Joseph Pickford
Encyclopedia
Joseph Pickford was an English
architect
, one of the leading provincial architects in the reign of George III.
premises. Pickford worked with his uncle for about ten years, training first as a mason and then as an architect. Pickford at one time had offices in both London and Derby. The architect moved to Derby
in circa 1760, where he was the agent of Foremarke Hall
architect David Hiorne of Warwick. He married the Mary, the daughter of Thomas Wilkins, the principal agent of Wenman Coke of Longford Hall, Derbyshire, which Pickford altered around 1762. The house he designed for himself, Number 41 Friar Gate, is now the Pickford's House Museum
and also a Grade I listed building. However from April 2006 the building was only available to pre arranged groups.
Pickford worked extensively throughout the Midland
counties of England, primarily designing town and country houses in the Palladian style. A significant number of his friends and clients were members of the influential Lunar Society
, including the potter Josiah Wedgwood
, the painter Joseph Wright of Derby
, and the inventors Matthew Boulton
and John Whitehurst
.
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...
, one of the leading provincial architects in the reign of George III.
Biography
Pickford was born in Warwickshire in 1734 but he moved as child to London when his father died. Pickford's initial training was undertaken under the stonemason and sculptor Joseph Pickford (his uncle), at his Hyde Park, LondonHyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
premises. Pickford worked with his uncle for about ten years, training first as a mason and then as an architect. Pickford at one time had offices in both London and Derby. The architect moved to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
in circa 1760, where he was the agent of Foremarke Hall
Foremarke Hall
Foremarke Hall is a Georgian-Palladian country house . Completed in 1762, the Hall is located at the manor of Foremark, near the hamlets of Ingleby, Ticknall, Milton, and the village of Repton in South Derbyshire, England....
architect David Hiorne of Warwick. He married the Mary, the daughter of Thomas Wilkins, the principal agent of Wenman Coke of Longford Hall, Derbyshire, which Pickford altered around 1762. The house he designed for himself, Number 41 Friar Gate, is now the Pickford's House Museum
Pickford's House Museum
Pickford's House Museum of Georgian Life and Costume is in Derby, England-History:Pickford's House is at No 41 Friar Gate Derby,is an elegant Georgian town house built by the prominent architect Joseph Pickford in 1770 for his own family....
and also a Grade I listed building. However from April 2006 the building was only available to pre arranged groups.
Pickford worked extensively throughout the Midland
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
counties of England, primarily designing town and country houses in the Palladian style. A significant number of his friends and clients were members of the influential Lunar Society
Lunar Society
The Lunar Society of Birmingham was a dinner club and informal learned society of prominent figures in the Midlands Enlightenment, including industrialists, natural philosophers and intellectuals, who met regularly between 1765 and 1813 in Birmingham, England. At first called the Lunar Circle,...
, including the potter Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter, founder of the Wedgwood company, credited with the industrialization of the manufacture of pottery. A prominent abolitionist, Wedgwood is remembered for his "Am I Not A Man And A Brother?" anti-slavery medallion. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family...
, the painter Joseph Wright of Derby
Joseph Wright of Derby
Joseph Wright , styled Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He has been acclaimed as "the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution"....
, and the inventors Matthew Boulton
Matthew Boulton
Matthew Boulton, FRS was an English manufacturer and business partner of Scottish engineer James Watt. In the final quarter of the 18th century the partnership installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines, which were a great advance on the state of the art, making possible the...
and John Whitehurst
John Whitehurst
John Whitehurst FRS , of Cheshire, England, was a clockmaker and scientist, and made significant early contributions to geology. He was an influential member of the Lunar Society.- Life and work :...
.
Principal works
- St Helen's HouseSt Helen's House, DerbySt Helen's House is a Grade I listed building situated in King Street, Derby, England. It has been used in the past as a private residence and as an educational establishment...
, King Street, Derby, Derbyshire (1766-67) for John Gisbourne. - Hams Hall, Coleshill, Warwickshire for CB Adderely (1768, now demolished).
- Etruria HallEtruria HallEtruria Hall in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England was the home of the potter Josiah Wedgwood. It was built between 1768–1771 by Joseph Pickford.Etruria Hall was the site of the innovative research into photography by Thomas Wedgwood in the 1790s...
, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire for Josiah Wedgwood (1768-70, now comprises part of a hotel). - St Mary's Church, Birmingham, West Midlands (1773-4, now demolished).