John Belcher (architect)
Encyclopedia
John Belcher was an English
architect
.
Belcher was born in Southwark
on 10 July 1841, London
. His father (1816–1890) of the same name was an established architect. The son was articled with his father, spending two years in France
from 1862 where he studied contemporary architecture. In 1865, he was made a partner with his father, who retired in 1875.
His first work to be built was in the City of London
, the 1865 Royal Insurance building in a French Renaissance
style (razed 1913). Also in London, he designed the 1870 Mappin & Webb
building in Gothic
style on the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Poultry (controversially razed in 1994 and replaced with the No 1 Poultry
Building), and was joint architect, with his partner John James Joass
, of Whiteleys
department store.
In 1890, he designed the hall of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
, which was one of the first Neo-baroque
buildings in London. It featured extensive sculptural work by Sir Hamo Thornycroft
, Harry Bates
and others, consisting of several high-relief panels as well as stand-alone statues. In 1900, again with Joass, he designed Electra House, in the City.
Belcher's major commissions outside London include Colchester
Town Hall 1898-1902 and the Ashton Memorial
, designed and built 1906-1909 in Lancaster
. Both of these are in the Baroque
style, typical of the lavish creations of the Edwardian era
.
Other works include: Birmingham Daily Post Building, Fleet St, London 1902; Guildown Grange, Guildford, Surrey 1902; Tapeley Park, Devon, reconstruction 1902; Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, extension, 1902-3; Royal London Friendly Society, Finsbury Square, London, 1904-5; Royal Insurance, St. James's Street & Piccadilly, London, 1907-9; Holy Trinity, Kingsway, London 1910; Royal Society of Medicine, Henrietta Street, London, 1910; Headquarters of the Royal Zoological Society, Regent's Park, London, 1910; Tatmore Place, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 1910.
In 1907, Belcher won the Royal Gold Medal
of the Royal Institute of British Architects
and served as their president from 1904 to 1906. He published Essentials in Architecture: An Analysis of the Principles & Qualities to be Looked for in Architecture.
He died at Champion Hill, Dulwich
on 8 November 1913 and is buried at West Norwood Cemetery
. After his death, his practice was taken over by John James Joass, his partner since 1905.
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...
.
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
on 10 July 1841, 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...
. His father (1816–1890) of the same name was an established architect. The son was articled with his father, spending two years in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1862 where he studied contemporary architecture. In 1865, he was made a partner with his father, who retired in 1875.
His first work to be built was in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, the 1865 Royal Insurance building in a French Renaissance
French Renaissance
French Renaissance is a recent term used to describe a cultural and artistic movement in France from the late 15th century to the early 17th century. It is associated with the pan-European Renaissance that many cultural historians believe originated in northern Italy in the fourteenth century...
style (razed 1913). Also in London, he designed the 1870 Mappin & Webb
Mappin and Webb
Mappin & Webb is a company originally founded in Sheffield, England. The company is a noted firm of Silversmiths and formerly cutlery manufactures with roots back to 1774 when Joseph Mappin founded the firm. The company is now a retail jeweller, and Royal Warrant holder.-Arundel & Mappin:The firm...
building in Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style on the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Poultry (controversially razed in 1994 and replaced with the No 1 Poultry
No 1 Poultry
No 1 Poultry is an office and retail building in London. It was designed by James Stirling for a site then owned by developer Peter Palumbo, and first assembled by Palumbo's father Rudolph in the 1960's...
Building), and was joint architect, with his partner John James Joass
John James Joass
John James Joass was a Scottish architect, born in Dingwall, Scotland. His father William Cumming Joass was an established architect in that town....
, of Whiteleys
Whiteleys
Whiteleys is a shopping centre in London, England. It was London's first department store, located in the Bayswater area. The store's main entrance was located on Queensway.-History:...
department store.
In 1890, he designed the hall of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales was established by a Royal Charter in 1880. It has over 130,000 members. Over 15,000 of these members live and work outside the UK...
, which was one of the first Neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
buildings in London. It featured extensive sculptural work by Sir Hamo Thornycroft
Hamo Thornycroft
Sir William "Hamo" Thornycroft, RA was a British sculptor, responsible for several London landmarks.-Biography:...
, Harry Bates
Harry Bates (sculptor)
Harry Bates A.R.A. , English sculptor, was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Bates was elected to the Royal Academy in 1892 as A.R.A. and was an active, if intermittent, member of the Art Workers Guild. He was a central figure in the British movement known as the New Sculpture...
and others, consisting of several high-relief panels as well as stand-alone statues. In 1900, again with Joass, he designed Electra House, in the City.
Belcher's major commissions outside London include Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
Town Hall 1898-1902 and the Ashton Memorial
Ashton Memorial
The Ashton Memorial is a folly in Williamson Park, Lancaster, England built between 1907 and 1909 by millionaire industrialist Baron Ashton in memory of his second wife, Jessy, at a cost of over £80,000 The Ashton Memorial is a folly in Williamson Park, Lancaster, England built between 1907 and...
, designed and built 1906-1909 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...
. Both of these are in the Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style, typical of the lavish creations of the Edwardian era
Edwardian period
The Edwardian era or Edwardian period in the United Kingdom is the period covering the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910.The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 and the succession of her son Edward marked the end of the Victorian era...
.
Other works include: Birmingham Daily Post Building, Fleet St, London 1902; Guildown Grange, Guildford, Surrey 1902; Tapeley Park, Devon, reconstruction 1902; Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, extension, 1902-3; Royal London Friendly Society, Finsbury Square, London, 1904-5; Royal Insurance, St. James's Street & Piccadilly, London, 1907-9; Holy Trinity, Kingsway, London 1910; Royal Society of Medicine, Henrietta Street, London, 1910; Headquarters of the Royal Zoological Society, Regent's Park, London, 1910; Tatmore Place, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 1910.
In 1907, Belcher won the Royal Gold Medal
Royal Gold Medal
The Royal Gold Medal for architecture is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch, in recognition of an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture....
of the Royal 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:...
and served as their president from 1904 to 1906. He published Essentials in Architecture: An Analysis of the Principles & Qualities to be Looked for in Architecture.
He died at Champion Hill, Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
on 8 November 1913 and is buried at West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
. After his death, his practice was taken over by John James Joass, his partner since 1905.