John Johnson (architect)
Encyclopedia
John Johnson was an English architect
and Surveyor
to the County of Essex
. He is best known for designing the Shire Hall, Chelmsford
.
. He moved to London before his thirtieth birthday and in the late 1760s was engaged in speculative building
on the Berners estate in Marylebone
. For most of the rest of his life, he lived in one of the houses that he had built in Berners Street.
In 1782, he succeeded William Hillyer as Surveyor to the County of Essex, a position that he held for thirty years, retiring at the age of 80. In 1785, he became a partner with Sir Herbert Mackworth and others in Dorsett and Co., a bank in Bond Street
, but Mackworth left before 1792, the bank failed in 1797 and was wound up in 1803. After this, Johnson moved from Berners Street to Camden Town
, and on his retirement in 1812 he went back to Leicester, where he died. There, in St Martin’s Church (now Leicester Cathedral
) where he was buried, he is commemorated on the base of a monument by John Bacon which was originally erected in 1786 as a memorial to his parents.
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...
and Surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
to the County of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. He is best known for designing the Shire Hall, Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
.
Life
Johnson was born in LeicesterLeicester
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 moved to London before his thirtieth birthday and in the late 1760s was engaged in speculative building
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
on the Berners estate in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
. For most of the rest of his life, he lived in one of the houses that he had built in Berners Street.
In 1782, he succeeded William Hillyer as Surveyor to the County of Essex, a position that he held for thirty years, retiring at the age of 80. In 1785, he became a partner with Sir Herbert Mackworth and others in Dorsett and Co., a bank in Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
, but Mackworth left before 1792, the bank failed in 1797 and was wound up in 1803. After this, Johnson moved from Berners Street to Camden Town
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, and on his retirement in 1812 he went back to Leicester, where he died. There, in St Martin’s Church (now Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Martin, Leicester is a Church of England cathedral in the English city of Leicester, and the seat of the Bishop of Leicester...
) where he was buried, he is commemorated on the base of a monument by John Bacon which was originally erected in 1786 as a memorial to his parents.
Public buildings
- The Jockey ClubJockey ClubThe Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
's clubClubA club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
house, NewmarketNewmarket RacecourseThe town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
(1771-2) - The Shire Hall, ChelmsfordChelmsfordChelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
(1789-91) - The City Rooms (Leicester)The City Rooms (Leicester)The City Rooms is located in the heart of the City of Leicester in England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building....
(1799-1800) - Ingrams Close, Felsted SchoolFelsted SchoolFelsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
(1799-1802) - Chelmsford CathedralChelmsford CathedralChelmsford Cathedral in the county town of Chelmsford, Essex, England is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, St Peter and St Cedd. It became a cathedral when the Anglican Diocese of Chelmsford was created in 1914 and is the seat of the Bishop of Chelmsford....
(rebuilt the naveNaveIn Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, 1801-3) - St Andrew's Church, HornchurchSt Andrew's Church, HornchurchThe church of St Andrew's, Hornchurch is a Church of England religious building in Hornchurch, England.-History:There has been a church on this site since at least 1163. The tower and the north porch were added in the 15th century.-Interments:...
(rebuilt the south aisleAisleAn aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
, 1802) - County Hall, LewesLewesLewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
(1808-12), which became Lewes Crown CourtLewes Crown CourtLewes Crown Court is a Crown Court in Lewes, East Sussex, England. It is housed in the Lewes Combined Court Centre which it shares with Lewes County Court in the Lewes High Street...
and is now Lewes Combined Court Centre
Country houses
- Castle AshbyCastle AshbyCastle Ashby is the name of a civil parish, an estate village and an English country house in rural Northamptonshire. Historically the village was set up to service the needs of Castle Ashby Manor, the seat of the Marquess of Northampton. The village has one small pub-hotel, The Falcon. At the time...
(rebuilt the Great Hall, 1771-4) - Terling PlaceTerling PlaceTerling Place is the Georgian family seat of Baron Rayleigh and the largest house in the village of Terling. It was built between 1772 and 1777 to the designs of John Johnson. The wings, a new porch, a two-storey Saloon and a Library were added between 1818 and 1824...
, Essex (1772-c1780 - Woolverstone HallWoolverstone HallWoolverstone Hall is a large country house, now in use as a school located south of the centre of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It is set in on the banks of the River Orwell. Built in 1776 for William Berners by the architect John Johnson of Leicestershire, it is one of the finest examples of...
, Suffolk (1776) - Benhall Lodge, BenhallBenhallBenhall is a village and civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal district of Suffolk, England. Located to the south of Saxmundham, in 2007 its population was estimated to be 560....
, Suffolk (1790) (only a fragment of this building remains as 'Old Lodge', as the house was totally rebuilt in the Regency period.
London
- Asia HouseAsia HouseAsia House, is a non-profit, non-political Pan-Asian organisation in the UK. It was founded in 1996 by a small group led by Sir Peter Wakefield, a former diplomat who died aged 89 in December 2010...
, no. 63 (originally no. 9), New Cavendish Street, MaryleboneMaryleboneMarylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
(c1775-77)