Pencil sketch of an Anglo-Saxon capital alongside a sketch of the window jamb in which it was discovered. The drawing is annotated in black ink, 'Found in jamb of the west window, East Knoyle Tower- during repairs of walling, by D. Blow. Dec'r 1892'. This is one of nine sheets of drawings and correspondence between Philip Webb and the architect Detmar Blow, who worked on the preservation of East Knoyle Church tower under Webb's direction. The tower had been earmarked for demolition, but Webb's approach, in keeping with the principles of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), allowed the tower to be saved.

Philip Speakman Webb (Oxford, 1831-Sussex, 1915) was a prominent British architect who designed numerous buildings throughout Great Britain. Known for his contributions to British vernacular architecture, Webb was also a skilled draughtsman, and designer of tableware, tiles, stained glass, and furniture. He also designed gravestones and memorials for his friends and clients. Webb lent his hand to many collaborative projects and worked closely with his colleagues, namely William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Edward Burne Jones. His precise drawings of animals, particularly birds, frequently adorn tiles, stained glass, textiles, and wallpaper produced by Morris and Co. Webb is best known for designing Morris’ Red House in Bexleyheath, as well as Clouds House, Naworth Castle, and several London town houses. Among his other accomplishments, Webb is attributed with laying the groundwork for the Arts and Crafts and Modern movements, establishing longstanding principles in historic preservation, and creating some of the most influential designs still studied and celebrated today.