Thomas Farnolls Pritchard
Encyclopedia
Thomas Farnolls Pritchard (c. 1723–23 December 1777) was an English architect and interior decorator who is best remembered for his design of the first iron bridge in the world.
Thomas Farnols Pritchard was born in Shrewsbury
, Shropshire
and baptised in St Julian's Church, Shrewsbury on 11 May 1723. His father was a joiner
, and Thomas also trained as a joiner but then developed a professional practice as an architect and interior designer. He specialised in the design of chimney-pieces and other items of interior decoration, and in funerary monuments, employing coloured marbles, which are characterised by Rupert Gunnis
as "school of Henry Cheere". These were usually in rococo
or Gothic
style, and later in neoclassical
style; they include monuments to Ann Wilkinson, 1756, at Wrexham, Denbighshire; the Rev. John Lloyd, 1758, and Mary Morhall, 1765, both at St. Mary's Shrewsbury; and Richard Corbet, at Moreton Corbet, Shropshire. His houses and churches have been described as "no more than pleasant provincial work". Such work includes the rebuilding of St Julian's Church, Shrewsbury, and Hatton Grange, Shropshire. Examples of his interior decoration include Croft Castle
, Gaines in Whitbourne, Herefordshire
, Shipton Hall, Shropshire, the ballroom at Powis Castle
, and chimney-pieces at Broseley Hall, The Lawns, Broseley, and Benthall Hall
. He also designed the rococo drawing room at Tatton Hall
, Cheshire
. His monuments are in various churches, including St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury and churches at Acton Round
, Ludford
and Barrow
. Pritchard carried out work in Ludlow
, including rebuilding the Town Jail and the Hosiers Almshouses, and making alterations to the Guildhall.
In 1769 Pritchard left Shrewsbury and moved to Eyton on Severn
where he took up farming as well as continuing with his architectural work. He made various designs for bridges, none of which came to fruition, until he made plans for a bridge in cast iron to cross the River Severn
in Coalbrookdale
, Shropshire, adapting the principles of timber bridge-building. A modified version of his design was cast at the ironworks in Coalbrookdale in 1777–79. Pritchard died before the bridge was completed, but his design of The Iron Bridge
led to the building of the first iron bridge in the world. He was buried in St Julian's, Shrewsbury, where his monument also commemorates his wife, Elinor Russell, of Shrewbury (married 1751, died 1768) and three children who died young.
Thomas Farnols Pritchard was born in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a 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. It borders Wales to the west...
and baptised in St Julian's Church, Shrewsbury on 11 May 1723. His father was a joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
, and Thomas also trained as a joiner but then developed a professional practice as an architect and interior designer. He specialised in the design of chimney-pieces and other items of interior decoration, and in funerary monuments, employing coloured marbles, which are characterised by Rupert Gunnis
Rupert Gunnis
Rupert Forbes Gunnis was an English collector and historian of British sculpture. He is best known for his Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, which "revolutionized the study of British sculpture, providing the foundation for all later studies on the subject".-Life:Born in Cadogan Square,...
as "school of Henry Cheere". These were usually in rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
or 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....
style, and later in neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style; they include monuments to Ann Wilkinson, 1756, at Wrexham, Denbighshire; the Rev. John Lloyd, 1758, and Mary Morhall, 1765, both at St. Mary's Shrewsbury; and Richard Corbet, at Moreton Corbet, Shropshire. His houses and churches have been described as "no more than pleasant provincial work". Such work includes the rebuilding of St Julian's Church, Shrewsbury, and Hatton Grange, Shropshire. Examples of his interior decoration include Croft Castle
Croft Castle
Croft Castle is a manor house and associated buildings near the village of Yarpole in Herefordshire, England some to the north-west of Leominster .-11th century origin:...
, Gaines in Whitbourne, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, Shipton Hall, Shropshire, the ballroom at Powis Castle
Powis Castle
Powis Castle is a medieval castle, fortress and grand country mansion located near the town of Welshpool, in Powys, Mid Wales.The residence of the Earl of Powis, the castle is known for its extensive, attractive formal gardens, terraces, parkland, deerpark and landscaped estate...
, and chimney-pieces at Broseley Hall, The Lawns, Broseley, and Benthall Hall
Benthall Hall
Benthall Hall is a 16th century English country house located in Benthall close to the town of Broseley, Shropshire, England, and a few miles from the historic Ironbridge Gorge. It retains much of its fine oak interior, and an elaborate 17th century staircase...
. He also designed the rococo drawing room at Tatton Hall
Tatton Hall
Tatton Hall is a country house in Tatton Park near Knutsford, Cheshire, England . It has been designated as a Grade I listed building which is owned by the National Trust and administered in conjunction with Cheshire East Council.-History:...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. His monuments are in various churches, including St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury and churches at Acton Round
Acton Round
Acton Round is a village and civil parish in the English county of Shropshire. It is known as Achetune in the Domesday Book.-External links:...
, Ludford
Ludford, Shropshire
Ludford is a village and parish immediately to the south of the town of Ludlow, in Shropshire, England, on the south bank of the River Teme.- History & Amenities :...
and Barrow
Barrow, Shropshire
Barrow is a hamlet and civil parish in Shropshire, England, some 5 miles south of Telford between Ironbridge and Much Wenlock.Although Barrow itself consists of a church and just a few dwellings, the parish extends from Broseley to the eastern edge of Much Wenlock; it also includes the hamlet of...
. Pritchard carried out work in Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, including rebuilding the Town Jail and the Hosiers Almshouses, and making alterations to the Guildhall.
In 1769 Pritchard left Shrewsbury and moved to Eyton on Severn
Eyton on Severn
Eyton on Severn is a small village in the English county of Shropshire. It is located on a ridge above the northern bank of the River Severn. The significant tributory of the Cound Brook joins the Severn at Eyton, albeit on the opposite bank....
where he took up farming as well as continuing with his architectural work. He made various designs for bridges, none of which came to fruition, until he made plans for a bridge in cast iron to cross the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
in Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale is a village in the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, England, containing a settlement of great significance in the history of iron ore smelting. This is where iron ore was first smelted by Abraham Darby using easily mined "coking coal". The coal was drawn from drift mines in the sides...
, Shropshire, adapting the principles of timber bridge-building. A modified version of his design was cast at the ironworks in Coalbrookdale in 1777–79. Pritchard died before the bridge was completed, but his design of The Iron Bridge
The Iron Bridge
The Iron Bridge crosses the River Severn at the Ironbridge Gorge, by the village of Ironbridge, in Shropshire, England. It was the first arch bridge in the world to be made out of cast iron, a material which was previously far too expensive to use for large structures...
led to the building of the first iron bridge in the world. He was buried in St Julian's, Shrewsbury, where his monument also commemorates his wife, Elinor Russell, of Shrewbury (married 1751, died 1768) and three children who died young.