George Gilbert Scott

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Scott felt that St Pancras station was his most successful project.
Scott felt that St Pancras station was his most successful project.

Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878) was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses.

Born in Gawcott, Buckinghamshire, Scott was the son of a clergyman and grandson of the biblical commentator Thomas Scott. He studied architecture as a pupil of James Edmeston and, from 1832 to 1834, worked as an assistant to Henry Roberts. He also worked as an assistant for his friend Sampson Kempthorne.[1]

In about 1835, Scott took on William Bonython Moffatt as his assistant and later (1838-1845) as partner. Over the next 10 years Scott and Moffatt designed over 40 workhouses. A notable example was the Akroydon model housing scheme.

Meanwhile, he was inspired by Augustus Pugin to join the Gothic revival of the Victorian era, his first notable work in this style being the Martyrs' Memorial on St Giles in Oxford (1841). Later, Scott went beyond copying mediaeval English gothic for his Victorian Gothic or Gothic Revival buildings, and began to introduce features from other styles and European countries as evidenced in his glorious Midland red-brick construction, the 'Midland Grand Hotel' at London's St Pancras Station, from which approach Scott believed a new style might emerge.

Between 1864 and 1876, the Albert Memorial, designed by Scott, was constructed in Hyde Park. It was a commission on behalf of Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband, Prince Albert.

Scott was awarded the RIBA's Royal Gold Medal in 1859. Knighted in 1872, he died in 1878 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

His sons George Gilbert Scott Junior and John Oldrid Scott, and grandson Giles Gilbert Scott, were also prominent architects. He was also related to the architect Elisabeth Scott. Scott's grandfather was Thomas Scott (commentator).

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Contents

[edit] His book

  • Recollections (London, 1879)

[edit] Designs

The chapel of St John's College, Cambridge is characteristic of Scott's many church designs
The chapel of St John's College, Cambridge is characteristic of Scott's many church designs

His projects include:

Glasgow University's main building (1870)
Glasgow University's main building (1870)

[edit] Restorations

Scott was involved in major restorations of medieval church architecture.

The West Front of Lichfield Cathedral
The West Front of Lichfield Cathedral

Cathedrals include


Plus Bath Abbey, Pershore Abbey, Great Malvern Priory, St Margaret's, Westminster, St Mary's of Charity in Faversham, which was restored (and transformed, with an unusual spire and unexpected interior) by Scott in 1874, and Dundee Parish Church (St Mary's), and designed the chapels of Exeter College, Oxford, St John's College, Cambridge and King's College London. He also designed St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee. Lichfield Cathedral's ornate West Front was extensively renovated by Scott from 1855 - 1878. He restored the Cathedral to the form he believed it took in the Middle Ages, working with original materials where possible and creating imitations when the originals were not available. It is recognised as some of his finest work.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p106 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  2. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p122-123 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  3. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p126 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  4. ^ 'Hanwell:Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 230-33. Date accessed: 21 July 2007.
  5. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p299 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  6. ^ Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-29.
  7. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 p271
  8. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 p113
  9. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p226 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  10. ^ The Book of Buckingham, John Clarke, 1984, p145 ISBN 0-86-023072-4
  11. ^ see Ayscoughfee Hall museum, Spalding
  12. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p63 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  13. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 p109
  14. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p304 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  15. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p327 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
  16. ^ Church of St. Mary, causeway bridge, and gates. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  17. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1963 p146 ISBN 0-14-071025-6

www.westminster-abbey.org

[edit] External links