Decimus Burton
Encyclopedia
Decimus Burton was a prolific English architect and garden designer, He is particularly associated with projects in the classical style in London
parks, including buildings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
and London Zoo
, and with the layout and architecture of the seaside towns of Fleetwood
and St Leonards-on-Sea
and of Tunbridge Wells
.
. His first name, from the Latin for 'tenth', denoted his position as the tenth child in his family.
After attending Tonbridge School
and then spending a few years in Royal Academy Schools, Burton initially trained in the architectural and building practice run by his father James Burton
(1761–1837), and then with John Nash
for whom he elaborated on the designs of Cornwall Terrace, facing London
's Regent's Park
. His first major project (1823) was nearby: an enormous domed exhibition hall, the Colosseum
. ( It was demolished in 1875 and the site is now occupied by the Royal College of Physicians
). After this, he was appointed to design the gardens and buildings at the adjacent new London Zoo including the llama building (1828), complete with clock tower,and the Giraffe House (1834).
He was responsible for planning the lay-out of Hyde Park
(1825), and, at its south-east corner (Hyde Park Corner
), designed the triumphal arch
, the Wellington or Constitution Arch, to form the main western entrance to St. James's Park
and Green Park
. The arch was designed as a memorial to the Duke of Wellington and originally provided a grand entrance to London. Originally the arch was topped with an equestrian statue of the Duke but it was replaced with the current work, The Quadriga (1912) by Adrian Jones
.
Burton had a 30-year association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
, starting initially with the layout of gardens and paths before moving on to major buildings. With iron founder Richard Turner
, he designed the glass and iron Palm House at Kew (1844–1848); at the time, this greenhouse was the largest in the world at 363 ft (110.6 m), 100 ft (30.5 m) and 66 ft (20.1 m). He then designed the even larger Temperate House, but did not live to see the project completed: although a section opened in 1863, lack of funds meant it was not finally completed until 1898. Other projects at Kew included the Victoria Gate (1848) and the Water Lily House (1852).
The other major concentration of Burton’s work is at Fleetwood
on the Lancashire
coast. Burton's work with his father on the East Sussex
town of St Leonards-on-Sea
(1827–1837) had impressed wealthy landowner and fellow Atheneaum Club member Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood
who commissioned Burton to lay out his new port and seaside resort. Burton's buildings include the North Euston Hotel, Pharos
Lighthouse
and Beach Lighthouse, Queen's Terrace, St Peter's Church
, the Town Hall and his own house on Dock Street (where he lived until 1844).
.
http://www.castlehillsberwick.com/burtonexhibition/index.htm
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
parks, including buildings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
and London Zoo
London Zoo
London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847...
, and with the layout and architecture of the seaside towns of Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
and St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
and of Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
.
Life
Decimus Burton (30 September 1800 – 14 December 1881) was the son of the architect James BurtonJames Burton (1761–1837)
James Burton was a builder and developer, responsible for large areas of Bloomsbury and the houses around Regent's Park in London. He later founded the new town of St Leonards-on-Sea, which is now part of the built-up area of Hastings...
. His first name, from the Latin for 'tenth', denoted his position as the tenth child in his family.
After attending Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
and then spending a few years in Royal Academy Schools, Burton initially trained in the architectural and building practice run by his father James Burton
James Burton (1761–1837)
James Burton was a builder and developer, responsible for large areas of Bloomsbury and the houses around Regent's Park in London. He later founded the new town of St Leonards-on-Sea, which is now part of the built-up area of Hastings...
(1761–1837), and then with John Nash
John Nash (architect)
John Nash was a British architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency London.-Biography:Born in Lambeth, London, the son of a Welsh millwright, Nash trained with the architect Sir Robert Taylor. He established his own practice in 1777, but his career was initially unsuccessful and...
for whom he elaborated on the designs of Cornwall Terrace, facing London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
. His first major project (1823) was nearby: an enormous domed exhibition hall, the Colosseum
London Colosseum
The London Colosseum was a building to the east of Regent's Park, London. It was built in 1827 to exhibit Thomas Hornor's "Panoramic view of London", the largest painting ever created.The design of the Colosseum was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome...
. ( It was demolished in 1875 and the site is now occupied by the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
). After this, he was appointed to design the gardens and buildings at the adjacent new London Zoo including the llama building (1828), complete with clock tower,and the Giraffe House (1834).
He was responsible for planning the lay-out of Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
(1825), and, at its south-east corner (Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
), designed the triumphal arch
Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crowned with a flat entablature or attic on which a statue might be...
, the Wellington or Constitution Arch, to form the main western entrance to St. James's Park
St. James's Park
St. James's Park is a 23 hectare park in the City of Westminster, central London - the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. The park lies at the southernmost tip of the St. James's area, which was named after a leper hospital dedicated to St. James the Less.- Geographical location :St. James's...
and Green Park
Green Park
-External links:*...
