Illuminating illustrations

An often admired image from the Together Trust’s archive is that of a simple pen and ink drawing which depicts a group of children moving out from the shadows into the light. As if moving from the darkest corners of the city, where poverty and hardship were often found, the children move toward salvation (both physically and spiritually) – an artistic representation of the charity’s work in the early twentieth century, when the Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges stood as a beacon of hope, warmth and security to the young people of Manchester and Salford.                    

The logo first appeared in 1934 in the Christmas edition of The Children’s Haven magazine, in which it was stated that the charity had long been in need of a “good design that can be used on all printed papers, one that is our very own and by which we can be known.” The logo emblazoned the covers of The Children’s Haven from then on, as well as featuring on the charity’s letterheads, annual reports and advertising material – it is something of an iconic image (at least to us!)

It has only just come to light that Grace Lodge, the illustrator, was a prolific artist and writer best known for her work for the children’s author Enid Blyton. Grace was a successful children’s author in her own right, publishing and illustrating several books such as Puddledock Farm [1947]. Born in Surrey in 1893, Grace was daughter to Professor Alfred Lodge (mathematician), and niece to Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (physicist).

We do not know how Grace came to create the Manchester Refuges logo, but her commission appears to have come at the start of her successful career as an illustrator of children’s literature – all the more reason why this image is so special.

One of Grace Lodge's covers for Enid Blyton's Brer Rabbit series (taken from the Enid Blyton Society website).