Samuel Huggins
Encyclopedia
Samuel Huggins was an English
architect and writer. Huggins' defence of Classical architecture
and opposition to a proposed restoration of Chester Cathedral
led to the formation of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
.
in Kent in 1811. His parents were called Samuel and Elizabeth. His younger brother, William
, was a noted painter born in Liverpool (he created a portrait of Samuel which is extant).
. His 1871 paper was titled On so-called restorations of our cathedral and abbey churches. The following year the Dean was obliged to answer the criticism.
Chester Cathedral's restoration created a great debate. The body of the building was based on a parish church which had not been maintained for several centuries. The new Dean, John Saul Howson
had appointed Sir George Gilbert Scott to supervise the restoration. Scott proposed to make substantial changes to the building's design. Scott claimed to have archaeological evidence for his work, but it was less restoration and more like rebuilding. One of the larger changes was to shorten the south aisle and restyle it as an apse
; but the changes proposed (and rejected) included the addition of a spire above the existing tower. The current building is acknowledged to be mainly the product of the Victorian restoration
.
Huggins' publications in "The Builder" in the 1850s are thought to have inspired other architects notably Alexander "Greek" Thomson
to work in the classic style. His work was widely reported and drew attention in Melbourne.
The support gathered by Huggins led to the formation of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
, a society founded by William Morris
and Philip Webb
.
Huggins lived with his brother from 1861 to 1865. They both died at Christleton
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
architect and writer. Huggins' defence of Classical architecture
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
and opposition to a proposed restoration of Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, and is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly St Werburgh's abbey church of a Benedictine monastery, is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
led to the formation of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris, Philip Webb and J.J.Stevenson, and other notable members of the Pre Raphaelite brotherhood, in 1877, to oppose what they saw as the insensitive renovation of ancient buildings then occurring in Victorian...
.
Biography
Samuel Huggins was brought up in Liverpool, but was born in DealDeal, Kent
Deal is a town in Kent England. It lies on the English Channel eight miles north-east of Dover and eight miles south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town...
in Kent in 1811. His parents were called Samuel and Elizabeth. His younger brother, William
William Huggins (animal artist)
Not to be confused with maritime artist William John Huggins .William Huggins was an English artist who specialised in drawing animals. Huggins was a member of the Liverpool Academy of Arts. He enjoyed visiting Wombwell's Travelling Menagerie, an animal circus, and the Liverpool Zoological Gardens...
, was a noted painter born in Liverpool (he created a portrait of Samuel which is extant).
Architect
Huggins was practising as an architect from 1846 and he wrote on architectural issues supporting the "classic" style. Within three years he had joined the Liverpool Architectural Society and he became its President from 1856 to 1858 – although at the time it was called The Liverpool Architectural and Archaeological Society. In 1868, Samuel demonstrated his interest in preserving the character of Liverpool's finer buildings when he addressed the Society in opposition to a proposed restoration of Chester CathedralChester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, and is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly St Werburgh's abbey church of a Benedictine monastery, is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
. His 1871 paper was titled On so-called restorations of our cathedral and abbey churches. The following year the Dean was obliged to answer the criticism.
Chester Cathedral's restoration created a great debate. The body of the building was based on a parish church which had not been maintained for several centuries. The new Dean, John Saul Howson
John Saul Howson
John Saul Howson , English divine, was born at Giggleswick-on-Craven, Yorkshire.-Biography:After receiving his early education at Giggleswick School, of which his father was head-master, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge. Graduating BA in 1837 and MA in 1840, he became private tutor at...
had appointed Sir George Gilbert Scott to supervise the restoration. Scott proposed to make substantial changes to the building's design. Scott claimed to have archaeological evidence for his work, but it was less restoration and more like rebuilding. One of the larger changes was to shorten the south aisle and restyle it as an apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
; but the changes proposed (and rejected) included the addition of a spire above the existing tower. The current building is acknowledged to be mainly the product of the Victorian 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...
.
Alexander Thomson
Alexander "Greek" Thomson was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was little appreciated outwith Glasgow during his lifetime...
to work in the classic style. His work was widely reported and drew attention in Melbourne.
The support gathered by Huggins led to the formation of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris, Philip Webb and J.J.Stevenson, and other notable members of the Pre Raphaelite brotherhood, in 1877, to oppose what they saw as the insensitive renovation of ancient buildings then occurring in Victorian...
, a society founded by William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
and Philip Webb
Philip Webb
Another Philip Webb — Philip Edward Webb was the architect son of leading architect Sir Aston Webb. Along with his brother, Maurice, he assisted his father towards the end of his career....
.
Huggins lived with his brother from 1861 to 1865. They both died at Christleton
Christleton
Christleton is a small village and civil parish on the outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The 2001 Census recorded a population for the entire civil parish of 2,112....
.
Works include
- Original Architectural Designs chiefly Memorial and Monumental
- The Course and Current of Architecture, with a Chart of the History of Architecture (1863)
- ‘On so-called restorations of our cathedral and abbey churches’' (1871)
- Catalogue of the Liverpool Free Public Library By Liverpool (England). Free Public Library (1872)