. The arch was designed as a memorial to the Duke of Wellington and originally provided a grand entrance to London. Originally the arch was topped with an equestrian statue of the Duke but it was replaced with the current work, The Quadriga (1912) by Adrian Jones
Adrian Jones
Adrian Jones was an English sculptor and painter who specialized in animals, particularly horses. He was born in Ludlow, Shropshire, attending the grammar school there, and initially studied at the Royal Veterinary College; he subsequently joined the army as a veterinary officer, attaining the...
.
Burton had a 30-year association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, starting initially with the layout of gardens and paths before moving on to major buildings. With iron founder Richard Turner
Richard Turner (iron-founder)
Richard Turner was an Irish iron-founder and manufacturer of glasshouses, born in Dublin.His works included the Palm House at Kew Gardens , the glasshouse in the Winter Gardens at Regent's Park in London, the Palm House at Belfast Botanic Gardens and the Curvilinear Range at the Irish National...
, he designed the glass and iron Palm House at Kew (1844–1848); at the time, this greenhouse was the largest in the world at 363 ft (110.6 m), 100 ft (30.5 m) and 66 ft (20.1 m). He then designed the even larger Temperate House, but did not live to see the project completed: although a section opened in 1863, lack of funds meant it was not finally completed until 1898. Other projects at Kew included the Victoria Gate (1848) and the Water Lily House (1852).
The other major concentration of Burton’s work is at Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
on the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
coast. Burton's work with his father on the East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
town of St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
(1827–1837) had impressed wealthy landowner and fellow Atheneaum Club member Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood
Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood
Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, 1st Baronet, was an English landowner, developer and Member of Parliament, who founded the town of Fleetwood, in Lancashire, England. Born Peter Hesketh, he changed his name by Royal assent to Hesketh-Fleetwood, incorporating the name of his ancestors, and was later...
who commissioned Burton to lay out his new port and seaside resort. Burton's buildings include the North Euston Hotel, Pharos
Pharos Lighthouse (Fleetwood)
The Pharos Lighthouse is a tall sandstone lighthouse situated in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. The lighthouse was designed in 1839 by Decimus Burton and Capt H.M. Denham. Burton has been commissioned three years previously by Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood as the architect of the new town of...
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and Beach Lighthouse, Queen's Terrace, St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church, Fleetwood
-External links:...
, the Town Hall and his own house on Dock Street (where he lived until 1844).
Death
Decimus Burton retired in 1869, died in December 1881 and was buried in Kensal Green CemeteryKensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
.
List of architectural works
- The Holme, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London (1818)
- Grove House, Holford House and Winfield House villas, Regent's Park, London (1822–1825)
- Coliseum, Regents Park, London (1823–27) demolished 1875
- Clarence Terrace, Regent's Park, London (1823)
- Holwood HouseHolwood HouseHolwood House is a country house in Keston, near Hayes, in the London Borough of Bromley, England. The house was designed by Decimus Burton, built between 1823 and 1826 and is in the Greek Revival style. It was built for John Ward who later employed Burton to lay out his Calverley Park Estate in...
, KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
(1823-1826 – now a Grade II listed building) - Hyde Park Screen, London (1825)
- Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, London (1826–28)
- London ZooLondon ZooLondon Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847...
, various buildings (1826–28) and (1831–34); surviving buildings include the Giraffe House, the Camel House, the Raven Cage and the tunnel under the Outer Circle, connecting the two parts of the zoo. - Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, London (1827)
- Holy Trinity Church, Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
, Kent (1827–1829) - Calverley Estate (Calverley House is now a hotel), Tunbridge Wells (1828)
- The Geological SocietyGeological Society of LondonThe Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
's apartments at Somerset HouseSomerset HouseSomerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
, London (1828) - AthenaeumAthenaeum Club, LondonThe Athenaeum Club, usually just referred to as the Athenaeum, is a notable London club with its Clubhouse located at 107 Pall Mall, London, England, at the corner of Waterloo Place....
gentlemen's club, Waterloo Place/Pall MallPall Mall, LondonPall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
, London (1828–1830) - Holy Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells (1829)
- Burrswood Hospital, Tunbridge Wells (1830s)
- Oaklands Park, Sedlescombe, East Sussex (1930)
- St. Peter's Church, Southborough, KentSouthborough, KentSouthborough civil parish, with the title of town in the District of Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, England. It lies immediately to the north of Tunbridge Wells itself, with the A26 London road passing through it. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 11,124...
(1830) altered in the 1880s - Tepid spa pool building, Bath (1830) demolished
- Bentham Hill House, Southborough, KentSouthborough, KentSouthborough civil parish, with the title of town in the District of Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, England. It lies immediately to the north of Tunbridge Wells itself, with the A26 London road passing through it. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 11,124...
(1830–32) a small country house in DeveyesqueGeorge DeveyGeorge Devey was a British architect, born in London, the second son of Frederick and Ann Devey. Devey was educated in London, after leaving school he initially studied art, with an ambition to become a professional artist...
mode for Alexandre Pott, now converted into flats - Charing Cross HospitalCharing Cross HospitalCharing Cross Hospital is a general, acute hospital located in London, United Kingdom and established in 1818. It is located several miles to the west of the city centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham....
