Arthur Westlake ANDREWS

Arthur Westlake ANDREWS FRGS
1868
1959

Having trained as a geographer (FRGS 1896), and being a teacher of geography and history in Southwark, in 1913 he published a text-book of geography, reprinted in 1922.

As a rock-climber and mountaineer, his first contribution in 1899 was the route now called Andrews' renne on Storen in Norway.

In 1901, Arthur Westlake Andrews competed in Wimbledon where he was defeated 8-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round by P.G. Pearson who in the next round lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to Herbert Roper-Barrett. The latter represented Britain in the first Davis Cup. Cf. John Barrett, !00 Wimbledon Championships. A Celebration, London: Willow Books/Collins 1986, p. 211, and Cf. Heiner Gillmeister, Tennis. A Cultural History, pp. 215-220.

He is remembered especially for two books he co-authored with J M A Thomson, including in 1909 the first rock-climbing guide-book to the cliffs of Lliwedd (Snowdonia)  and for being the 'father' of Cornish sea cliff climbing, beginning with an early ascent  of the Bosigran Ridge Climb in 1902, followed by Ledge Climb (also Bosigran) in 1905.

With E C Pyatt he later produced the first official (Climbers' Club) Cornish Climbing Guide in 1950. In later years he turned his hand to poetry, inspired by the scenery of West Penwith, Cornwall. His map-making was produced for publication, and his photographs were of both personal and geographical use. A large archive of photographs, glass negatives and other ephemera makes up the Andrews-Westlake Archive at the Hypatia Trust. He lectured locally on photography at STISA.

 

media

 Sportsman (tennis, climbing), geographer, poet, photographer, illustrator, map-maker.

works and access

Access to works: Hypatia Trust, WCAA: Scrapbooks; family papers; poetry volumes and drafts; illustrated geographical books; Pocket photo album of rock climbs around Zennor: Internal & external prints & negatives of Zennor Counthouse (colour), Zennor countryside (20+ negatives); 

The Cornwall Centre (Cornish Studies Library): Selection of prints and documents from the above collection.

exhibitions

 

memberships

FRGS 1896

misc further info

Arthur Andrews was a member of an intellectual and artistic family, which included the historical novelist, Marian Andrews (writing as Christopher Hare), the sculptor, Elsie Andrews, and the antiquarian and latterly the author, John Westlake Andrews.  The latter established the Andrews-Westlake Archive at the Hypatia Trust, Penzance, and bequeathed family papers, photographs and glass slides, sculptures, and the 'Treasure', a magnificent desk/chest to hold these items, formerly the possession of Mrs Felix Mendelssohn, as passed down through the family.

references

Climbers Club Journal 1997

Hypatia Trust & WCAA: Andrews-Westlake Archive

O'Sullivan (1984) West Penwith (2nd edition)

 wikipedia.org