William Wilson (architect)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Wilson was an English
architect
, builder
and sculptor.
Born in 1641 in Leicester
, he was the son of a baker. In his early life, it is believed that he served an apprenticeship with a statuary mason. It is also claimed that he studied under Sir Christopher Wren
at Oxford University where he learned to become an architect. He moved to work in Sutton Coldfield
in the historic county of Warwickshire
after studying.
His first work was Peddimore Hall
in Sutton Coldfield. William Wood commissioned Wilson to design the house which was completed in 1659. Wilson was then appointed to carve a statue of King Charles II
for the west front of Lichfield Cathedral
in 1669. In the following year, he carved an entrance porch for Sudbury Hall
in Derbyshire
and in 1671, he carved family monuments for the Wilbraham family at Weston Church in Staffordshire
. In 1689, Wilson worked at Nottingham Castle
to carve an equestrian statue of William, Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
In 1677, Jane Pudsey commissioned him to create a monument to her dead husband. When completed, it was placed in Sutton Coldfield Church. Whilst carving the monument, Wilson developed a relationship and eventually fell in love with Jane Pudsey, who had been left widowed following the death of her husband, Henry Pudsey. She was forced to leave Langley Hall
as she no longer possessed the house. During the relationship with Jane Pudsey, Wilson designed and constructed Moat House
on the Lichfield Road in Sutton Coldfield. Here the couple lived after its completion in 1680. As a result of her influence in the courts, she secured a knighthood for him in 1681, and shortly after, married him. The gatehouse at 14 Lichfield Road, next to Moat House, has been attributed to William Wilson and was built around 1680.
In 1693, Wilson was commissioned to design and build Sir John Moore's Grammar School in Appleby Parva
, Leicestershire
. This was completed in 1697, and he then set to work on two allegorical statues above the porch to Castle Bromwich Hall
, which was owned by Sir John Bridgeman, in Warwickshire. In the next year, he was appointed by the Crown Commissioners for the reconstruction of St. Mary's Church
in Warwick
, which had been destroyed by fire in 1694.
One of Wilson's last major works was Four Oaks Hall in the Four Oaks area of Sutton Coldfield. Jane Pudsey's daughter, Elizabeth Pudsey, married an Irishman
named Lord Ffolliot
. Lord Ffolliot asked William Wilson to design the hall in the late 17th century. The hall was demolished in 1898.
In Church Gresley
, Derbyshire, Wilson carved a monument dedicated to Sir Thomas Gresley for St George and St Mary's Parish Church. His last work was commissioned in 1708 by King Edward's Grammar School
in Birmingham
, for which he carved a statue of King Edward VI.
He died on June 3, 1710, after his wife had died. He requested that he be buried in the Pudsey vault, alongside his wife, however, this caused controversy and, as a result, he bought a plot of land adjacent to the vault for his burial place. After his death, the church built a vestry over his grave so that his grave was inside the church.
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...
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...
, builder
Construction worker
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.-Construction trades:...
and sculptor.
Born in 1641 in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, he was the son of a baker. In his early life, it is believed that he served an apprenticeship with a statuary mason. It is also claimed that he studied under Sir Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
at Oxford University where he learned to become an architect. He moved to work in Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
in the historic county of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
after studying.
His first work was Peddimore Hall
Peddimore Hall
Peddimore Hall is a manor house in the Walmley area of Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade II listed building. It is now in use as a private residence....
in Sutton Coldfield. William Wood commissioned Wilson to design the house which was completed in 1659. Wilson was then appointed to carve a statue of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
for the west front of Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
in 1669. In the following year, he carved an entrance porch for Sudbury Hall
Sudbury Hall
Sudbury Hall is a country house in Sudbury, Derbyshire, England.Sudbury Hall is one the country's finest Restoration mansions and has Grade I listed building status....
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and in 1671, he carved family monuments for the Wilbraham family at Weston Church in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. In 1689, Wilson worked at Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
to carve an equestrian statue of William, Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
In 1677, Jane Pudsey commissioned him to create a monument to her dead husband. When completed, it was placed in Sutton Coldfield Church. Whilst carving the monument, Wilson developed a relationship and eventually fell in love with Jane Pudsey, who had been left widowed following the death of her husband, Henry Pudsey. She was forced to leave Langley Hall
Langley Hall, West Midlands
Langley Hall was a manor house just off Fox Hollies Road, one mile from the centre of Walmley in Sutton Coldfield in the historic county of Warwickshire....
as she no longer possessed the house. During the relationship with Jane Pudsey, Wilson designed and constructed Moat House
Moat House, Sutton Coldfield
Moat House is a Grade II* listed building situated in Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. It is part of the Anchorage Road conservation area....
on the Lichfield Road in Sutton Coldfield. Here the couple lived after its completion in 1680. As a result of her influence in the courts, she secured a knighthood for him in 1681, and shortly after, married him. The gatehouse at 14 Lichfield Road, next to Moat House, has been attributed to William Wilson and was built around 1680.
In 1693, Wilson was commissioned to design and build Sir John Moore's Grammar School in Appleby Parva
Appleby Parva
Appleby Parva, or Little Appleby , part of the parish of Appleby Magna in Leicestershire, is a hamlet about a mile south of Appleby church at the crossroads of the highways from Ashby de la Zouch to Tamworth and from Atherstone to Burton upon Trent.The village was also calculated to be the centre...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. This was completed in 1697, and he then set to work on two allegorical statues above the porch to Castle Bromwich Hall
Castle Bromwich Hall
Castle Bromwich Hall is a Jacobean Mansion in the village of Castle Bromwich, which is situated in the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in West Midlands, England. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
, which was owned by Sir John Bridgeman, in Warwickshire. In the next year, he was appointed by the Crown Commissioners for the reconstruction of St. Mary's Church
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
The Collegiate Church of St Mary is a Church of England parish church in the town of Warwick, England. It lies in the centre of the town just east of the market place. It is a member of the Greater Churches Group....
in Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
, which had been destroyed by fire in 1694.
One of Wilson's last major works was Four Oaks Hall in the Four Oaks area of Sutton Coldfield. Jane Pudsey's daughter, Elizabeth Pudsey, married an Irishman
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...
named Lord Ffolliot
Henry Folliott, 1st Baron Folliott
Henry Folliott, 1st Baron Folliott was the second son of Thomas Folliott of Pirton Court, Pirton, Worcestershire.From about 1594 he served the Crown in Ireland and in 1603 was commissioned to develop a township adjacent to Ballyshannon Castle...
. Lord Ffolliot asked William Wilson to design the hall in the late 17th century. The hall was demolished in 1898.
In Church Gresley
Church Gresley
Church Gresley is a village and former civil parish in the South Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England. The village is very close to the town of Swadlincote, between the town and Castle Gresley. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,805.The toponym "Gresley" is derived...
, Derbyshire, Wilson carved a monument dedicated to Sir Thomas Gresley for St George and St Mary's Parish Church. His last work was commissioned in 1708 by King Edward's Grammar School
King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, and is widely regarded as one of the most academically successful schools in the country, according to...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, for which he carved a statue of King Edward VI.
He died on June 3, 1710, after his wife had died. He requested that he be buried in the Pudsey vault, alongside his wife, however, this caused controversy and, as a result, he bought a plot of land adjacent to the vault for his burial place. After his death, the church built a vestry over his grave so that his grave was inside the church.