British architect
John Loughborough Pearson
RA
(5 July 1817 ? 11 December 1897) was a British
Gothic Revival architect
renowned for his work on
churches
and
cathedrals
. Pearson revived and practised largely the art of
vaulting
, and acquired in it a proficiency unrivalled in his generation. He worked on at least 210
ecclesiastical
buildings in England alone in a career spanning 54 years.
[1]
Early life and education
[
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]
Pearson was born in
Brussels
on 5 July 1817.
[2]
He was the son of William Pearson, etcher, of
Durham
, and was brought up there. At the age of fourteen, he was articled to
Ignatius Bonomi
, architect, of Durham, whose clergy clientele helped stimulate Pearson's long association with religious architecture, particularly of the
Gothic
style.
Pearson moved to
London
, where he became a pupil of
Philip Hardwick
(1792?1870), architect of the
Euston Arch
and
Lincoln's Inn
. He lived in central London at 13
Mansfield Street
(where a
blue plaque
commemorates him). He was awarded the
RIBA
Royal Gold Medal
in 1880.
Career
[
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]
From the erection of his first church at
Ellerker
, in
Yorkshire
, in 1843, to that of
St Peter's
,
Vauxhall
, in 1864, his buildings are geometrical in manner and exhibit a close adherence to precedent, but elegance of proportion and refinement of detail lift them out of the commonplace of mere imitation. Holy Trinity,
Westminster
(1848), and St Mary's,
Dalton Holme
(1858), are notable examples of this phase.
Pearson began his career drawing purely on English medieval prototypes, but increasingly incorporated ideas from abroad: Charles Locke Eastlake described Pearson's Christchurch at
Appleton-le-Moors
in
North Yorkshire
as "modelled on the earliest and severest type of French Gothic, with an admixture of details almost Byzantine in character."
[3]
St Peter's Church, Vauxhall
(1864), was his first groined church, and the first of a series of buildings which brought Pearson to the forefront among his contemporaries. In these he applied the Early English style to modern needs and modern economy with unrivalled success.
St Augustine's, Kilburn
(1871), St John's,
Red Lion Square
, London (1874, destroyed by a
parachute mine
in 1941),
[4]
St Alban's, Conybere Street, Birmingham
(1880), St Michael's,
Croydon
(1880),
St John's, Norwood
(1881),
St Stephen's
,
Bournemouth
(1889), and
All Saints Church
,
Hove
(1889), are characteristic examples of his mature work. He also did restoration work on smaller churches, including
St Edward's Church
in Gloucestershire.
He was enlisted by
Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th Baronet
to develop the first of what now are known as "
The Sykes churches
" near
Sledmere
. Initially Pearson restored the
Church of St Michael and All Angels, Garton on the Wolds
and the churches at
Kirkburn
, and
Bishop Wilton
, along with a new one at
Hilton
.
[5]
Cathedrals
[
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]
Pearson is best known for
Truro Cathedral
(1880), the first Anglican cathedral to be built in England since 1697. It has a special interest in its apt incorporation of the south aisle of the ancient church. Pearson's conservative spirit fitted him for the repair of ancient buildings, and among cathedrals and other historic buildings placed under his care were
Lincoln
,
Chichester
,
Peterborough
,
Bristol
and
Exeter
cathedrals,
St George's Chapel
,
Windsor
,
Westminster Hall
, and
Westminster Abbey
, in the
surveyorship of which
he succeeded Sir
George Gilbert Scott
. He re-faced the north transept of Westminster Abbey, except for the porches (which are the work of Scott), and also designed the vigorous organ cases. In his handling of ancient buildings he was repeatedly opposed by the anti-restorers of the
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
(as in the case of the west front of
Peterborough Cathedral
in 1896), but he generally proved the soundness of his judgment by his executed work.
While
Truro Cathedral
is considered his British masterpiece there are many who consider
St John's Cathedral
in
Brisbane
, Australia, his finest work. St John's was initially designed by Pearson and then by his son Frank following his father's death in 1897. The cathedral was constructed between 1906 and 2009 and is a study in contrast to Truro. While lacking some of the decorative detail found at Truro and having shorter towers, the cathedral also departs from the conventional Early English style
Neo-Gothic
Pearson used extensively at Truro. St John's employs a broad mix of styles: some early
English Gothic
(
lancet windows
and bell shaped capitals in the piers); early
French Gothic
(the pyramidal spires of the towers, and the internal
sexpartite vault
of the ceiling, also used at Truro); and
Spanish Gothic
used extensively in the internal design of the nave and sanctuary. The form of Spanish Gothic used at St John's is based on
Barcelona Cathedral
. The Barcelona influence can be seen in the nave which has two walls forming double aisles; the inner wall forming the nave arcade which has a wide panel below the
triforium
to help keep out the subtropical sun. But the Spanish precedent can best been seen in the cathedral's large
apsidal
sanctuary (wholly different from the conventional English square-end at Truro) whose tall pillars reach from ground floor to the arches immediately below the vault, producing an effect of extraordinary complexity and beauty.
