William Brassington
Encyclopedia
William Brassington was a stonemason, sculptor
and builder practising in Christchurch
, New Zealand
in the late 19th century. His sculptured carving on many of the city
's unique Gothic revival public buildings is regarded as some of the finest in the southern hemisphere
.
Brassington was born in Nottingham
, England
, and trained, like his father, to be a stonemason. In 1863 he and his wife Ellen and two daughters emigrated to New Zealand aboard the ship Brother's Pride. His youngest child died on the voyage. On arrival in New Zealand he set up business in a Christchurch cemetery
as a monument
al mason. The quality of his work was noticed by the official Provincial Architect Benjamin Mountfort
who was working on the provincial council chamber
in Christchurch. Mountfort immediately employed Brassington to carve the decorated stonework. The work Brassington executed at the council chamber is considered to be his best. He decorated the corbel
s, capitals
and arch
es with carvings of flora
and fauna
indigenous to the province of Canterbury. In addition was statuary depicting Queen Victoria, her consort and other great statesmen
and popular heroes of the day. It was also rumoured that depicted amongst the great and the good was Brassington's favourite barmaid and an image of himself.
Brassington's work at the council chamber established him as a sought after craftsman in the rapidly developing city of Christchurch; he carved the pulpit
at the church of St. John the Baptist in Latimer Square on 1866, and the font at Flaxton Church on 1867. He was commissioned to work on Christchurch Cathedral. However, when the project ran out of funds and came to a temporary halt, Brassington turned to building as a source of income, and worked on Lyttelton
harbour and many other projects at Teddington and Allendale.
One of his buildings was the Church of The Holy Innocents, Christchurch, which was completed in 1869. The acclaim with which this building was greeted led him to be chosen to work again with Mountfort completing the last stage of the Canterbury Museum in the 1870s, and again at the museum to build the great portico
in 1876.
Brassington's partnership with John Kennington won the duo the prestigious commission of building the castle
-like Lyttelton Timeball Station
, built of volcanic
red stone, and which was completed in 1876. Following this construction he was again employed by Mountfort on the re-started Christchurch cathedral
, although here his work is not documented.
In 1889 Brassington emigrated again, this time to Melbourne
, Australia
, where he seems to have abandoned his masonry career in favour of the Warrandyte
goldfield
. He died of an oral
tumour in 1905 and was buried at Footscray
cemetery, Australia.
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and builder practising in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the late 19th century. His sculptured carving on many of the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
's unique Gothic revival public buildings is regarded as some of the finest in the southern hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
.
Brassington was born in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England
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...
, and trained, like his father, to be a stonemason. In 1863 he and his wife Ellen and two daughters emigrated to New Zealand aboard the ship Brother's Pride. His youngest child died on the voyage. On arrival in New Zealand he set up business in a Christchurch cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
as a monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
al mason. The quality of his work was noticed by the official Provincial Architect Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort was an English emigrant to New Zealand, where he became one of that country's most prominent 19th century architects. He was instrumental in shaping the city of Christchurch's unique architectural identity and culture, and was appointed the first official Provincial...
who was working on the provincial council chamber
Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
The Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings were the buildings of the Canterbury Provincial Council that administered the Canterbury Province from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The buildings are the only purpose-built provincial government buildings in New Zealand still...
in Christchurch. Mountfort immediately employed Brassington to carve the decorated stonework. The work Brassington executed at the council chamber is considered to be his best. He decorated the corbel
Corbel
In architecture a corbel is a piece of stone jutting out of a wall to carry any superincumbent weight. A piece of timber projecting in the same way was called a "tassel" or a "bragger". The technique of corbelling, where rows of corbels deeply keyed inside a wall support a projecting wall or...
s, capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
and arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
es with carvings of flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
indigenous to the province of Canterbury. In addition was statuary depicting Queen Victoria, her consort and other great statesmen
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and popular heroes of the day. It was also rumoured that depicted amongst the great and the good was Brassington's favourite barmaid and an image of himself.
Brassington's work at the council chamber established him as a sought after craftsman in the rapidly developing city of Christchurch; he carved the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
at the church of St. John the Baptist in Latimer Square on 1866, and the font at Flaxton Church on 1867. He was commissioned to work on Christchurch Cathedral. However, when the project ran out of funds and came to a temporary halt, Brassington turned to building as a source of income, and worked on Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
harbour and many other projects at Teddington and Allendale.
One of his buildings was the Church of The Holy Innocents, Christchurch, which was completed in 1869. The acclaim with which this building was greeted led him to be chosen to work again with Mountfort completing the last stage of the Canterbury Museum in the 1870s, and again at the museum to build the great portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
in 1876.
Brassington's partnership with John Kennington won the duo the prestigious commission of building the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
-like Lyttelton Timeball Station
Lyttelton Timeball Station
The Lyttelton Timeball Station was a heritage-registered timeball station and prominent local landmark in Lyttelton, New Zealand. The station was significantly damaged by a series of earthquakes and aftershocks in 2010 and 2011, and finally collapsed on the 13 June 2011 after a magnitude 6.3...
, built of volcanic
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
red stone, and which was completed in 1876. Following this construction he was again employed by Mountfort on the re-started Christchurch cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, although here his work is not documented.
In 1889 Brassington emigrated again, this time to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he seems to have abandoned his masonry career in favour of the Warrandyte
Warrandyte, Victoria
Warrandyte is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 24 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham...
goldfield
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
. He died of an oral
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
tumour in 1905 and was buried at Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
cemetery, Australia.