Alfred Young Nutt
Encyclopedia
Alfred Young Nutt MVO
ISO
(5 May 1847 – 25 July 1924) was an English
architect
and artist
, who was Surveyor
to the Dean
and Canon
s of St George's Chapel, Windsor in the late 19th century.
village of Burrough on the Hill
, south-east of Melton Mowbray
. He was the youngest of fifteen children to Reverend William Young Nutt, who was for thirty-five years curate of Burrough, and Rector
of Cold Overton 1852 - 74.
Following an education at Oakham
, Nutt took up an apprenticeship
at an architectural practice in Leicester
in 1861 where he remained for six years, during which time he was befriended by an artist
called Harry Ward who later became a resident of Windsor
. This connection led to Alfred taking up a position at the Office of Works
of Windsor Castle
in 1867 as a draughtsman
.
carried out between 1870 and 1871.
It was this work which secured Nutt appointment as Surveyor to the Dean and Canons of St George's in 1873, having been rejected for the vacant post of Clerk of Works of Windsor Castle. He continued to hold the position of Surveyor through annual reappointment until his retirement in 1912.
for the coronation
of both King Edward VII and King George V.
, many through contacts he had made during his time at Windsor. These varied from St John the Evangelist, Little Leighs, where Nutt undertook general restoration
work (in particular, to the porch
, chancel screen and pulpit
) to the construction of England's first concrete church
in Goldthorpe
, South Yorkshire
on the commission of Lord Halifax
.
s, which he designed himself, several of which are on display in the collection of the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum
.
A blue plaque
was unveiled on 16 April 2009 by the Mayor
of Windsor and Maidenhead
at Nutt's former residence at 63 King's Road, Windsor.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
ISO
Imperial Service Order
The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become...
(5 May 1847 – 25 July 1924) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, who was Surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
to the Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
and Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
s of St George's Chapel, Windsor in the late 19th century.
Early life
Alfred Young Nutt was born in 1847 in the small LeicestershireLeicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
village of Burrough on the Hill
Burrough on the Hill
Burrough on the Hill is a small village south of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England.It has a population of between 150-200 and the parish church is St.Mary.Close by is the country park of Burrough Hill, an Iron Age hill fort...
, south-east of Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
. He was the youngest of fifteen children to Reverend William Young Nutt, who was for thirty-five years curate of Burrough, and Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Cold Overton 1852 - 74.
Following an education at Oakham
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
, Nutt took up an apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
at an architectural practice in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in 1861 where he remained for six years, during which time he was befriended by an artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
called Harry Ward who later became a resident of Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
. This connection led to Alfred taking up a position at the Office of Works
Office of Works
The Office of Works was established in the English Royal household in 1378 to oversee the building of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings...
of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
in 1867 as a draughtsman
Draughtsman
A draughtsman or draftsman , is a person skilled in drawing, either:*drawing for artistic purposes, or*technical drawing for practical purposes such as architecture or engineering...
.
Work in Windsor
Given his junior status in the Office, much of Nutt's early work is not clearly attributable to him, but one early identifiable work was a detailed scaled drawing of the Royal Vault in St George's Chapel in preparation for major refurbishment work to be carried out by Sir George Gilbert ScottGeorge Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
carried out between 1870 and 1871.
It was this work which secured Nutt appointment as Surveyor to the Dean and Canons of St George's in 1873, having been rejected for the vacant post of Clerk of Works of Windsor Castle. He continued to hold the position of Surveyor through annual reappointment until his retirement in 1912.
Later Work
Nutt was commissioned to design and construct temporary annexes for Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
for the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of both King Edward VII and King George V.
Ecclesiastical Projects
Nutt was a keen churchman and undertook several commissions for architectural work in the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, many through contacts he had made during his time at Windsor. These varied from St John the Evangelist, Little Leighs, where Nutt undertook general restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
work (in particular, to the porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
, chancel screen and pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
) to the construction of England's first concrete church
St John and St Mary Magdalene Church, Goldthorpe
St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary Magdalene Church is a parish church in the Church of England in Goldthorpe.-Background:The Church of St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary Magdalene, in Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England was built in 1916...
in Goldthorpe
Goldthorpe
Goldthorpe is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England. Anciently a small medieval farming village, Goldthorpe is recorded in the Domesday Book and was under the Manor of Bolton upon Dearne which was once owned by Roger de Busli.Goldthorpe railway station...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
on the commission of Lord Halifax
Charles Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax
Charles Lindley Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax was a British ecumenist who served as president of the English Church Union from 1868 to 1919, and from 1927 to 1934.-Early life and education:...
.
Community Work and Recognition
Nutt was renowned for his Christmas cardChristmas card
A Christmas card is a greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to the Christmas and holiday season. Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding Christmas Day by many people in Western...
s, which he designed himself, several of which are on display in the collection of the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum
Windsor and Royal Borough Museum
Windsor and Royal Borough Museum is a museum of the history of the town of Windsor, in the English county of Berkshire. It is accommodated within Windsor Guildhall a Grade 1 listed building.- External links :***...
.
A blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
was unveiled on 16 April 2009 by the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
at Nutt's former residence at 63 King's Road, Windsor.
External links
- Photograph of Alfred Young Nutt by Sir (John) Benjamin Stone © National Portrait Gallery, London.
- Article from the archives of The College of St George, Windsor Castle.
- General (official) history St George's, Windsor.
- Sketch by Nutt of the vault in St George's Chapel where Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
lies buried with Jane SeymourJane SeymourJane Seymour was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter's execution for trumped up charges of high treason, incest and adultery in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of...
, The Royal CollectionRoyal CollectionThe Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...