J. A. Chatwin
Encyclopedia
Royal British Society of Sculptors
The Royal British Society of Sculptors is a registered charity whose aims are to promote and support sculpture. It has a worldwide membership....
, FSAScot (24 April 1830 - 6 June 1907), was a designer of buildings and the most prolific architect involved with the building and modification of churches 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...
, 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...
, building or altering many of the parish churches in the city. He used both 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....
and Classical
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
styles. His designs always included all of the carvings and internal fittings.
Career
Born the son of John (a button manufacturer in Great Charles Street, Birmingham) and Harriet Chatwin, and educated at King Edward's SchoolKing 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...
on New Street
New Street, Birmingham
New Street is a street in central Birmingham, England . It is one of the city's principal thoroughfares and shopping streets. Named after it is Birmingham New Street Station, although that does not have an entrance on New Street except through the Pallasades Shopping Centre.-History:New Street is...
and the University of London
University 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...
, he was known by the name Alfred. He worked from 1846 as an architect for the largest builders in the country, Branson and Gwyther of Birmingham. He was articled to Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Sir Charles Barry FRS was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.- Background and training :Born on 23 May 1795 in Bridge Street, Westminster...
in 1851 and worked with Barry and Augustus Pugin
Augustus Pugin
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was an English architect, designer, and theorist of design, now best remembered for his work in the Gothic Revival style, particularly churches and the Palace of Westminster. Pugin was the father of E. W...
on the Victoria Tower
Victoria Tower
The Victoria Tower is the square tower at the south-west end of the Palace of Westminster in London, facing south and west onto Black Rod's Garden and Old Palace Yard. At , it is slightly taller than the more famous Clock Tower at the north end of the Palace . It houses the Parliamentary Archives...
of the Houses of Parliament
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
. He worked again for Gwyther personally on his enterprises in Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. In 1855 he opened an office on Bennett's Hill in Birmingham. He was, from 1866, architect to the Governors of King Edward's School
Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI
The Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham is a charitable institution that operates two independent schools, five voluntary aided selective state schools in Birmingham, England and one academy....
and designed the first King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls is an independent secondary school in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham and occupies the same site as, and is twinned with, King Edward's School...
on New Street
New Street, Birmingham
New Street is a street in central Birmingham, England . It is one of the city's principal thoroughfares and shopping streets. Named after it is Birmingham New Street Station, although that does not have an entrance on New Street except through the Pallasades Shopping Centre.-History:New Street is...
. From 1864 he became architect to Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank Plc was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1765 until its merger into Lloyds TSB in 1995; it remains a registered company but is currently dormant. It expanded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and took over a number of smaller banking companies...
for over thirty years.
From 1866 he worked with his son, Philip Boughton Chatwin (P. B. Chatwin
P. B. Chatwin
P. B. Chatwin was an architect in Birmingham, England.From 1866 he worked with his father, architect J. A...
) (1873 - 1964) who became his partner in 1897.
He was made a Fellow 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:...
(FRIBA) on 30 November 1863 and member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors
Royal British Society of Sculptors
The Royal British Society of Sculptors is a registered charity whose aims are to promote and support sculpture. It has a worldwide membership....
(RBS), Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(RSA), and Fellow of the Royal Antiquary Society of Scotland
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
.
He married at St James, Handsworth
Handsworth, West Midlands
Handsworth is an inner city area of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. The Local Government Act 1894 divided the ancient Staffordshire parish of Handsworth into two urban districts: Handsworth and Perry Barr. Handsworth was annexed to the county borough of Birmingham in Warwickshire in 1911...
on 26 October 1869. He is buried with his wife Edith Isabella Chatwin and daughter Isabella Gertrude Chatwin in St Bartholomew (Old Church), Edgbaston. His gravestone also mentions his daughter Grace Constance Chatwin (cremated).
Works
He designed:- Bingley HallBingley HallBingley Hall in Birmingham was the first purpose-built exhibition hall in Great Britain. It was built in 1850 and burned down in 1984. The International Convention Centre now stands on the site....
, 1850, now demolished - School House, Solihull SchoolSolihull SchoolSolihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
, 1882 - Most of the north side of Colmore RowColmore RowColmore Row is a street in the centre of Birmingham, England, running from Victoria Square to just beyond Snow Hill station. It is traditionally the city's most prestigious business address....
after 1866 - Birmingham Greek Orthodox CathedralBirmingham Orthodox CathedralThe Dormition of the Mother of God and St Andrew is a Greek Orthodox cathedral on Summer Hill Terrace in Birmingham, England, dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God and St Andrew. In Greek: The Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos and Saint Andreas...
