Casgliadau Arlein

Elton, Edmund (Sir Edmund Elton, nephew of Sir Arthur, inherited Clevedon Court manor house in Somerset in 1883. Sir Edmund was an enthusiastic voluntary fireman, and inventor of one of the first forked bicycle brakes, as well as a device to prevent ladies' skirts from becoming entangled in bicycle wheels. He was also a well-known potter, setting up a pottery in Moor Lane opposite the court, with the help of a local boy called George Masters. "Elton ware" became popular, especially in America where it was marketed by Tiffany & Co. Elton and Masters' work typically has a variety of rich colours, bas-relief decoration of flowers in a style similar to Art Nouveau, and in the later works metallic glazes are often used. Sir Edmund's son Sir Ambrose succeeded him in 1920. His son Sir Arthur was one of the pioneers of documentary film making in the years prior to the Second World War, working with John Grierson. Sir Arthur inherited the title on his father's death in 1951. The house was donated to the National Trust in part-payment of death duties, and the west wing (rebuilt after the fire of 1882) was demolished in 1960. Sir Arthur died in 1973 and was succeeded by Sir Charles. The Elton family is still resident in the house, which is now open to the public.)