I once informed Rosemary that a recent (ie.mid 90's) 2 volume biography of Siegfried Sassoon had a lot of material relating to Edward Carpenter in it. (Like many others he found E.C. a source of help in coming to terms with his sexuality).

She borrowed a copy from the library and then informed me that she was amazed to learn that they were distantly related via Hamo Thorneycroft (the sculptor). I believe he married into the Carpenter family at one point but he was also a forebear of Sassoons.

My memory is very vague as to the precise details as I don't have the respective letter to hand.

It might be worth following up though.

I have just phoned Rosemary and left a message regarding this Forum's existence. I have also been onto a member of the Rutland Boughton Trust to see whether they would like to contribute a photograph of Boughton.

Alan Page wrote:
I once informed Rosemary that a recent (ie.mid 90's) 2 volume biography of Siegfried Sassoon had a lot of material relating to Edward Carpenter in it. (Like many others he found E.C. a source of help in coming to terms with his sexuality).

She borrowed a copy from the library and then informed me that she was amazed to learn that they were distantly related via Hamo Thorneycroft (the sculptor). I believe he married into the Carpenter family at one point but he was also a forebear of Sassoons.

My memory is very vague as to the precise details as I don't have the respective letter to hand.

Dear Alan Page:

Your post is confusing, to say the least.

To whom is "Rosemary" referring when she writes "...*they* were distantly related via Hamo Thorneycroft ..."

Are *they* Sigfried Sassoon and Thorneycroft? Carpenter and Hamo Thorneycroft? Rosemary and Hamo Thorneycroft?

And who is "Rosemary"?

As for the first ... Hamo Thorneycroft and Sigfried Sassoon's mother, Theresa, were brother and sister.

Of further interest:

Hamo Thorneycroft married Agatha Cox.

Edward Carpenter's brother, Captain Alfred Carpenter, married Agatha's sister, Ethel.

Harold Cox, erstwhile Socialist and brother of Agatha and Ethel, was an occasional visitor to Edward Carpenter at Millthorpe, which experience inspired him to try his hand at communal farming. When that venture turned into an utter disaster, he left for India, where he taught for two years at an Indian University. Carpenter was introduced to Indian philosophy and religion partially through Harold Cox.

Another Cox sister, Margaret, married Sidney Olivier, a founding member of the Fabian Society (of which Edward Carpenter was an occasional member). The first Labour peer, Lord Sidney Olivier was also the uncle of the noted actor, Laurence Olivier, who eventually became the second Lord Olivier.

Thank you. You have made the relationship between the two families far clearer. Carpenter and Sassoon were distantly related.
&quot;Rosemary&quot; is Rosemary Fitch, one of Carpenter's great neices. You can read further about her in &quot;The Grave Saga&quot;.<br><br>Post edited by: Alan Page, at: 2009/08/10 07:03