George Frederick Bodley

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George Frederick Bodley
Personal information
Name George Frederick Bodley
Nationality English
Birth date 1827
Birth place
Date of death 21 October 1907
Place of death Water Eaton, Oxfordshire
Work
Significant buildings
Awards and prizes Royal Gold Medal for the promotion of Architecture (1899)

George Frederick Bodley (1827 – 21 October 1907) was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.


Contents

[edit] Personal life

He was the youngest son of a physician in Brighton, Sussex, England. His elder brother, the Rev. W. H. Bodley, became a well-known Roman Catholic preacher and a professor at St Mary’s College, New Oscott, Birmingham.

He married Minna F. H. Reavely in 1872. She was the daughter of Thomas George Wood Reavely Esq.

Reverend Fenwick Reavely (uncle of the bride) officiated. Marriage took place at Kinnersley Castle. One son, George H. Bodley born 1874.


[edit] Career

George Bodley was articled to the famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, under whose influence he became imbued with the spirit of the Gothic revival, and he gradually became known as the chief exponent of 14th century English Gothic, and the leading ecclesiastical architect in England. He is regarded as the leader of the resurgence of interest in English and northern European late-medieval design. He is also noted for his pioneering design work in the Queen Anne revival. [1]

His secular work included the London School Board offices, and in collaboration with Thomas Garner, the new buildings at Magdalen College, Oxford, and Hewell Grange, Worcestershire (for Viscount Windsor).

From 1872, he worked in a twenty-eight year partnership with Thomas Garner, designing collegiate buildings in Oxford and Cambridge, country houses and churches throughout the British Isles. He also designed (with his pupil Henry Vaughan) the cathedral at Washington, D.C., and cathedrals at San Francisco and in Hobart. Bodley also worked with his lifelong friend, the stained glass designer C E Kempe, also from Brighton. They collaborated on a number of projects including: St John the Baptist, Tuebrook in Liverpool; Queens’ College Chapel, Cambridge; All Saints, Danehill, East Sussex and Clumber Park Chapel in Nottinghamshire.[1]

In 1874 Bodley founded the firm of Watts and Co. together with his partners Thomas Garner and George Gilbert Scott, Jr.. [1]

In 1902, Bodley was one of the assessors for the competition to design the new Anglican cathedral in Liverpool, selecting the design by the young Giles Gilbert Scott. When construction of the cathedral began in 1904, Bodley was appointed to oversee Gilbert Scott's work and made several changes to the interior design of the Lady Chapel.

Bodley’s final architectural accomplishment was the design of the chapel at Bedford School, England, the foundation stone of which was laid on 18 May 1907 by Lord St John of Bletso. Building work took only a year, the consecration of the chapel taking place in July 1908, by which time the architect had died.

Bodley began contributing to the Royal Academy in 1854, and in 1881 was elected A.R.A., becoming RA in 1902. In addition to being a most learned master of architecture, he was a beautiful draughtsman, and a connoisseur in art; he published a volume of poems in 1899; and he was a designer of wallpaper and chintzes for Watts & Co., of Baker Street, London. He served as prime warden of the Fishmongers' Company in 1901–2. In early life he had been in close alliance with the Pre-Raphaelites, and he did a great deal, like William Morris, to improve public taste in domestic decoration and furniture. Bodley was a significant early patron of William Morris.[1]

He died on 21 October 1907 at Water Eaton near Oxford.

[edit] Gallery

Offices of the London School Board by Bodley and Garner (1872-76; demolished 1929

Church of St Augustine, Pendlebury

The Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral.

Exterior of All Saints' church, Cambridge

Richly decorated Arts and Crafts interior of All Saints' church, Cambridge.

The Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross

St Michael and All Angels Church, Brighton

St. Chad's Church, Burton-on-Trent

Clumber Park Chapel

St. Mary's Eccleston

St. John the Baptist, Tue Brook

[edit] Works

[edit] New Churches

[edit] Church repairs and alterations

  • St Paul's church, Burton upon Trent (alterations)

[edit] Secular buildings

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d The Churches Conservation Trust (2007-07-01). George Frederick Bodley (1827-1907). Bodley & Kempe Centenary: A celebration of Victorian church art and design. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.