William Henry Crossland
Encyclopedia
William Henry Crossland was a nineteenth century architect
and a pupil of George Gilbert Scott
.
The Holloway Sanatorium and Royal Holloway College were inspired by the Cloth Hall
of Ypres
in Belgium
and the Château de Chambord
in the Loire Valley
, France
, respectively and are considered by some to be among the most remarkable buildings in the south of England.
, Ireland
which are deposited at the Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) in London. Amongst them are a large number of buildings in West Yorkshire
including Huddersfield
(Concert Hall, 1873, Longley Hall, 1871-5, Kirkgate Buildings, 1878–85) and Leeds
, (Mechanics Institute, 1860). Crossland disappeared from RIBA records in 1894-5. He is not buried in Highgate cemetery at his specific request. His estate was worth just £29/2s/9d (£29.14p).
on the Royal Holloway site, producing two further sons. There is a memorial in Highgate Cemetery
to his wife, mistress
, daughter and eldest son.
. The Sanatorium is preserved and restored, and is in use as luxury apartments.
The bar in the Founder's Building is named 'Crosslands' in his honour (this is the only bar on campus not owned by the students union) and is frequented by students, particularly in the summer months, who visit the bar and continue the old tradition of drinking Pimms in one of the quadrangles of the founders building.
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...
and a pupil of George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
.
Principal works
Crossland's three most important commissions were:- Rochdale Town HallRochdale Town HallRochdale Town Hall is a Victorian-era municipal building in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It is "widely recognised as being one of the finest municipal buildings in the country", and is rated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building...
, built in 1866-71. - Holloway SanatoriumHolloway SanatoriumHolloway Sanatorium was an institution for the treatment of the insane, located on of parkland near the town of Virginia Water, Surrey, within the boundary of the Greater London Urban Area, about south-west of Charing Cross....
, built 1873-85. This was a project commissioned by the philanthropistPhilanthropistA philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Thomas HollowayThomas HollowayThomas Holloway was a patent medicine vendor and philanthropist from England.-Early life:Holloway was born in Devonport, a district of Plymouth in the county of Devon, the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Holloway , who at the time of their son's birth had a bakery business. They later moved to...
, and is located at Virginia WaterVirginia WaterVirginia Water is an affluent village, a lake and, originally, a stream, the village being in the Runnymede Borough Council in Surrey and the bodies of water stretching over the borders of Runnymede, Old Windsor and Sunninghill and Ascot, England....
, Surrey. - Also commissioned by Thomas Holloway: Founder's BuildingFounder's BuildingThe Founder's Building was the original building of Royal Holloway College and is an example of Gothic Revival architecture in the United Kingdom. Today it is the dominant building on the campus of Royal Holloway, University of London in Egham, Surrey.The construction of the building began in...
at Royal Holloway CollegeRoyal Holloway, University of LondonRoyal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
, EghamEghamEgham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
, Surrey, built in 1883-88 and a short distance away from the Sanatorium.
The Holloway Sanatorium and Royal Holloway College were inspired by the Cloth Hall
Cloth Hall, Ypres
The Cloth Hall , of Ypres, Belgium, was one of the largest commercial buildings of the Middle Ages, when it served as the main market and warehouse for the Flemish city's prosperous cloth industry. The original structure, erected mainly in the 13th century and completed 1304, lay in ruins after...
of Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Château de Chambord
Château de Chambord
The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures.The building, which was never...
in the Loire Valley
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
, 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...
, respectively and are considered by some to be among the most remarkable buildings in the south of England.
Other commissions
The work by Elliott contains a full list based on work by Edward Law of KilkennyKilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
which are deposited at 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:...
(RIBA) in London. Amongst them are a large number of buildings in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
including Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
(Concert Hall, 1873, Longley Hall, 1871-5, Kirkgate Buildings, 1878–85) and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, (Mechanics Institute, 1860). Crossland disappeared from RIBA records in 1894-5. He is not buried in Highgate cemetery at his specific request. His estate was worth just £29/2s/9d (£29.14p).
Personal life
Crossland married Lavinia Cardwell (died 1879) in 1859. They had one daughter, Maud, born 1860, and he also had an illegitimate son with an actress Eliza Ruth Hatt (died 1892) with whom he lived in a bungalowBungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
on the Royal Holloway site, producing two further sons. There is a memorial in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
to his wife, mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
, daughter and eldest son.
The buildings in the 21st century
Rochdale Town Hall is still in use for its original function, as is the Founder's Building which is the main building of a major college of the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. The Sanatorium is preserved and restored, and is in use as luxury apartments.
The bar in the Founder's Building is named 'Crosslands' in his honour (this is the only bar on campus not owned by the students union) and is frequented by students, particularly in the summer months, who visit the bar and continue the old tradition of drinking Pimms in one of the quadrangles of the founders building.