by a flying bomb in June 1944. It was removed before the Chapel was demolished in 1974. Green states that the intention was to re-instate the Window in the new Chelsea & Westminster Hospital but because it was a tall,[8] narrow panel there was no possible space, and it was put into store at The London-Stained Glass Repository. Green was informed that it would be installed in the Mental Health Department of the new hospital in Fulham.  

Chapel, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Fulham Road, Chelsea « London Churches in photographs

We could not find it on this website which is of the new Chapel where several Windows from disused Hospitals have been re-installed.

In 2021 Stephen Tomkinson of Tomkinson Stained Glass Ltd. advised that he bought this at auction and sold it on. It is now in a private collection.

Green has a copy of photos in Bernard Hughes’ 1991 Book “From Workhouse to Hospital” [copy in the Green archive.] Green was also provided with a set of Windows slides and used a projector to photograph them.  [These may be in the box of slides in the Green Archive].

Green discovers the Inscription:

To the

Glory of God

And in

Proud Remembrance

Of

Sister A Skinner

And Nurses J.M. Card,

M.Coughlan, R. J. Denne,

A. Godsell, O. Hiltton-Parry,

C.D. Manfield, V. L. Wood.

The window is/was given by the

St. Mary Abbots Hospital

Nurses League and Friends.

1939                                 1945

Green also has a slide of the “sketch-design” for the Window taken at Henfield Museum in August 1992. When we visited in 2022 we did not note this design.

Glasby made at least twelve opus sectile panels for the Chapel. [Log NW 34] and we wonder if they were placed with the London Glass Repository? Older items are now stored at Retford.

There are no Faculty Records for the Chapel. The building was not consecrated because non-conformist churches raised objections.   It was built in 1875 and dedicated to St Elizabeth of Hungary.[9]

1945. Green states that the sisters, but most probably  Dulcima,  create a Notebook for “Missing” Glasby sketches/cartoons. These were list when Churches did not return the originals sent out by Glasby.  Herstmonceux is on this list – with a note to the effect that the Window contained an “old” Virgin Mary. Green thought that Barbara crossed this out replacing the word “old” with “elderly”. We did not see a copy of this Notebook when we visited Henfield and wonder if it had been with Mrs Colgate?

1945. Photo of the two sisters.

Green thought that the sisters may have been trying to revive the stained-glass business but in 1945 there was little appetite for commissioning new stained-glass Windows. [ES: It was also a time of post-war austerity and money may not have been available for large commissions?]

1945.  Moved to Upper Station Road Henfield. (Green has taken photos of the houses) .The sisters resumed work on Peachtree Sketch design for the left light of their first Window “The Good Samaritan”

1948. 20 July Barbara Glasby is on the  entry for the Memorial Window in Lowndes & Drury Order Book

1949. 29 March Barbara Glasby  charged £82.0.7 (Green presumes for the cost,  firing and leading of glass) and £8.10 (Green presumes for fixing).

For several years after the WWII when the sisters were completing the Peachtree Commission they rented a studio at the Fulham Glass House and that photographs show them at work there.

1953. Peachtree, Atlanta Commission completed. Moved to “Kentwyns” Blackgate Lane, Henfield, West Sussex. 2 October Constance died, aged 91. Buried with William at Horsham.

From 1953 the sisters lived at this address until Barbara died on 20 October 1962 at the age of 75. Dulcima continued to live at this address, with a brief spell in a nursing home at Cowfold, before she died

1974. Dulcima’s Will of 21 November 1974 created some tension with her housekeeper/neighbour’s son, Hugh Colgate. Dulcima appointed the solicitor firm Griffith Smith Dodd and Riley as Trustees and Executors.[10] Dulcima hoped that her personal solicitor, would handle her affairs.

 She left “all articles and effects of household or personal use or ornament” belonging to her to the executors “ with the request but without imposing any trust that they will distribute them in accordance with any wishes expressed in any memorandum either deposited with the Will or left amongst her papers  “but so that any article not mentioned in such memorandum shall fall into and form part of my residue.” .

The residue of the Dulcima’s Estate was to go to Mrs G. Colgate :

“ and trust that she will accept this not only as a token of my most grateful thanks for all her kindness to me but also as an expression as my great regards for her as a most dear and irreplaceable friend and in memory of the happy times we have had together and for the unstinting help given by her and her husband from day to day.”

Following her death, several cartoons were found in the attic of Kentwyns, Blackgate Lane, and it is believed they were thrown away.  An “urban myth” has developed around the sketches found in the Collins’ archive, that they were “saved from the skip.” But Gren confirms that no business records exist. Green also appears to have viewed more items at Henfield Museum when he visited than we found in 2022. This implies that certain items might have been thrown away.

 Green states that when he visited Henfield Museum in June 1992 there were no cartoons but he was aware of some watercolour drawings of Windows. These must be the ones in the Collins’ archive and in the custody of Lucie Bishop/Mrs Chalmers, or her daughter Diane, who was John Collins' third wife.

We discovered this reference to the Peachtree commission:

HENFIELD PARISH COUNCIL MUSEUM COMMITTEE Meeting of the Museum Committee held on Wednesday 27th November 2024 at 7:30pm in the Henfield Hall.

