John Rebecca
Encyclopedia
John Biagio Rebecca the son of Italian-born decorative painter Biagio Rebecca
(1735-1808), was an architect of many buildings in Sussex
and London
. He is credited as being the principal architect of Georgian
Worthing
. Though he was living in London
's Leicester Square
from 1825 to 1827,, many of his buildings were in the seaside resort town of Worthing
in Sussex
.
In Worthing, he designed the town's first large church, the Chapel of Ease
(now St Paul's Church), Beach House
and the spectacular Castle Goring
for Sir Bysshe Shelley, Bt., "an extraordinary fantasy," as Howard Colvin
called it, "suavely neo-classical on one side and romantically catellated on the other." He also designed the Royal Sea House Hotel in Worthing, with Ionic columns and pilasters, rebuilt to his designs in 1829, and destroyed by fire in 1901.. Rebecca was the architect of 19-20 Marine Parade in Worthing, which housed Stafford's Marine Library in the 19th century. 19 Marine Parade was known as Rebecca House, since it was believed that the architect himself stayed in the building.
Rebecca was also the architect of Worthing's Royal Baths (now demolished), as well as several other buildings around the town.
Around 1813-16 he designed the facade of Knebworth House
, Hertfordshire
, for Mrs Bulwer-Lytton. Also in the 1820s he restored Penshurst Place
, Kent
, in Tudor Gothic style, and it was probably to Rebecca's designs that Sir John Shelley Sidney rebuilt the Sidney Chapel.
Around 1820 Buckingham House (originally 'Buckinghams' or 'Buckingham Place') in Shoreham-by-Sea
in West Sussex
was rebuilt to the designs of John Rebecca. The building now lies in ruins in a park in the town.
Biagio Rebecca
Biagio Rebecca was an Italian painter, active mainly as a fresco decorator in England. Born in Rome, his apprenticeship is unknown. In England, he was known for neoclassical scenes from mythology, often collaborating with Robert Adam for example at Harewood House and at Kedleston Hall. He also...
(1735-1808), was an architect of many buildings in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
and 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...
. He is credited as being the principal architect of Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
. Though he was living in 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 Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
from 1825 to 1827,, many of his buildings were in the seaside resort town of Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
In Worthing, he designed the town's first large church, the Chapel of Ease
St Paul's Church, Worthing
St Paul's Church in Worthing, England, was opened in 1812 as the Worthing Chapel of Ease. It was built so that the residents and visitors to the newly created town of Worthing would not need to travel to the parish church of St Mary in Broadwater...
(now St Paul's Church), Beach House
Beach House, Worthing
Beach House in Worthing, England is a Regency beach-side villa, built in 1820 to designs by John Rebecca. It was originally known as Marino Mansion.-History:...
and the spectacular Castle Goring
Castle Goring
Castle Goring is a grade one listed country house in Worthing, in Sussex, England.The building to some extent defies categorisation, being neither fully a castle, nor is it fully in Goring. The word is often used for English country houses constructed after the castle-building era and not...
for Sir Bysshe Shelley, Bt., "an extraordinary fantasy," as Howard Colvin
Howard Colvin
Sir Howard Montagu Colvin, CVO, CBE , was a British architectural historian who produced two of the most outstanding works of scholarship in his field.-Life and works:...
called it, "suavely neo-classical on one side and romantically catellated on the other." He also designed the Royal Sea House Hotel in Worthing, with Ionic columns and pilasters, rebuilt to his designs in 1829, and destroyed by fire in 1901.. Rebecca was the architect of 19-20 Marine Parade in Worthing, which housed Stafford's Marine Library in the 19th century. 19 Marine Parade was known as Rebecca House, since it was believed that the architect himself stayed in the building.
Rebecca was also the architect of Worthing's Royal Baths (now demolished), as well as several other buildings around the town.
Around 1813-16 he designed the facade of Knebworth House
Knebworth House
Knebworth House is a country house in the civil parish of Knebworth in Hertfordshire, England.-History and description:The home of the Lytton family since 1490, when Thomas Bourchier sold the reversion of the manor to Sir Robert Lytton, Knebworth House was originally a genuine red-brick Late Gothic...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, for Mrs Bulwer-Lytton. Also in the 1820s he restored Penshurst Place
Penshurst Place
Penshurst Place is a historic building near Tonbridge, Kent, south east of London, England. It is the ancestral home of the Sidney family, and was the birthplace of the great Elizabethan poet, courtier and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney. The original medieval house is one of the most complete examples...
, Kent
Kent
Kent 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...
, in Tudor Gothic style, and it was probably to Rebecca's designs that Sir John Shelley Sidney rebuilt the Sidney Chapel.
Around 1820 Buckingham House (originally 'Buckinghams' or 'Buckingham Place') in Shoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea is a small town, port and seaside resort in West Sussex, England. Shoreham-by-Sea railway station is located less than a mile from the town centre and London Gatwick Airport is away...
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West 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...
was rebuilt to the designs of John Rebecca. The building now lies in ruins in a park in the town.