Watson Fothergill
Encyclopedia
Watson Fothergill was an English architect
who designed over 100 unique buildings in Nottingham
in the East Midlands
of England
, his influences were mainly from the Gothic Revival and Old English vernacular architecture
styles.
His work dates from between the years 1870 to 1912.
, Nottinghamshire
in 1841, he was the son of a wealthy Nottingham
Lace
merchant
, Robert Watson and Mary Ann Fothergill. He changed his name to Watson Fothergill in 1892 in order to continue his maternal family name.
In the 1881 census he is listed as living at Mapperley Road, Nottingham with wife Anne, daughters Marian, Annie F., Edith M., Eleanor F., sons Samuel F., Harold H., and daughter Clarice.
In the 1901 census he is listed as living at 7 Mapperley Road, Nottingham.
industrial city
of Nottingham
, and designed over a hundred buildings in the city, from offices, banks and warehouses, to churches and private dwelling houses.
His easily recognisable style includes the use of contrasting horizontal bands of red and blue brick, dark timber eaves and balconies, and elaborate turrets and stone carvings.
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 designed over 100 unique buildings in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
of England
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...
, his influences were mainly from the Gothic Revival and Old English vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
styles.
His work dates from between the years 1870 to 1912.
Birth & Early Years
Born Fothergill Watson in MansfieldMansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
in 1841, he was the son of a wealthy Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
Lace
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, Robert Watson and Mary Ann Fothergill. He changed his name to Watson Fothergill in 1892 in order to continue his maternal family name.
Family
He married Anne Hage in 1867 in Mansfield.In the 1881 census he is listed as living at Mapperley Road, Nottingham with wife Anne, daughters Marian, Annie F., Edith M., Eleanor F., sons Samuel F., Harold H., and daughter Clarice.
In the 1901 census he is listed as living at 7 Mapperley Road, Nottingham.
Career
He is credited as having had a great impact on the architecture of the major BritishGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
industrial city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, and designed over a hundred buildings in the city, from offices, banks and warehouses, to churches and private dwelling houses.
His easily recognisable style includes the use of contrasting horizontal bands of red and blue brick, dark timber eaves and balconies, and elaborate turrets and stone carvings.
List of works
All Nottinghamshire unless otherwise stated.- Fothergill House, 7 Lenton Road, The Park, Nottingham (1872)
- Castle Bank, 5 Lenton Road, The Park, Nottingham (1873)
- Albert Hall Nottingham (1876) - destroyed by fire in 1906
- Congregational Church (later United Reformed), Westfield Lane, Mansfield (1877) - demolished 1980s
- Cattle Market, Nottingham Road, Mansfield (1877)
- Tower House, 53 Park Row, Nottingham (1880) alterations
- 3 South Road, The Park, Nottingham (1875 - 1881)
- Nottingham and Notts Bank, Thurland Street (1877 - 1882)
- Mortimer House, Castle Road, Nottingham (1883)
- Former Coffee Tavern and Institute, Hucknall (1884)
- Clawson Lodge, 405 Mansfield Road, Nottingham (1884)
- Row of shops 87 - 95 Derby Road, Nottingham (1884)
- 21, 23, 27 and 39 Newcastle Drive, The Park, Nottingham (1886)
- St. Nicholas' Church Rectory, Maid Marian Way, Nottingham (1886) - demolished 1960
- National Westminster Bank, Cattle Market, Loughborough, Leicestershire (1886)
- Budworth Hall, High Street, Ongar, Epping Forest, Essex (1886)
- Black Boy Hotel, Nottingham (1887) - demolished 1970
- Nottingham and Notts Bank, Kirk Gate, Newark on Trent (1887)
- 409 and 411 Mansfield Road, Nottingham (1887)
- 62 - 64 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham (1888)
- 3 and 4 Huntingdon Drive, Nottingham (1888 - 1889)
- 2-8 and 5-13 Hope Drive, Nottingham (1888 - 1889)
- Halifax Building Society, 24 Market Place, Long Eaton, Derbyshire (1889)
- Milbie House, Pilcher Gate, Nottingham (1889)
- Elberton House, 9 Hardwick Road, Nottingham (1889-1890)
- 14 Mapperley Road, Nottingham (1890) (additions to a mid 19th century house)
- Emmanuel Church, Woodborough RoadEmmanuel Church, Woodborough RoadEmmanuel Church, Nottingham was a Church of England church in Nottingham on Woodborough Road between 1883 and 1972.-History:It was built to designs by the local architect Watson Fothergill and consecrated on 27 January 1885. There were 600 free seats, and a parish of 6,000...
