[ Leslie Cope Cornford, architect and journalist. ] Original monograms, designs and sketches, including several items for WImbledon House School, Brighton (the future Roedean), founded by the sisters of his future wife Christabel Lawrence.

65 items of varying size, on pieces of card and paper. The collection is in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. As his obituary in The Times (5 August 1927) describes, before embarking on his journalistic career, Cornford trained as an architect. He was articled for three years from 1884 to Sir John William Simpson (1858-1933), and then studied at the Royal Academy in 1888. He then served briefly as assistant, first to Thomas Verity (1837-1891), and then to F. S. Waller and F. W. Waller, before qualifying as an architect in 1889, and ARIBA the following year. The present collection of designs, showing the strong influence of the arts and crafts movement, is of particular interest for the items it contains relating to Wimbledon House girls' school, the future Roedean School. In 1898 Cornford would marry the school's games mistress Christabel Lawrence, sister of the its three founders Penelope, Dorothy and Millicent Lawrence (see their joint entry in the Oxford DNB). ONE: Design in ink on card of bookplate for his future wife Christabel Lawrence, signed 'LCC'. In envelope with inscription: 'Book Plate | Miss C. Lawrence.' Also an ink design for a calling card: 'Miss Lawrence | Presented by | Wimbledon House C.C. | 1893.' With pencil inscription (by her?): 'Something of this kind I want please soon as possible', with note expanding 'C. C.' to 'Cricket Club'. TWO: 34pp. of designs for monograms, in pencil and ink, on 30 pieces of paper and card. One on letterhead of 'CL [ Christabel Lawrence ] | Wimbledon House, | 36, Sussex Square, | Brighton.' These include ones captioned 'Wimbledon House Cricket Club | 1891.' and 'The | Wimbledon House Swimming Club. | Nov. 8. 895.' Two carry the same annotation, in a tiny stylized hand: 'Note to Die Cutter | Drawing to be followed with the utmost exactitude.' The first is signed 'LCC Dec 5 1892' and the second (for Margaret Lawrence) 'LCC Oct 31 1892'. The second carries the additional notes: 'CT enlarged to shew intentions clearly.' and 'Copy slightly improved to Mrs. L Nov 7 1892'. Also present are leaves of designs for monograms for 'Miss Beatrice E. Greg | Nov 1891', 'Miss Ethel Jane Reed | Nov 891', 'Ernest Arthur Jelf. | May 1892', 'Margaret Lawrence | Nov. 1892', 'Maria B. Ward | Nov. 1894', 'Marjorie M. Monkhouse | Decr. 1898', 'C. M. de la G. C. | March 10 1892' and 'C. H. E. A. | March 8 1908'. One is on the reverse of a printed handbill from the Royal Academy Students' Club, London, 8 October 1892. THREE: Five pieces of paper and card, with eight designs for the masthead and device of 'The Zenana Magazine'. One filled-in in colour. FOUR: Seventeen pieces of paper, with sketches and designs in pencil and ink. One a design for a wall plaque for Wimbledon House, 1891. Also medallions, shields, tracing in colours of stained glass, sculptures. Pencil sketch of a tree in a storm. One with caption: 'R. S. Badges | Nov. 5 1898'. Another with 'Mirror, ebony & bevelled glass. | Sent to M. R. L. May 12 1898'. One on letterhead of 54 Eaton Place, Brighton, E. With envelope with calligraphic inscription: 'MISS CHRISTABEL LAWRENCE | Favoured by | Miss Dorothy Lawrence.' FIVE: Two manuscript designs for (Wimbledon House?) school handbills. Neither dated. The first a 'Calendar of Clubs for Christmas Term | The Meetings of these Clubs will take place as follows', 1p., folio. Listing eleven meetings from 2 October to 31 December. The second a simple layout for a school report sheet. SIX: Two pieces of card with designs and instructions for an engraving on a silver matchbox. One with details of 'L. Cope Cornford Archt. | 47 Norfolk Road | Brighton Feb. 15 1892.' With tiny monogram design in shield on card, with directions. SEVEN: Original pencil design, with stylized lettering and ornamentation, for a programme for an event ('The Magic Glass' and 'The Tailor Prince') at Northcote House (in Hampstead?), 19 December 1889. 3pp., 12mo. With the completed duplicated programme, 3pp., 12mo. Both bifoliums. EIGHT: Design for monogram letterhead for 'E W' (E. Wraith), with note: 'Monogram E. W. for die , which must be cut exactly after drawing. Return drawing with specimen of notepaper stamped in black, to L. Cope Cornford, 46 Sutherland Road Brighton, together with <?>. Post die to Miss Wraith 54 Abingdon Villas Kensington. W.' Also four printed monogram letterheads on 12mo paper (one with two duplicates), including that of 'E. W.', and two backs of envelopes, with printed monograms.