Sharpe, Paley and Austin - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Sharpe, Paley and Austin were the surnames of five 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...

s who worked either alone or in partnerships in one practice in Lancaster, Lancashire

Lancashire

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

, England. They were Edmund Sharpe

Edmund 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...

(1809–77), Edward 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:...

(1823–95), Hubert Austin

Hubert Austin

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.-Early life and career:...

(1845–1915), 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...

(1859–1946) and Geoffrey L. Austin.

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...

states "this Lancaster dynasty of architects did more work in the county, and for a time more outstanding work, than any other".

The firm practised under the following titles.

Edmund Sharpe, Architect

Sharpe started the practice in 1836 and practiced as the principal until he was joined by Edward Paley in 1845.

Sharpe and Paley, Architects

Edward Paley became a partner in 1845 and the partnership continued until Sharpe retired in 1851.

E. G. Paley

Edward Paley then continued as the principal until he was joined by Hubert Austin in 1868.

Paley and Austin

Hubert Austin became a partner in 1868. According to Pevsner, "it was Austin, it seems, who was responsible for the firm's masterpieces". This partnership continued until they were joined by Edward Paley's son, Henry in 1886.

Paley, Austin and Paley

Henry Paley became a partner in 1886 and this partnership continued until Edward Paley died in 1895.

Austin and Paley (1895–1914)

The firm used the title of Austin and Paley until Henry Austin's son, Geoffrey, joined in 1914.

Austin, Paley and Austin

In practice this was a short-lived partnership because Hubert Austin died in 1915, while Geoffrey Austin 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...

. After the war Geoffrey Austin did not return to the practice which was run by Henry Paley as the sole partner, although he continued with the names of the former three partners until about 1925.

Austin and Paley (1925–1944)

Henry Paley reverted to the title of Austin and Paley about 1925 and he continued to work in the practice until he retired in 1936. The practice continued under this title until about 1944 when it was wound up.