, London (1831–39) - St. Mary's Church, Riverhead, KentRiverhead, KentRiverhead, a one-time small village and now a village part of the built-up area to the north of the town Sevenoaks, is also a civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish has a population of around 2500...
(1831) - Beulah Spa, Upper NorwoodUpper NorwoodUpper Norwood is an elevated area in south London, England within the postcode SE19. It is a residential district largely in the London Borough of Croydon although some parts extend into the London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Bromley. Upper Norwood...
, south London (1831) - Adelaide Crescent, HoveHoveHove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
(1831) only numbers 1-10 were built, the remainder was completed from 1850 to much grander design - Stockgrove House, Buckinghamshire/Bedfordshire border (1831) demolished circa 1928
- Calverley Park Crescent, Tunbridge Wells (c.1833)
- St Mary's Church, Goring-by-SeaSt Mary's Church, Goring-by-SeaSt Mary's Church is an Anglican church in the Goring-by-Sea area of the Borough of Worthing, one of seven local government districts in the English county of West Sussex...
, West SussexWest SussexWest Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
(1836-8) - The Great Conservatory at ChatsworthChatsworth, DerbyshireChatsworth is a civil parish in Derbyshire, England, within the area of the Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District National Park.The population is largely in and around Chatsworth House and is considered to be too low to justify a parish council...
, DerbyshireDerbyshireDerbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
with Joseph PaxtonJoseph PaxtonSir Joseph Paxton was an English gardener and architect, best known for designing The Crystal Palace.-Early life:...
(1836–1840) demolished 1920 - Holy Trinity Church, EastbourneEastbourneEastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
(1837-9) later extended - Bay House (originally Ashburton House), GosportGosportGosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
, HampshireHampshireHampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
(1838) - St. Augustine's Church, FlimwellFlimwellThe village of Flimwell is in the Rother District of East Sussex, in the civil parish of Ticehurst. It is located about two miles from the village of Ticehurst, close to the border with Kent...
(1839) - The Beach Lighthouse, Fleetwood (1839–40)
- Grimston Park, near TadcasterTadcasterTadcaster is a market town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. Lying on the Great North Road approximately east of Leeds and west of York. It is the last town on the River Wharfe before it joins the River Ouse about downstream...
, YorkshireYorkshireYorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
(1839–40) - St Peter's Church, FleetwoodSt Peter's Church, Fleetwood-External links:...
(1839–41) - Pharos LighthousePharos Lighthouse (Fleetwood)The Pharos Lighthouse is a tall sandstone lighthouse situated in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. The lighthouse was designed in 1839 by Decimus Burton and Capt H.M. Denham. Burton has been commissioned three years previously by Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood as the architect of the new town of...
, Fleetwood (1840) - Wick Hall, Hove, East Sussex (1840) (Demolished 1936)
- Phoenix ParkPhoenix ParkPhoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
in Dublin (1840) - The North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood (1841–42)
- Devonshire HouseDevonshire HouseDevonshire House in Piccadilly was the London residence of the Dukes of Devonshire in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was built for William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire in the Palladian style, to designs by William Kent...
, London, added portico and remodelled the hall and staircase (1843) demolished - The Palm House, Kew Gardens with Richard Turner (1844)
- The library, 18 Hyde Park GardensHyde Park GardensHyde Park Gardens consists of two roads running adjacent to the North Western corner of Hyde Park, London. Number 1 Hyde Park Gardens runs up to Number 23 with a large private communal garden and then the road separates to allow access to The Ring and into Hyde Park and the neighbouring Kensington...
(c.1844) - Lower Pleasure Gardens, BournemouthBournemouthBournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, DorsetDorsetDorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
(1840s) - The main entrance gates, Kew Gardens, Surrey (1848)
- St Mary’s church, Bradford PeverellBradford PeverellBradford Peverell is a village in west Dorset, England, situated in the Frome valley two miles north west of Dorchester on the A37 road. The village has a population of 344 .- External links :*...
, Dorset (1850) - Oriental Club, additions (1851)
- West Marina, The Lawn, and Uplands, at St Leonards (1850s)
- Grammar School, RetfordRetfordRetford is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands of England, located 31 miles from the city of Nottingham, and 23 miles west of Lincoln, in the district of Bassetlaw. The town is situated in a valley with the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal running through the centre of the...
, NottinghamshireNottinghamshireNottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
(1855–1857) - Sennowe Hall, NorfolkNorfolkNorfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
extended (1855–56) remodelled 1908 very little of Burton's work survives - The Museum, Kew Gardens, Surrey (1857) extended 1881
- The Temperate House, Kew Gardens, Surrey (1859–1863) the flanking wings part of Burton's design were only added in (1897–98)
- Vicarage, IsleworthIsleworthIsleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
, Middlesex, alterations (1865)
External links
- http://www.1066.net/burtons/intro.htm – Burton St Leonards Society
http://www.castlehillsberwick.com/burtonexhibition/index.htm