Gillington, Alice E.

Alice E. Gillington (1862–1934) was a poet, lyricist, artist, folklorist and song collector. She published poems in Victorian periodicals and anthologies alongside her sister M. C. Byron, and the pair produced a collection, Poems in 1892. They also worked together on lyrics for songs performed in London in the early twentieth century. Gillington’s verses are characterised by the details of nautical, moorland, woodland and meadow landscapes, in particular wildflowers and trees. She lived most of her later life in a caravan in Hampshire, forming close relationships with Romani families and taking a profound interest in Romani language, songs, dances and customs. Gillington published eight collections of folk songs, games and dances, and several essays on Romani life and culture.