(1883 - 1892) - demolished 1972 - Norris Ladies' HomesNorris AlmshousesThe Norris Almshouses were erected in 1893 in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire.They comprise a row of eight one-bedroom houses for Ladies, designed by the architect Fothergill Watson and paid for by Mary Smith Norris in 1893 in memory of her brother John Norris.The charity objectives were to provide a...
, Berridge Road, Nottingham (1892) - Coach House at Kingswood, BulcoteBulcoteBulcote is a village and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 330. The village is on the fringe of the Greater Nottingham area, and is about 7 miles north-east of Nottingham city centre. Nearby places...
(1893) - Kingswood House, BulcoteBulcoteBulcote is a village and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 330. The village is on the fringe of the Greater Nottingham area, and is about 7 miles north-east of Nottingham city centre. Nearby places...
(1893) - St. Andrew's House, Mansfield Road/Mapperley Road, Nottingham (1893)
- 208 Mansfield Road, Nottingham (1893)
- Cleave House, 1 and 3 Sherwood Rise, Nottingham (1893)
- Simon and Pickard Warehouse, Castle Boulevard, Nottingham (1894)
- Baptist Chapel, Woodborough Road, Nottingham (1893 - 1894)
- Jessops Drapery Store, 14-30 King Street, Nottingham, (1895)
- 62 and 64 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham (1895)
- Furley and Co, Lower Parliament Street/Clinton Street, Nottingham (1896) - now LloydsTSB
- Cuckson, Hazeldine and Manderfield Warehouse, Barker Gate, Nottingham (1897)
- Queens Chambers, Queens Street/Long Row, Nottingham (1897)
- Lambley Almshouses, Woodborough Road, Nottingham (1897)
- The Yorker Public House, Mansfield Road, Nottingham (1898) - now The Rose of England
- 9 High Pavement, Nottingham (1898)
- Carlton Laundry, Marhill Road, Gedling (1899)
- Burlington Tower, Burlington Road, Nottingham (1899)
- Nottingham and Notts Bank, 111 Carrington Street, Nottingham (1900) - now vhs Fletchers solicitors
- 65-71 Foxhall Road, Nottingham (1901)
- 75-95, Foxhall Road, Nottingham (1901)
- Beechwood, 30A Mapperley Road, Nottingham (1904)
- 413-419 Mansfield Road, Nottingham (1906)
Further reading
- Brand, Ken (2009) "Watson Fothergill: a provincial goth", in: Ferry, Kathryn, ed. Powerhouses of Provincial Architecture, 1837-1914. London: Victorian Society; pp. 28-43
External links
- Norris Ladies Almshouses, Berridge Road, Nottingham on Google Street View.
- Clawson Lodge, Watcombe Road, Nottingham on Google Street View
- 21 and 23 Newcastle Drive, The Park, Nottingham on Google Street View
- 39 Newcastle Drive, The Park, Nottingham on Google Street View
- Edale House, Clumber Road East, The Park, Nottingham on Google Street View
- No 3, South Road, The Park, Nottingham on Google Street View
- No. 5 and No. 7 Lenton Road, The Park, Nottingham on Google Street View
- No. 3 and No. 4 Huntingdon Drive, The Park, Nottingham on Google Street View
- 93-95 Derby Road, Nottingham on Google Street View
- The 'Buildings' section of Nottingham21 Web Site has photographs of most of the surviving Fothergill buildings in the city.
- A collection of photographs of Fothergill buildings on Geograph UK