Joseph Potter (architect)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Potter was an English
architect
and builder from Lichfield
, Staffordshire
in the United Kingdom
. Potter has a considerable practice in Staffordshire and its neighbouring counties in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Potter lived in Pipehill south west of Lichfield and had his office in St Johns Street. Joseph Potter's son Joseph Potter Jnr. took over his father's practice after his death and went on to design many of his own buildings in the late nineteenth century.
(a prominent architect at the time) to supervise the alterations to Lichfield Cathedral
in 1788-93 and Hereford Cathedral
on 1790-93. In this period he also worked under Wyatt in the repair to St Michael's Church
, Coventry
(now St Michael's Cathedral) in 1794 and the rebuilding of Plas Newydd
, Anglesey for the 1st Marquess of Anglesey. At Plas Newydd it is thought Potter is solely responsibe for the design and build of the gothic chapel.
Potter became the established architect at Lichfield Cathedral
, overseeing repairs to the south west spire in 1794. The restoration of the vaults in the north trancept in 1795-97 and restoration of the west face of the cathedral in 1820-22. Potter was the county surveyor of Staffordshire for 45 years until his death in 1842. Potter was also an engineer for the Grand Trunk Canal Company.
Potter had three sons who all carried on the family profession. Robert Potter (c. 1795-1854) was the eldest son, he became an architect and went on to design numerous buildings. Joseph Potter Jnr. (c. 1797-1875) took over his fathers practice after his death and went on to design many buildings including the Guildhall
and Clock Tower
in Lichfield
. James Potter (c. 1801-1857) the youngest son became a civil engineer working mainly on canals and railways. Other architects Thomas Johnson and James Fowler
of Louth were pupils of Joseph Potter and were influenced by his methods.
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...
and builder from Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Potter has a considerable practice in Staffordshire and its neighbouring counties in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Potter lived in Pipehill south west of Lichfield and had his office in St Johns Street. Joseph Potter's son Joseph Potter Jnr. took over his father's practice after his death and went on to design many of his own buildings in the late nineteenth century.
Biography
Early in Joseph Potters career as an architect, he was employed by James WyattJames Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
(a prominent architect at the time) to supervise the alterations to Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
in 1788-93 and Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
on 1790-93. In this period he also worked under Wyatt in the repair to St Michael's Church
Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
(now St Michael's Cathedral) in 1794 and the rebuilding of Plas Newydd
Plas Newydd
Plas Newydd, located in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales, is the country seat of the Marquess of Anglesey. The family's former principal seat at Beaudesert, Staffordshire, was sold and demolished in the 1930s....
, Anglesey for the 1st Marquess of Anglesey. At Plas Newydd it is thought Potter is solely responsibe for the design and build of the gothic chapel.
Potter became the established architect at Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
, overseeing repairs to the south west spire in 1794. The restoration of the vaults in the north trancept in 1795-97 and restoration of the west face of the cathedral in 1820-22. Potter was the county surveyor of Staffordshire for 45 years until his death in 1842. Potter was also an engineer for the Grand Trunk Canal Company.
Potter had three sons who all carried on the family profession. Robert Potter (c. 1795-1854) was the eldest son, he became an architect and went on to design numerous buildings. Joseph Potter Jnr. (c. 1797-1875) took over his fathers practice after his death and went on to design many buildings including the Guildhall
Guildhall, Lichfield
The Guildhall is a historic building in the centre of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom. Located in Bore Street the Guildhall has been central to the government of the City for over 600 years, and in former times was not only the meeting place of the Corporation but also at various...
and Clock Tower
Lichfield Clock Tower
Lichfield Clock Tower or Friary Clock Tower is a 19th century Grade II listed clock tower located on 'The Friary' south of Festival Gardens in the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom....
in Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
. James Potter (c. 1801-1857) the youngest son became a civil engineer working mainly on canals and railways. Other architects Thomas Johnson and James Fowler
James Fowler (architect)
James Fowler JP, FRIBA, known as “Fowler of Louth”, was an English ecclesiastical architect of the Victorian Age chiefly associated with the restoration and renovation of churches....
of Louth were pupils of Joseph Potter and were influenced by his methods.
