Thomas Ripley (architect)

Thomas Ripley (ca 1683 - February 10, 1758) was an English architect. He was born in Yorkshire. An ex-carpenter, he rose by degrees to become an architect in the royal Office of Works, where he was influenced by the Palladian style, but never lost his provincial manner, which earned the private derision of Sir John Vanbrugh and the public scorn of Alexander Pope. He worked on the site of Houghton Hall for Sir Robert Walpole, but to the designs of the Palladian architects Colen Campbell and William Kent. In 1721 he succeeded Grinling Gibbons as "Master Carpenter," and in 1726 he succeeded Vanbrugh as Comptroller of the King's Works, largely to the influence of Walpole. He was survived by his wife and son who moved into a house he had designed on Streatham Common which is now called Ripley House.