Hubert Austin
Encyclopedia
Hubert James Austin was an English architect
who practiced in Lancaster
. With his partners he designed many churches and other buildings, mainly in the northwest of England.
of Redmarshall
, County Durham
. He attended Richmond Grammar School, and in 1860 was articled
to his older brother, Thomas, an architect in Newcastle upon Tyne. He then worked with Sir George Gilbert Scott
in London before coming to Lancaster in 1868 as the partner of E. G. Paley
, the title of the practice becoming Paley and Austin. In 1886 Paley's son Henry Paley
became a partner in the practice and its title changed to Paley, Austin and Paley. E. G. Paley died in 1895 and Austin continued in partnership with his son, the practice becoming Austin and Paley. In 1914 Austin's son Geoffrey joined the practice as a partner and, for a short time, it was entitled Austin, Paley and Austin. However Hubert Austin died the following year, his son was on active service in the First World War
and did not return to the practice after the war, so Henry Paley continued the practice as the sole partner.
Hubert Austin was involved in the design of over 100 new churches, mainly in Gothic Revival
style, and in many church restoration
s. His work has been highly praised. Price comments that he "brought to the practice great talent and energy". Pevsner
was of the opinion that it was he "it seems, who was responsible for the firm's masterpieces". When he came to the practice "the character of the architecture of the firm changed — a nobility and at the same time resourcefulness appeared which had not until then been seen in its products". Elsewhere Pevsner describes him as "brilliant" and of raising the work of the practice "to the level of the best in the country". In the Buildings of England
series, Austin is described as a "local man of genius" with whom the firm "achieved greatness, distinguished for their thoughtfully creative designs with masterful handling of space, line and plane", and who transformed the firm into a practice which decorated Lancashire ... with churches the equal of any in the country".
, and they had five children. The family lived in a house called The Knoll in Westbourne Road, Lancaster, which Austin had designed. He took little part in the civic life of the town other than being a Commissioner of Land Tax
in 1886. Outside the practice, his main interests were in music and in painting and sketching; he was a member of the local orchestral and choral societies. In religion, he was a Anglican, attending the town's parish church
, Lancaster Priory
, where he undertook the duties of vicar's warden
for seven years and later being a sidesman
. In addition to The Knoll, he owned Heversham House in Cumbria
and Kingsworthy Court in Hampshire
. Austin died at home in The Knoll in 1915.
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...
who practiced in Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
. With his partners he designed many churches and other buildings, mainly in the northwest of England.
Early life and career
Hubert Austin was a son of Rev T. Austin, the rectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Redmarshall
Redmarshall
Redmarshall is a village and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of County Durham, England. Redmarshall is situated to the west of Stockton-on-Tees, the Village is also located just north of the A66 which is one of the main Trunk routes in, out and through...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He attended Richmond Grammar School, and in 1860 was articled
Articled clerk
An articled clerk, also known as an articling student, is an apprentice in a professional firm in Commonwealth countries. Generally the term arises in the accountancy profession and in the legal profession. The articled clerk signs a contract, known as "articles of clerkship", committing to a...
to his older brother, Thomas, an architect in Newcastle upon Tyne. He then worked with Sir George Gilbert Scott
George 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...
in London before coming to Lancaster in 1868 as the partner of E. G. Paley
Edward Graham Paley
Edward Graham Paley, usually known as E. G. Paley, , was an English architect who practised in Lancaster, Lancashire, in the second half of the 19th century.-Education and career:...
, the title of the practice becoming Paley and Austin. In 1886 Paley's son Henry Paley
Henry Paley
Henry Anderson Paley was an English architect, the only son of Edward Paley, also an architect, of Lancaster. He started his training with his father and Hubert Austin, then went on to the London office of T. E. Collcutt. He returned to his father's practice in 1882 and became a partner in 1886...
became a partner in the practice and its title changed to Paley, Austin and Paley. E. G. Paley died in 1895 and Austin continued in partnership with his son, the practice becoming Austin and Paley. In 1914 Austin's son Geoffrey joined the practice as a partner and, for a short time, it was entitled Austin, Paley and Austin. However Hubert Austin died the following year, his son was on active service in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and did not return to the practice after the war, so Henry Paley continued the practice as the sole partner.
Hubert Austin was involved in the design of over 100 new churches, mainly in Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style, and in many church 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...
s. His work has been highly praised. Price comments that he "brought to the practice great talent and energy". Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
was of the opinion that it was he "it seems, who was responsible for the firm's masterpieces". When he came to the practice "the character of the architecture of the firm changed — a nobility and at the same time resourcefulness appeared which had not until then been seen in its products". Elsewhere Pevsner describes him as "brilliant" and of raising the work of the practice "to the level of the best in the country". In the Buildings of England
Pevsner Architectural Guides
The Pevsner Architectural Guides are a series of guide books to the architecture of the British Isles. Begun in the 1940s by art historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the 46 volumes of the Buildings of England series were published between 1951 and 1975. The series was then extended to Scotland and...
series, Austin is described as a "local man of genius" with whom the firm "achieved greatness, distinguished for their thoughtfully creative designs with masterful handling of space, line and plane", and who transformed the firm into a practice which decorated Lancashire ... with churches the equal of any in the country".
Personal life
In 1870 Austin married Fanny Langshaw, who was a niece of Edward Paley's former partner Edmund SharpeEdmund Sharpe
Edmund Sharpe was an English architect and engineer. He started his career as an architect, initially on his own, then in partnership with Edward Paley, designing mainly churches but also some secular buildings...
, and they had five children. The family lived in a house called The Knoll in Westbourne Road, Lancaster, which Austin had designed. He took little part in the civic life of the town other than being a Commissioner of Land Tax
Land value tax
A land value tax is a levy on the unimproved value of land. It is an ad valorem tax on land that disregards the value of buildings, personal property and other improvements...
in 1886. Outside the practice, his main interests were in music and in painting and sketching; he was a member of the local orchestral and choral societies. In religion, he was a Anglican, attending the town's parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, Lancaster Priory
Lancaster Priory
Lancaster Priory, formerly St Mary's Church, Lancaster, is the parish church of the city of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It is located near Lancaster Castle and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of...
, where he undertook the duties of vicar's warden
Churchwarden
A churchwarden is a lay official in a parish church or congregation of the Anglican Communion, usually working as a part-time volunteer. Holders of these positions are ex officio members of the parish board, usually called a vestry, parish council, parochial church council, or in the case of a...
for seven years and later being a sidesman
Sidesperson
A sidesperson, correctly known as a sidesman or usher, in the Anglican Church is responsible for greeting members of the congregation, overseeing seating arrangements in church, and for taking the collection...
. In addition to The Knoll, he owned Heversham House in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and Kingsworthy Court in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire 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...
. Austin died at home in The Knoll in 1915.
See also
- Sharpe, Paley and AustinSharpe, Paley and AustinSharpe, Paley and Austin were the surnames of five architects who worked either alone or in partnerships in one practice in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. They were Edmund Sharpe , Edward Paley , Hubert Austin , Henry Paley and Geoffrey L...
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
- List of non-ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin