Archibald Knox was a Manx Art Nouveau designer of Scottish descent, who was born at Cronkbourne, near Tromode in the Isle of Man on the 9 April 1864.
Archibald’s father, William Knox was an exceptional cabinet and machine-maker and he moved to the Island with his wife Ann in 1856, where he soon set up his own firm “William Knox’s Engineering Works,” on the South Quay in Douglas. He was joined in his enterprise by four of his five sons. The fifth, Archibald pursued his own career in art. Besides running several successful businesses the Knox family were pioneers in industrial electric lighting on Man and introduced the first motor car to the island!
Archibald was educated at the Grammar School in Douglas before attending the Douglas School of Art. Encouraged by his headmaster, a noted archaeologist, he became fascinated by the island’s ancient Celtic and Norse carved crosses, and their complex interlace patterns, which were to remain a seminal influence for the rest of his life.
Archibald left the Island to teach in the London area from 1897-1912 and it was during this period his association with Liberty & Co began. This association would see him recognised as one of the foremost designers in the English Art Nouveau movement.
His designs for Liberty’s made him a household name, as did his watercolours, graphic designs and fonts. His design talent covered a wide range of objects, from silver and pewter tea sets and jewellery to gravestones and even bank cheques. The gravestone of Liberty's founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, was designed by Knox.
After his time teaching in London he spent a year in the USA before moving back to the Island to teach art in some of the Manx schools. He remained a bachelor all his life and sadly, on the 22 February 1933, while working on the Hall Caine Memorial, which can now be seen at Maughold Cemetery, he suffered a heart attack and died at the family home, 70 Athol Street, Douglas aged 69. He was buried at New Braddan Cemetery, where his beautifully carved headstone is well worth a visit.
It seems very fitting on the 150th Anniversary of his birth this cache should be placed on the site of his former home 70 Athol Street.
You might want to sit awhile and reflect on this great Artisan’s life whilst searching for the cache but take care because it is a busy area, with CCTV in operation. Disc parking is available in Athol Street, see signs for details and the Steam Railway Station can be found opposite the cache site. Please bring a pen/pencil and maybe tweezers to help you extract the log.
Happy Caching!
Congratulations on your FTF dreeder75