List of Architectural Works
- 1788-93 - Lichfield CathedralLichfield CathedralLichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
(restorations with James WyattJames WyattJames Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
) - 1790-93 - Hereford CathedralHereford CathedralThe current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
(restorations with James Wyatt) - 1793 - The Old Vicarage, HanburyHanbury, StaffordshireHanbury is a village near Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England.It was the location of the 1944 RAF Fauld Explosion, one of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions in the world.-References:*...
, Staffordshire - 1794 - Lichfield Cathedral (repairs to south west spire)
- 1794 - St Michael’s ChurchCoventry CathedralCoventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
(now Cathedral) CoventryCoventryCoventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, (repaired tower with James Wyatt) - 1795-97 – Lichfield Cathedral (restoration of vaults in north transept)
- 1795-1823 - Plas NewyddPlas NewyddPlas Newydd, located in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales, is the country seat of the Marquess of Anglesey. The family's former principal seat at Beaudesert, Staffordshire, was sold and demolished in the 1930s....
, Anglesey (with James Wyatt, solely responsible for gothic chapel) - 1800-2 - Newton’s College, Lichfield
- 1802 - Judge's House, County Buildings, Stafford
- 1816 - Causeway Bridge, Bird Street, Lichfield
- 1818 - School House, Market Place, PenkridgePenkridgePenkridge is a market town and ancient parish in Staffordshire, England with a population of 7,836 . Many locals refer to it as a village, although it has a long history as an ecclesiastical and commercial centre. Its main distinction in the Middle Ages was as the site of an important collegiate...
- 1818 – St Michael’s Church (now Cathedral), Coventry (restoration)
- 1818 - Staffordshire General Lunatic Asylum, Stafford
- 1819-20 – Christ Church, BurntwoodBurntwoodBurntwood is a town in Staffordshire, England, lying in the Cannock Chase area approximately west of Lichfield. The town had a population of 25,674 at the time of the 2001 census and forms part of Lichfield district. The town forms one of the largest urbanised parishes in England. Samuel Johnson...
- 1820-22 – Lichfield Cathedral (restoration to west front)
- 1822 - CaernarfonCaernarfonCaernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
Baths & Assembly Rooms (now part of Bangor UniversityBangor UniversityBangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
) - 1824 - Chetwynd Bridge, AlrewasAlrewasAlrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
- 1826-27 - Freeford HallFreeford HallFreeford Manor is a privately owned 18th century country house at Freeford, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. It is the home of the Dyott family and is a Grade II listed building....
, nr Lichfield, (enlarged for William Dyott) - 1826-29 - St Mary’s Church, SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
- 1826-31 – Beaudesert HouseBeaudesert (house)Beaudesert was an estate and stately home on the southern edge of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. It was one of the family seats of the Paget family, the Marquesses of Anglesey...
(alterations to gothic hall) - 1829-30 – High Bridge, ArmitageArmitageArmitage is a village in Staffordshire, England on the south side of the Trent and Mersey Canal between Lichfield and Rugeley. Together with the adjacent village of Handsacre, it forms the parish of Armitage with Handsacre.-Village Amenities:...
- 1829-30 – St John Baptist Church, TamworthTamworthTamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
- 1832 – Sts Peter & Paul ChurchSt Peter and Paul Church, NewportSt. Peter and Pauls Church is a Catholic Church in Newport, Shropshire, England.Salters Hall is in Salters lane, Newport, Shropshire, attached to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and was designed by Angustus Pugin....
, NewportNewport, ShropshireNewport is a market town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It lies some north of Telford and some west of Stafford sitting on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border... - 1833-34 – Wadsley ChurchWadsley Parish ChurchWadsley Parish Church is situated within the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, it is located on Worrall Road, north west of the city centre in the suburb of Wadsley, which was formerly a village outside the city boundary. The church is quite unusual in that it is not dedicated to a saint...
, Sheffield - 1835 – Holy Cross Church, Lichfield
- 1835-38 – St Mary’s RC College, New OscottNew OscottNew Oscott is an area of Birmingham, England.It was named after the Oscott area of Birmingham, when St. Mary's College, the Roman Catholic seminary, moved from that site to the new one. The original then became known as Old Oscott....