Thomas Warr Attwood
Encyclopedia
Thomas Warr Attwood was an English builder, architect
and local politician in Bath.
He was a member of a prominent local family and a member of the city Council from 1760. Although he held no formal appointment, he acted as city surveyor and architect. He was able to use his position to obtain contracts and building concessions on council-owned land — indeed, he was Mayor of Bath at the time that the council adopted his proposal to build a new gaol — and this caused controversy in the city.
Much of the controversy surrounding him is justified since he was a plumber but because of his political connections he was routinely appointed as the architect, surveyor, and city planner for all of the Corporation of Bath's civic projects, including the new gaol, which he designed and built between 1772-1774. All of his designs were almost certainly executed by his assistants, but he received both the credit, payment, and future commissions at a time when late 18th-century Bath was host and birthplace to some of the greatest architects in the kingdom.
He was killed by the collapse of a derelict building which he was inspecting on the site of the proposed new Guildhall. His assistant Thomas Baldwin
was appointed City Architect
and City Surveyor
. Attwood's pedestal monument is in the churchyard at Weston
. South of the church of All Saints, Weston, it was designed by Baldwin and features an example of 18th century cast iron railings.
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 local politician in Bath.
He was a member of a prominent local family and a member of the city Council from 1760. Although he held no formal appointment, he acted as city surveyor and architect. He was able to use his position to obtain contracts and building concessions on council-owned land — indeed, he was Mayor of Bath at the time that the council adopted his proposal to build a new gaol — and this caused controversy in the city.
Much of the controversy surrounding him is justified since he was a plumber but because of his political connections he was routinely appointed as the architect, surveyor, and city planner for all of the Corporation of Bath's civic projects, including the new gaol, which he designed and built between 1772-1774. All of his designs were almost certainly executed by his assistants, but he received both the credit, payment, and future commissions at a time when late 18th-century Bath was host and birthplace to some of the greatest architects in the kingdom.
He was killed by the collapse of a derelict building which he was inspecting on the site of the proposed new Guildhall. His assistant Thomas Baldwin
Thomas Baldwin (architect)
Thomas Baldwin was an English surveyor and architect in Bath.He did not originally hail from Bath but was first recorded in the city in 1774, where he was initially a clerk to plumber, glazier, and politician Thomas Warr Attwood. By 1775, he was appointed as the Bath City Architect after...
was appointed City Architect
Bath City Architect
The prominent post of Bath City Architect was bestowed by the Corporation of Bath, England, on an architect who would be repeatedly chosen for civic projects.* Thomas Warr Attwood –1775* Thomas Baldwin 1780–1792* John Palmer 1792–1817...
and City Surveyor
Bath City Surveyor
The prominent post of Bath City Architect and Surveyor was bestowed by the Corporation of Bath, Somerset on an architect who would be repeatedly chosen for civic projects. The posts were often bestowed separately with surveyor being the first appointment...
. Attwood's pedestal monument is in the churchyard at Weston
Weston, Somerset
Weston is a suburb and electoral ward of Bath in England, located in the north west of the city. Originally a separate village, Weston has become part of Bath as the city has grown, first through the development of Lower Weston in Victorian times and then by the incorporation of the village...
. South of the church of All Saints, Weston, it was designed by Baldwin and features an example of 18th century cast iron railings.
List of works
- Paragon CrescentThe Paragon, BathThe Paragon in the Walcot area of Bath, Somerset, England is a street of Georgian houses which have been designated as listed buildings. It was designed by Thomas Warr Attwood. It now forms part of the A4.Numbers 1 to 21 are 3 storey houses with mansard roofs...
(1768) - Oxford Row (1773)
- The New Gaol, BathwickBathwickBathwick is an electoral ward in the City of Bath, England, on the opposite bank of the River Avon to the historic city centre.Bathwick was part of the hundred of Bath Forum....
(1772-3) - GuildhallGuildhall, BathThe Guildhall in Bath, Somerset, England was built between 1775 and 1778 by Thomas Baldwin to designs by Thomas Warr Attwood. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building....
(His name was on the original designs but like the rest of his work, Baldwin and other assistants were responsible for them. As soon as he died, Baldwin was selected as the architect of the Guildhall with no noticeable change to "Attwood's design," mainly because they had always been Baldwins.)