Guy Dawber
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Guy Dawber, RA, ARA (King's Lynn
, 1861 - London
, 1938) was an English
architect
working in the late Arts and Crafts
style whose work is particularly associated with the Cotswolds
.
Guy Dawber was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk
in 1861, the son of John Stockdale Dawber (d. 1898) and his wife Lois Ellen (née Edwards). He trained in the practice of Sir Ernest George
and Harold Peto
, supervising their work on Batsford
Park (1887–93), near Moreton-in-Marsh
, in the Cotswolds. He became a respected and scholarly architect working in the Cotswold vernacular tradition, designing and converting a number of houses in the district, including Eyford Park (1911–12), and Nether Swell Manor (1903 and 1909), both near Stow-on-the-Wold
. He designed St John's chapel of ease
in Matlock Dale, Derbyshire
, where he lived locally. It was the only church designed by Dawber. He also specialised in laying out and designing gardens. In addition he designed many of the buildings of Lord Wandsworth College
in Hampshire.
He was President of the Royal Institute of British Architects
from 1925 to 1927. He was awarded the RIBA
Royal Gold Medal
in 1928. He played a prominent part in establishing the Council for the Preservation of Rural England in 1926 and became its first President. He was knighted in 1936. He married Mary Eccles in Lancashire
in 1896. He died in London on 24 April 1938 and is buried at St. Giles with his parents and brother.
He published Old Cottages, Farm-houses, and other Stone Buildings in the Cotswold District (Batsford, 1905). He also painted in watercolour.
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
, 1861 - London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1938) was an English
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...
working in the late Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style whose work is particularly associated with the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
.
Guy Dawber was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in 1861, the son of John Stockdale Dawber (d. 1898) and his wife Lois Ellen (née Edwards). He trained in the practice of Sir Ernest George
Ernest George
Sir Ernest George RA was an English architect, landscape and architectural watercolour painter, and etcher.-Life and work:...
and Harold Peto
Harold Peto
Harold Ainsworth Peto was a British landscape architect and garden designer, who worked in Britain and in Provence, France.-Biography:...
, supervising their work on Batsford
Batsford
Batsford is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 99. The village is about 1½ miles north-west of Moreton-in-Marsh...
Park (1887–93), near Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh is a town and civil parish in northeastern Gloucestershire, England. The town is at the crossroads of the Fosse Way Roman road and the A44. The parish and environs are relatively flat and low-lying compared with the surrounding Cotswold Hills...
, in the Cotswolds. He became a respected and scholarly architect working in the Cotswold vernacular tradition, designing and converting a number of houses in the district, including Eyford Park (1911–12), and Nether Swell Manor (1903 and 1909), both near Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is situated on top of an 800 ft hill, at the convergence of a number of major roads through the Cotswolds, including the Fosse Way . The town was founded as a planned market place by Norman lords to take...
. He designed St John's chapel of ease
St John the Baptist's Chapel, Matlock Bath
St John the Baptist's Chapel, Matlock Bath, is a former private chapel in Johns Road, off the A6 road between Matlock Bath and Matlock, Derbyshire, England...
in Matlock Dale, 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...
, where he lived locally. It was the only church designed by Dawber. He also specialised in laying out and designing gardens. In addition he designed many of the buildings of Lord Wandsworth College
Lord Wandsworth College
Lord Wandsworth College, often abbreviated to LWC, is a medium-sized fully co-educational independent school in Hampshire, England. It takes both day and boarding pupils from the ages of 11 - 18. It is set among farmland adjacent to the small village of Long Sutton, near the small town of Odiham...
in Hampshire.
He was President of 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:...
from 1925 to 1927. He was awarded the RIBA
Riba
Riba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
Royal Gold Medal
Royal Gold Medal
The Royal Gold Medal for architecture is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch, in recognition of an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture....
in 1928. He played a prominent part in establishing the Council for the Preservation of Rural England in 1926 and became its first President. He was knighted in 1936. He married Mary Eccles in 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...
in 1896. He died in London on 24 April 1938 and is buried at St. Giles with his parents and brother.
He published Old Cottages, Farm-houses, and other Stone Buildings in the Cotswold District (Batsford, 1905). He also painted in watercolour.
Further reading
- A chapter on him in: Reilly, Charles Herbert: Representative British architects of the present day. London: Batsford, 1931.
- Obituary notices published in: AA Journal vol 53, May 1938, p 522; Architect & Building News vol 154, 29 Apr 1938, p 112, 114, 155; Architect & Building News vol 155, 15 July 1938, p 61; Architect's Journal vol 87, 28 Apr 1938, p 685, 691; The Builder vol 154, 29 Apr 1938, p 824, 827; RIBA Journal vol 45, 1938, p 631, 633, 666-7, 720; The Times, Monday 25 Apr 1938