George Oatley
Encyclopedia
Sir George Herbert Oatley (1863–1950) was an English architect
noted for his work in Bristol
, especially the gothic
Wills Memorial Building
, for which he was knight
ed in 1925.
, he became a junior draughtsman for the local firm Godwin and Crisp, at the age of 16. Oatley became Henry Crisp's partner aged only 26, when Godwin left the firm, and at the same time married Edith Lawrence.
His major break came with his appointment as Architect to the University of Bristol
. One of his first projects, and probably the major one of his career, was to design the Wills Memorial Building
to be a landmark for the new university, in 1912. He produced an imposing design in the Perpendicular Gothic style. Building was begun in 1915, and after being delayed through World War I
, it was finally completed in 1925. Oatley was knighted
the same year in recognition of his work.
His other work for the University included the H.H. Wills Physics Department, started in 1926 and opened in 1930; Wills Hall
, a student hall of residence in Stoke Bishop
in 1925; and Manor Hall
, a student hall of residence in Clifton
in (1932).
, Cardiff Asylum at Whitchurch
, and Bristol Asylum
at Stapleton
. His medical designs were again put to use as he designed the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital in 1908, which is now the University of Bristol's Student Health Centre. He also worked on the Bristol Royal Infirmary
.
faith is reflected in the vast amount of work he did for local churches. He designed the mission hall of St Anne's in Greenbank (1900–01), Bristol Baptist College (1913–1915), St Edyth's in Sea Mills
(1926–28), and did work on the St. Mary Redcliffe church and the New Room
John Wesley
's original Methodist chapel. Oatley was also involved in raising financial support for various Christian causes.
chocolate company, for whom he designed several factories, and the Bristol Wagon Works.
Oatley had worked on his own throughout his most prolific period, only joined by his brother-in-law George C. Lawrence in 1926. Ralph H. Brentnall joined the company in 1947, but it was only three years later that Oatley died in 1950. He had been based at 12 Great George Street, Bristol for the majority of his career.
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...
noted for his work in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, especially the gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
Wills Memorial Building
Wills Memorial Building
The Wills Memorial Building is a Neo Gothic building designed by Sir George Oatley and built as a memorial to Henry Overton Wills III...
, for which he was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1925.
Early life
Oatley was born in Bristol in 1863, and after working as an apprentice to the architect Thomas DashwoodThomas Dashwood
Thomas Henry Knyvett Dashwood was an English cricketer. Dashwood was a right-handed batsman.Dashwoood made his county cricket debut for Hertfordshire in the Minor Counties Championship against Norfolk...
, he became a junior draughtsman for the local firm Godwin and Crisp, at the age of 16. Oatley became Henry Crisp's partner aged only 26, when Godwin left the firm, and at the same time married Edith Lawrence.
Work for Bristol University
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. One of his first projects, and probably the major one of his career, was to design the Wills Memorial Building
Wills Memorial Building
The Wills Memorial Building is a Neo Gothic building designed by Sir George Oatley and built as a memorial to Henry Overton Wills III...
to be a landmark for the new university, in 1912. He produced an imposing design in the Perpendicular Gothic style. Building was begun in 1915, and after being delayed through World War I
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...
, it was finally completed in 1925. Oatley was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
the same year in recognition of his work.
His other work for the University included the H.H. Wills Physics Department, started in 1926 and opened in 1930; Wills Hall
Wills Hall
Wills Hall is one of the nine halls of residence in the University of Bristol. Cresting the Stoke Bishop site on the edge of the Bristol Downs, in Parry's Lane, it houses 340 students in two quadrangles...
