George Godwin
Encyclopedia
George Godwin FRS was an influential architect, journalist, and editor of The Builder magazine.
He was one of nine children of the architect George Godwin senior (1780–1863) and trained at his father's architectural practice in Kensington
where he set up in business with his brother Henry Godwin (1831–1917).
Encouraged by his friend the antiquary John Britton
, he pursued an interest in architectural history and wrote several volumes on the Churches of London (1838), masons'
marks and gothic style. He was also interested in new materials and wrote on the use of concrete
(1836). He soon joined the Institute of British Architects
, the Society of Antiquaries
, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
, inventor of the Hansom cab
. In 1844 Godwin became its third editor and immediately expanded its scope and coverage beyond new works and architectural issues to include history, archaeology, arts, sanitation and social issues. It described itself as 'An illustrated weekly magazine for the architect, engineer, constructor, sanitary reformer, and art lover'.
This broadened its appeal beyond the construction trade, and he took a campaigning stance to improve the circumstances of the working classes. Godwin wrote on slums and republished edited collections of his articles as reforming books. In addition to self-improvement, he promoted the use of public baths, wash-houses, charitable housing trusts
, and pavilion-styled hospitals.
He edited the magazine until 1883. It was renamed Building in 1966 and is still in existence.
, Bristol
and St Mary's, Ware. He was largely responsible for the design of large areas of South Kensington
and Earls Court
including five public houses among them the Finborough Arms, now the Finborough Theatre
.
Godwin was retained as district surveyor for south Islington
between 1853 and 1874.
In 1884, he reported to the Royal Commission
that was producing recommendations for improving working-class housing.
He also wrote plays and co-founded the Art Union of London.
Godwin died on 27 January 1888 at Kensington
and was buried in Brompton Cemetery
. His memorial is Grade II listed, containing a portrait medallion, and being topped by the mourning figures of Faith and Charity. His extensive art collection was sold at Christie's, London, 12 April 1888 and numbered 98 lots.
He was one of nine children of the architect George Godwin senior (1780–1863) and trained at his father's architectural practice in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
where he set up in business with his brother Henry Godwin (1831–1917).
Encouraged by his friend the antiquary John Britton
John Britton (antiquary)
-Early life:Britton was born on 7 July 1771 at Kington St. Michael, near Chippenham. His parents were in humble circumstances, and he was left an orphan at an early age. At sixteen he went to London and was apprenticed to a wine merchant. Prevented by ill-health from serving his full term, he found...
, he pursued an interest in architectural history and wrote several volumes on the Churches of London (1838), masons'
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
marks and gothic style. He was also interested in new materials and wrote on the use of concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
(1836). He soon joined the Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
The Builder
The Builder was first published as a weekly magazine in 1842 by Joseph HansomJoseph Hansom
Joseph Aloysius Hansom was a prolific English architect working principally in the Gothic Revival style, who invented the Hansom cab and was one of the founders of the eminent architectural journal, The Builder, in 1843....
, inventor of the Hansom cab
Hansom cab
The hansom cab is a kind of horse-drawn cart designed and patented in 1834 by Joseph Hansom, an architect from York. The vehicle was developed and tested by Hansom in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. Originally called the Hansom safety cab, it was designed to combine speed with safety, with a low...
. In 1844 Godwin became its third editor and immediately expanded its scope and coverage beyond new works and architectural issues to include history, archaeology, arts, sanitation and social issues. It described itself as 'An illustrated weekly magazine for the architect, engineer, constructor, sanitary reformer, and art lover'.
This broadened its appeal beyond the construction trade, and he took a campaigning stance to improve the circumstances of the working classes. Godwin wrote on slums and republished edited collections of his articles as reforming books. In addition to self-improvement, he promoted the use of public baths, wash-houses, charitable housing trusts
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
, and pavilion-styled hospitals.
He edited the magazine until 1883. It was renamed Building in 1966 and is still in existence.
Other works
Throughout his editorship, he worked in the family architectural practice. Works included churches, housing and public buildings, amongst them Redcliffe Square, Kensington, The Boltons, Kensington, St Mary's, The Boltons, Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea, St Luke, Kensington and the restorations of St Mary RedcliffeSt Mary Redcliffe
St. Mary Redcliffe is an Anglican parish church located in the Redcliffe district of the English port city of Bristol, close to the city centre. Constructed from the 12th to the 15th centuries, the church is a Grade 1 listed building, St...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and St Mary's, Ware. He was largely responsible for the design of large areas of South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
and Earls Court
Earls Court
Earls Court is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It is an inner-city district centred on Earl's Court Road and surrounding streets, located 3.1 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It borders the sub-districts of South Kensington to the East, West...
including five public houses among them the Finborough Arms, now the Finborough Theatre
Finborough Theatre
The Finborough Theatre is a fifty seat theatre in the Earls Court area of London, United Kingdom , which presents new British writing, UK and premieres of new plays, primarily from the English speaking world including North America, Canada, Scotland and Ireland, music theatre, and rarely seen...
.
Godwin was retained as district surveyor for south Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
between 1853 and 1874.
In 1884, he reported to the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
that was producing recommendations for improving working-class housing.
He also wrote plays and co-founded the Art Union of London.
Godwin died on 27 January 1888 at Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
and was buried in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
. His memorial is Grade II listed, containing a portrait medallion, and being topped by the mourning figures of Faith and Charity. His extensive art collection was sold at Christie's, London, 12 April 1888 and numbered 98 lots.
Sources
- G. B. Smith Godwin, George (1813–1888) Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- City of London Information Leaflet No 22 George Godwin & The Builder
External links
- The Churches of London, Vols. 1-2 George Godwin, John Britton, 1839, (C. Tilt, London)
- History in Ruins George Godwin, 1853, (Chapman & Hall, London)