11. FRIENDS OF HENFIELD MUSEUM (FoHM) REPORT

He confirmed that the Curator was researching the Glasby drawings after the Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta with their stained glass is having its 100th anniversary in 2025 (hence their enquiry). Mr Gordon has photographed and added a sample of their work to the museum art collection page (currently 2nd feature). He said that Lucie Bishop had donated 115 of their large 'cartoon' drawings she received in the will of Dulcima Glasby to the Atlanta Historical Society, after showing some in Henfield Museum in 1975. He said it was unknown if they have since been displayed in Atlanta, he said that they were valued at $10k in 1976.

This is an interesting valuation. Christie’s sale of William Glasby (1863-1941), Designs for stained glass: Day and Night | Christie's raised £10k in 2017 for 2 Cartoons.

The Executors of Dulcima’s Will must have given the cartoons to Lucie Bishop within their discretion. She was a not a direct beneficiary under the Will.

The Invoice confirming this transfer to Peachtree was at Henfield Museum. In 2025, we contacted Peachtree to inquire about the presence of these cartoons or sketches and was informed they were not available. He speculated that they might be the missing Vidimus listed in the Colgate List.

Writing to Donald Green in 1991 Mrs Colgate states that she understood from Dulcima that the “family did not go out a lot”. By this she presumes Dulcima is referring to foreign travel. However, Mrs Colgate then adds:

“… but once she and a friend went to Monte Carlo and she had one visit to the Casino when she had such a good evening that the next day she bought for Barbara a real amber necklace amongst other purchases.”

There is a photo of Dulcima with her cats in the Green archive.

Additional insights into Dulcima’s life and personality can be found in a letter from Hugh N. Colgate, Mrs. Colgate’s son, addressed to the Minister of Peachtree Church in Atlanta on May 6th, 1975.

Kentwyns was still Dulcima’s home when she died in 1975. But, for the last few weeks of her life, she was looked after in a nursing home at Cowfold. Her death certificate described her as “an authoress (retired)”.

Daisy Constance Barbara Glasby

According to Green, there are no existing photographs of Barbara during her childhood.  There is a drawing of Barbara with her mother and father, by Dulcima at the seaside. No date.

Booklet of poems written by Constance and Dulcima and decorated by Barbara. [Floral designs]

1930. Picture of Barbara with William in the Daily Mail 1930. The headline states that William often used Barbara’s hands as models when designing figures for stained glass.

1930. August The Star published an Article by Barbara. She states that from early years she helped her father with his stained-glass work and that they are engaged in a big commission for a church (Peachtree) in  Atlanta, Georgia.

See above for under Dulcima for concurrent info on Barbara re St Mary Abbotts, Peachtree and the 1950 Magazine Article.

1962. When Barbara died in 1962 the death certificate described her as an “Artist and a shopkeeper”.

Emily Constance Glasby (nee Brett)

Born 10 December 1861 at 160 Packington Street, Islington. Father was John Charles Brett, described as a stationer. Mother was Emily Brett (nee Beaumont).

William and Emily Constance were married on 27 July 1885 a St Saviour’s Church, Battersea. Emily Constance was two years older than William. Green thought that she was “…came from a higher social glass.” At that time William was working for James Powell and Sons, paid at 37s 6 for a 45-hour week. Despite this difference in social class the Glasbys appear to have been happily married for 56 years until William’s death in 1941. In his Will of 4 December 1936 William leaves his whole Estate to “ …my very dear wife Emily Constance…”

Green found it odd that none of their parents acted as witnesses to the marriage (the witnesses were Clyde Brett and Sarah Glasby). Green thought that Sarah might have been an aunt by marriage. Noting at that time there were two Glasby families living in Battersea: James Thomas Glasby and George Glasby.

We wondered if she was the daughter of a well-known painter John Brett who was a member of the Hogarth Club, founded in 1858. This was a group of artists in the Rossetti circle exhibiting their work. Green wondered this too – but decided against the link.

We know very little about Emily Constance. She appears to be artistic and with her daughters was engaged in writing poetry, music, drawing. There is some evidence that she may have been an actress. This was a suggested link with Lombardini.

Also an author, writing under her mother’s maiden name “Beaumont”.  There are some plays written by Emily Beaumont in the Collins’ archive. To date we have not found any public evidence of either occupation.

From papers in the Collins’ archive she supported William in his work.

1953. Died aged 91 on 2 October 1953. Buried with William at Horsham Cemetery .

One question: why did the women drop their first names? They were a very resilient set of women – surviving two wars, the 1920s economic recession. Working in a male-dominated profession.

(c) Erika Szyszczak February 2026.

Notes

[1]                 There are three copies of Green’s lectures on Glasby in his Archive and this is where the quote comes from.

[2]                 Letter to Donald Green 2^nd December, 1991. Sent from MRS. G. COLGATE, 7 RAYNER COURT, CAGEFOOT ANE, HENFIELD, SUSSEX BN5 9HD.

[3]                 Mrs Colgate was a neighbour but is also described as her “housekeeper”. She was the beneficiary of the residue of Dulcima’s Estate.

[4]                 The Glasbys were the first owners and it may be that the house was built/developed by the individual named, or, Ludgater may have been a professional developer.

[5]                 The Glasbys sold the house in June 1942 to Mrs Eleanor L. Capes for £2100.

[6]                 Letter to Donald Green from Dr Paul Kane, owner of “Three Oaks” on 20 January 1993. In reply, on 21 January 1993, Green states that Seely “worked for some years as a glass-painter for Morris & Co at Merton Abbey.”

[7]                 Category:St Mary Abbots, Kensington (stained glass) - Wikimedia Commons

[8]                 Green estimates it at 9ft 6 in.

[9]                 Green Archive GO47

[10]               This firm still exists in Brighton.