- Dormition of the Mother of God and St Andrew (built as a CoE church) - St Clement, Nechells Park Road, 1857-9 (his first church)
- Holy Trinity Church, Birchfield, 1860-3 Grade II*
- The Joint Stock Bank (later Lloyds Bank, now the Old Joint Stock pub and Old Joint Stock TheatreOld Joint Stock TheatreThe Old Joint Stock Theatre is a pub theatre located at 4 Temple Row West in the centre of Birmingham, England.The theatre seats 80 in a flexible arrangement and is located on the first floor of the Old Joint Stock pub - a grade II listed building built as the Birmingham Joint Stock Bank by...
), Temple Row West, 1862-4 - Knutsford Lodge, 25 Somerset Road
- St Augustine's Church, EdgbastonSt Augustine's Church, EdgbastonThe Church of St Augustine of Hippo in Lyttelton Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:...
, 1868, with 185 foot spire added later - Christ Church, Summerfield N Edgbaston
- St. John's Church, LadywoodSt. John's Church, LadywoodThe Church of St. John the Evangelist and St. Peter is a Grade II listed Church of England church of Ladywood, Birmingham, England.-History:...
1881 new chancel - St John, Bewdley Road, KidderminsterKidderminsterKidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
new nave 1890-94- Lloyds Bank, Queen Square, WolverhamptonWolverhamptonWolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
where he is commemorated by a blue plaqueBlue plaqueA blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker.... - St Mark, Washwood Heath
- St Martin in the Bull RingSt Martin in the Bull RingThe church of St Martin in the Bull Ring in Birmingham 5, England is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:It is the original parish church of Birmingham. It stands between the Bull Ring shopping centre and the markets. The church is a Grade II* listed building. The current Rector...
, (except tower and spire) - St Mary, OldswinfordOldswinfordThe name Oldswinford is now used for a small area of Stourbridge, close to the parish church.-History:Originally, it was an extensive ancient parish, covering the whole of the former Municipal Borough of Stourbridge, except Pedmore...
, chancel 1898Pevsner, Worcestershire, p. 228 - St Mary, Bearwood Road, Bearwood, 1888Pevsner, Worcestershire, p. 88
- St. Mary's Church, MoseleySt. Mary's Church, MoseleySt. Mary's Church, Moseley is a parish church in the Church of England located in Moseley, Birmingham.-History:St. Mary's Church, Moseley was licensed by the Bishop of Worcester in February 1405, and the 600th anniversary was celebrated in 2005 with a series of special events.The church is medieval...
(rebuilt) - St Mary the Virgin, Acocks GreenSt Mary the Virgin, Acocks GreenSt Mary the Virgin, Acocks Green is a Church of England parish church in Acocks Green, Birmingham, England.-Background:For centuries, Acocks Green was part of the Parish of Yardley, however the population had expanded throughout the 19th century, with the middle classes moving out of the town, and...
, chancel 1894 - St Mary and St Ambrose, Pershore Road, Edgbaston, (a red brick and terracottaArchitectural terracottaTerracotta, in its unglazed form, became fashionable as an architectural ceramic construction material in England in the 1860s, and in the United States in the 1870s. It was generally used to supplement brick and tiles of similar colour in late Victorian buildings.It had been used before this in...
church, 1897-8) - Saints Peter and Paul - Aston Parish ChurchChurch of Saints Peter and Paul, AstonThe Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Witton Lane, Aston, Birmingham, England is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:Aston and Northfield are the only churches within the City of Birmingham mentioned in Domesday Book...
, 1879, (except tower and spire) - St. Paul's, Lozells Road, Birmingham
- St Philip's Cathedral, BirminghamSt Philip's Cathedral, BirminghamThe Cathedral Church of Saint Philip is the Church of England cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of Birmingham. Built as a parish church and consecrated in 1715, St Philip's became the cathedral of the newly formed Diocese of Birmingham in the West Midlands in 1905...
(enlarged, with new chancel) - School and church, Catherine-de-BarnesCatherine-de-BarnesCatherine-de-Barnes is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the English county of West Midlands...
, Solihull, 1880 - Work on Uppingham SchoolUppingham SchoolUppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
, 1870 - Wolverhampton Art GalleryWolverhampton Art GalleryWolverhampton Art Gallery is located in the City of Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. The building was funded and constructed by local contractor Philip Horsman , and built on land provided by the Council...
, 1882 - New Berry HallNew Berry HallNew Berry Hall , on the outskirts of Solihull, England, was built on the estate of the existing Berry Hall Farm , by the son of the successful Birmingham businessman Joseph Gillott in the late 19th Century....
,1880 & Berry Hall Lodge, Marsh Lane, Solihull, 1884 - St. Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston 1885 new chancel, chapels and north arcade.
- Church of St. Michael and All Angels, UnderwoodChurch of St. Michael and All Angels, UnderwoodThe Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Underwood is a parish church in the Church of England in Underwood, Nottinghamshire.The church is Grade II listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a building of special architectural or historic interest.-History:The church was...
1890More Churches in the Ashfield Area. Ashfield District Council.
Sources
External links
- St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham
- Lloyds Bank, Queen Square, Wolverhampton