James Picton
Encyclopedia
Sir James Allanson Picton (2 December 1805 – 15 July 1889) was an English antiquary
and architect
who played a large part in the public life of Liverpool
. He took a particular interest in the establishment of public libraries
.
and Richmond Buildings, an office block, now demolished.
He became a member of the town council in 1849, and in 1851 a member (and later chairman) of the Wavertree
local board. He started to campaign for a public library for the borough and in 1852 an Act of Parliament
was obtained to allow the raising of a penny rate for a public library and museum. William Brown
provided the buildings for the library and museum in 1860. In 1879 the corporation added to the library a reading room which was called the Picton Reading Room
, modelled on the British Museum Reading Room
. Picton was the first chairman of the library and museum committee, which was founded in 1851, and he remained in this position until his death.
Picton married Sarah Pooley. Their son also James Allanson Picton
eschewed his father's architectural practice and was eventually MP for Leicester
.
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
and 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...
who played a large part in the public life of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He took a particular interest in the establishment of public libraries
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
.
Biography
James Picton was born in Liverpool to William Picton, a joiner and timber merchant, and entered his father's business at the age of 13. He later joined the office of Daniel Stewart, an architect and surveyor, eventually taking over the business. Picton designed some important buildings in Liverpool, including the corn exchangeCorn exchange
A corn exchange or grain exchange was a building where farmers and merchants traded cereal grains. Such trade was common in towns and cities across Great Britain and Ireland until the 19th century, but as the trade became centralised in the 20th century many such buildings were used for other...
and Richmond Buildings, an office block, now demolished.
He became a member of the town council in 1849, and in 1851 a member (and later chairman) of the Wavertree
Wavertree
Wavertree is an area of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England, and is a Liverpool City Council ward. It is bordered by a number of districts to the south and east of Liverpool city centre from Toxteth, Edge Hill, Fairfield, Old Swan, Childwall and Mossley Hill....
local board. He started to campaign for a public library for the borough and in 1852 an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
was obtained to allow the raising of a penny rate for a public library and museum. William Brown
Sir William Brown, 1st Baronet, of Astrop
Sir William Brown, 1st Baronet was a British merchant and banker, founder of the banking-house of Brown, Shipley & Co...
provided the buildings for the library and museum in 1860. In 1879 the corporation added to the library a reading room which was called the Picton Reading Room
Picton Reading Room and Hornby Library
The Picton Reading Room and Hornby Library are two grade II* listed buildings on William Brown Street, Liverpool, England which now form part of the Liverpool Central Library....
, modelled on the British Museum Reading Room
British Museum Reading Room
The British Museum Reading Room, situated in the centre of the Great Court of the British Museum, used to be the main reading room of the British Library. In 1997, this function moved to the new British Library building at St Pancras, London, but the Reading Room remains in its original form inside...
. Picton was the first chairman of the library and museum committee, which was founded in 1851, and he remained in this position until his death.
Picton married Sarah Pooley. Their son also James Allanson Picton
James Allanson Picton
James Allanson Picton was a British independent minister, author and Liberal politician.Picton was born at Liverpool, the eldest son of Sir James Allanson Picton and his wife Sarah Pooley. His father was an architect and supporter of the Liverpool Free Library...
eschewed his father's architectural practice and was eventually MP for Leicester
Leicester (UK Parliament constituency)
Leicester was a parliamentary borough in Leicestershire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1918, when it was split into three single-member divisions.-History:...
.
Architectural works
Surviving listed buildings by Picton include:- Sandy Knowe, Mill Lane, Liverpool. 1847 (designed for himself) II
- Hargreaves BuildingHargreaves BuildingHargreaves Building is a former bank in Chapel Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It originated as the headquarters of the Brown Shipley Bank, continued as offices when the bank moved to London, was converted for use by the Liverpool Racquet Club after the Toxteth riots, and later became a...
, Chapel Street, Liverpool. 1861. II - St Batholomew's Church, Arborfield and NewlandArborfield and NewlandArborfield and Newland is a civil parish in the Wokingham district of Berkshire, England. It had a population of 2,228 according to the 2001 census. It includes Arborfield, Arborfield Cross and part of Arborfield Garrison.-External links:*...
, BerkshireBerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
1863. II - Richmond Baptist Church, Breck Road, Liverpool. 1864. II
- The Temple, Dale Street, Liverpool. 1864–65. II
- Fowler's Buildings, Temple Lane, Liverpool. 1886–89. II*
- Fowler's Buildings, Liverpool. 1868. II
- Picton Clock Tower, Wavertree, Liverpool - Built in 1884, the Picton Clock Tower was a memorial to Picton's wife, Sarah Pooley, who died in 1879. A grade II listed building, the clock was featured on the opening credits of BrooksideBrooksideBrookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
.