Howard Colvin
Encyclopedia
Sir Howard Montagu Colvin, CVO
, CBE
(15 October 1919 – 27 December 2007), was a British architectural historian
who produced two of the most outstanding works of scholarship in his field.
, he was educated at University College London
. In 1948, he became a Fellow of St John's College, Oxford
where he remained until his death in 2007. He was a member of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
1963–76, the Historic Buildings Council
for England 1970–84, the Royal Fine Art Commission 1962–72, and other official bodies. He was knighted in 1995. He served as president of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain
1979–81 and a special issue of their journal Architectural History
was produced in his honour in 1984. He married his wife Christina in 1943 and they had two sons.
Colvin is most notably the author of A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600–1840 which appeared in its original form in 1954. Yale University Press
produced a third edition in 1995, and he had just completed his work on the fourth edition at the time of his death. On first publication this reference work of heroic scale immediately became the standard in its field: it "changed the face of English architectural history", according to David Watkin
. In the revised edition, Colvin expanded the range to include Scottish and Welsh architects as well. The work includes every building within its time range with which the name of an architect can be associated, based on extensive archival research, resulting in an index that is an architectural gazetteer, and which also gives a comprehensive listing of architectural books published in Britain, listed by author. The prefatory essay, "The Practice of Architecture, 1600–1840", is divided into two sections, covering the building trades and the architectural profession, both contributions to the broader social history of Britain
.
Colvin also edited and largely wrote the official multi-volume study of all the buildings with which the Crown had been associated through history, The History of the King's Works.
Colvin's work in government parallels his academic achievement. Just as he rose to become the acknowledged authority within academia, he also rose via membership of the bodies listed above and others to be Chair of the committee of English Heritage
that dealt with Britain's built environment
.
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...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(15 October 1919 – 27 December 2007), was a British architectural historian
Architectural historian
A architectural historian is a person who studies and writes about the history of architecture, and is regarded as an authority on it Similar profession are known widely such as Historian, Art historian and Archaeologist. Architectural historians survey areas that are often threatened by extinction...
who produced two of the most outstanding works of scholarship in his field.
Life and works
Born in SidcupSidcup
Sidcup is a district in South East London in the London Borough of Bexley and small parts of the district in the London Borough of Greenwich.Located south east of Charing Cross, Sidcup is bordered by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley and Kent County Council, and whilst now part of...
, he was educated at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In 1948, he became a Fellow of St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
where he remained until his death in 2007. He was a member of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England was the body formerly responsible for documenting the records of English historical monuments. It was merged with English Heritage on 1 April 1999....
1963–76, the Historic Buildings Council
Historic Buildings Council
Three separate Historic Buildings Councils were created by the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953, one for each of England, Scotland and Wales...
for England 1970–84, the Royal Fine Art Commission 1962–72, and other official bodies. He was knighted in 1995. He served as president of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain
Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain
The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain is a leading society in Great Britain for people interested in the history of architecture.- Purpose :...
1979–81 and a special issue of their journal Architectural History
Architectural History
Architectural History is the main journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain .The journal is published each autumn. The architecture of the British Isles is a major theme of the journal, although it includes more general papers on the history of architecture. Member of...
was produced in his honour in 1984. He married his wife Christina in 1943 and they had two sons.
Colvin is most notably the author of A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600–1840 which appeared in its original form in 1954. Yale University Press
Yale University Press
Yale University Press is a book publisher founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day. It became an official department of Yale University in 1961, but remains financially and operationally autonomous....
produced a third edition in 1995, and he had just completed his work on the fourth edition at the time of his death. On first publication this reference work of heroic scale immediately became the standard in its field: it "changed the face of English architectural history", according to David Watkin
David Watkin (historian)
David John Watkin, MA PhD LittD Hon FRIBA FSA is a British architectural historian. He is an Emeritus Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and Professor Emeritus of History of Architecture in the Department of History of Art at the University of Cambridge...
. In the revised edition, Colvin expanded the range to include Scottish and Welsh architects as well. The work includes every building within its time range with which the name of an architect can be associated, based on extensive archival research, resulting in an index that is an architectural gazetteer, and which also gives a comprehensive listing of architectural books published in Britain, listed by author. The prefatory essay, "The Practice of Architecture, 1600–1840", is divided into two sections, covering the building trades and the architectural profession, both contributions to the broader social history of Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
Colvin also edited and largely wrote the official multi-volume study of all the buildings with which the Crown had been associated through history, The History of the King's Works.
Colvin's work in government parallels his academic achievement. Just as he rose to become the acknowledged authority within academia, he also rose via membership of the bodies listed above and others to be Chair of the committee of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
that dealt with Britain's built environment
Built environment
The term built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from personal shelter and buildings to neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water supply or energy networks.The built...
.
The History of the King's Works
- London: HMSO, (1963) to (1982)
- ISBN 0-11-670571-X
- ISBN 0-11-670568-X (v.3,pt 1)
- ISBN 0-11-670832-8 (v.4,pt 2)
- ISBN 0-11-670571-X (v.5)
- ISBN 0-11-670286-9 (v.6)
- ISBN 0-11-671116-7 (Plans 5-7)
External links
- Obituary in The Independent
- Alumni of History Faculty Newsletter, Oxford
- Obituary in The Guardian
- Obituary in The Times
- Obituary in The Daily Telegraph
- May 2011 meeting of SAHGB in Oxford: "ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY AFTER COLVIN"