, a student hall of residence in Stoke Bishop
Stoke Bishop
Stoke Bishop is a very affluent and medium-sized outer city suburb in the north-west of Bristol, located in between Westbury-on-Trym, Sneyd Park, and Sea Mills. Although relatively small, Stoke Bishop's population has increased due to substantial infilling on the Smelting Works sports ground and...
in 1925; and Manor Hall
Manor Hall, Bristol
Manor Hall is a student hall of residence at the University of Bristol, England.Manor Hall is situated in the Georgian/Victorian suburb of Clifton, Bristol. The main building was erected between 1927 and 1932 as a women's hall of residence....
, a student hall of residence in Clifton
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
in (1932).
Medical buildings
Oatley's earliest works included the design of several lunatic asylums throughout the country, including Winwick Asylum in LancashireLancashire
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...
, Cardiff Asylum at Whitchurch
Whitchurch, Cardiff
Whitchurch is a suburb in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is approximately 3 miles north of the centre of the city on the A470 road and A4054 road. Its estimated population as of 2004 was 15,649. It falls within the Whitchurch & Tongwynlais ward.-History:Whitchurch draws its name from...
, and Bristol Asylum
Beaufort Hospital
Beaufort Hospital was a military hospital in Stapleton district of Bristol during World War I. Before the war it was an asylum and after the war it became a psychiatric hospital....
at Stapleton
Stapleton, Bristol
Stapleton is an area in the north-eastern suburbs of the city of Bristol, England. The name is colloquially used today to describe the ribbon village along Bell Hill and Park Road in the Frome Valley. It borders Eastville to the South and Begbrook and Frenchay to the North...
. His medical designs were again put to use as he designed the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital in 1908, which is now the University of Bristol's Student Health Centre. He also worked on the Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol Royal Infirmary
The Bristol Royal Infirmary, also known as the BRI, is a large teaching hospital situated in the centre of Bristol, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, also in...
.
Church buildings
Oatley's keen ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith is reflected in the vast amount of work he did for local churches. He designed the mission hall of St Anne's in Greenbank (1900–01), Bristol Baptist College (1913–1915), St Edyth's in Sea Mills
Sea Mills, Bristol
Sea Mills is a suburb of the English port city of Bristol. It is situated some 3.5 miles north-west of the city centre, towards the seaward end of the Avon Gorge. Nearby suburbs are Shirehampton, Sneyd Park, Combe Dingle and Stoke Bishop...
(1926–28), and did work on the St. Mary Redcliffe church and the New Room
New Room, Bristol
The New Room is a historic building in Broadmead, Bristol, England.It was built in 1739 by John Wesley and is the oldest Methodist chapel in the world. Above the chapel are the rooms in which Wesley and other preachers stayed. The chapel includes a double decker pulpit, which was common at the...
John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
's original Methodist chapel. Oatley was also involved in raising financial support for various Christian causes.
Other work
Local Bristol firms also benefited from Oatley's designing talents, such as the J. S. Fry & SonsJ. S. Fry & Sons
J. S. Fry & Sons, Ltd. was a British chocolate company owned by Joseph Storrs Fry and his family.This business moved through several names and hands before ending up as J. S. Fry & Sons.- History :*circa 1759 — Joseph Fry starts making chocolate...
chocolate company, for whom he designed several factories, and the Bristol Wagon Works.
Oatley had worked on his own throughout his most prolific period, only joined by his brother-in-law George C. Lawrence in 1926. Ralph H. Brentnall joined the company in 1947, but it was only three years later that Oatley died in 1950. He had been based at 12 Great George Street, Bristol for the majority of his career.
Further reading
- Whittingham, Sarah (2009) "'The pride of Bristol, and an abiding monument to the genius of Sir George Herbert Oatley'", in: Ferry, Kathryn, ed. Powerhouses of Provincial Architecture, 1837-1914. London: Victorian Society; pp. 60-73
- Whittingham, Sarah M. (2005) Sir George Herbert Oatley (1863-1950); a Nonconformist architect: a critical biography and catalogue of works. 3 vols. Ph.D. thesis, University of Bristol.
External links
- Oatley Collection University of Bristol Library Special Collections