Edward Thomas Lingwood was born in Barking, Suffolk, the third child and first son of Henry Lingwood and his wife Elizabeth Anne nee Roberts.  In the 1881 Census he was listed as an 'artist, painting' lodging in Chelsea, and studying in London. That same year he was also a member of the Ipswich Fine Art Club and was exhibiting his work at various venues with them from 1882-5.

In 1889 at Maldon, Essex he married a fellow artist, Alice Mary Hunt, and the two were listed in the 1891 Census as boarding at Bellair Terrace, St Ives. The following year the Lingwoods had moved to Ipswich, Suffolk, where Edward Thomas was working from Arcade Studio, Arcade Street.  Their first son was born that year, and thereafter they moved to The Ferns, Dunwich, Suffolk where two further sons were born. Sending-in addresses include Needham Market, Suffolk (1884,1894), Dunwich (1894), Saxmundham (1896). They were listed in Dunwich again in the 1901 Census, the couple and their three children, though they had moved to Westleton by 1906.

Lingwood exhibited widely, but nothing more is known about his wife as an artist. The two were living at Farm Cottage Orchard, East Grinstead, Sussex in 1911. Their eldest son was killed in action in 1917. The artist died at Dunwich, aged 65 and is buried at Westleton, Suffolk, predeceasing his wife who died at Hastings, Sussex in 1941, aged 81 (also buried at Westleton).

[Information about this family researched by Tony Copsey, Suffolk, with many thanks!]