[6]
Non-ecclesiastical buildings
[
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]
Pearson's practice was not confined to church buildings.
Treberfydd
(1850),
Quar Wood
(1858),
Lechlade Manor
, an
Elizabethan
house (1873), Westwood House,
Sydenham
, in the
French Renaissance
style (1880), the
Astor
estate offices (1892) upon the
Victoria Embankment
, London, the remodelling of the interiors of
Cliveden
House (1893) and No. 18
Carlton House Terrace
(1894), with many parsonages, show his aptitude for domestic architecture.
In general design he first aimed at form, embracing both proportion and contour; and his work may be recognized by accurate scholarship coupled with harmonious detail. Its keynotes are cautiousness and refinement rather than boldness.
Recognition
[
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]
He was elected an Associate of the
Royal Academy
in 1874, becoming a full member in 1880. He was also a fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries
, and a fellow and member of the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Personal life
[
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]
In 1862, Pearson married Jemima Christian, a cousin of his friend
Ewan Christian
, a Manxman and architect to the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners
. Their son
Frank Loughborough Pearson
(1864–1947) was born two years later, but to Pearson's great sorrow Jemima died on 25 March 1865 of
typhoid fever
. Frank followed in his father's footsteps completing much of his work before embarking on his own original designs.
Pearson is buried in the nave of
Westminster Abbey
, where his grave is marked by the appropriate motto
Sustinuit et abstinuit
.
Legacy
[
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]
In total, 198 churches created or worked on by Pearson are now listed buildings.
[1]
In 2016,
Historic England
commissioned a selective assessment of the significance of
The Church and Chapel Interiors of John Loughborough Pearson
to help those caring for the buildings to understand the importance of interior fixtures and fittings?particularly movable furniture, which is not covered by listing but a key part of the original designs.
[1]
Some notable buildings
[
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]
- St Augustine's, Kilburn
(1871?1880) the tower and spire completed (1897?98)
- St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood
(1878?1887)
- Truro Cathedral
(1879?1910)
- St Agnes and St Pancras church
- St Margaret's, Westminster
(existing building, Pearson added eastern and western porches)
- Christ Church, Appleton-le-Moors
, Yorkshire
- Bristol Cathedral
, existing building, Pearson added the twin towers of the west front
- Wakefield Cathedral
, Pearson added a new east end after the church was raised to cathedral status (completed 1903?05 by his son Frank).
- St John's Cathedral, Brisbane
, related to Truro Cathedral (the design re-worked by his son, Frank, and completed in 2009)
Some of Pearson's other important works
[
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]
- North Ferriby
, Church of All Saints (1846)
[7]
- Stow, Lincolnshire
,
St Mary's Minster
(restoration, 1850)
- St John's Church, Acaster Selby
(1850)
- Weybridge
, St James's (1853)
- St Matthew's church,
Landscove
, South Devon (1854)
[8]
[9]
[10]
- Church of St Michael and All Angels, Garton on the Wolds
(restoration, 1856?57)
[11]
- St Mary's Church, Catherston Leweston
(1857?58)
[12]
- St Peter's Church, Vauxhall
(1863?64)
- Freeland, Oxfordshire
, St Mary's parish church, parsonage and schools (1869?71)
- Kilburn
, St Peter's Home (1868)
- Wentworth
,
Church of the Holy Trinity
(1872)
[13]
- Kirk
Braddan
new church, Isle of Man (1873)
- Horsforth
, Church of St Margaret (1874)
[14]
- Cullercoats
,
St George's
(1882)
- Chiswick
, St Michael's (restoration, 1882)
- Hove
,
St Barnabas' parish church
(1882?1883)
- Great Yarmouth
church (restoration, 1883)
- Liverpool
,
St Agnes
' (1883)
- St Mary's Church
,
Lastingham
1879
- Silverhill, East Sussex
,
St Matthew's Church
(1884)
- Woking
Convalescent Home (1884)
- Headingley
,
St Michael's church
(1884)
- Torquay
, All Saints' church (1884)
- Maidstone
, All Saints' church (restoration, 1885)
- Shrewsbury Abbey
(1886)
- Ayr
, Holy Trinity (1886)
- Thurstaston, St Bartholomew's
(1886)
- Hythe
, Kent, St Leonard's Church (restoration, 1887)
- Oxford
,
New College
, reredos (completion, 1889)
- Cambridge
,
Old Schools
, University Library (additions, 1889)
- Cheswardine, Shropshire
, (St Swithun's) (rebuilding 1889)
- Church of St John the Evangelist, Redhill
(1889)
- St John, Friern Barnet
, (1890)
- Cambridge,
Sidney Sussex College
(additions, 1890)
- Fitzrovia Chapel
the old
Middlesex Hospital
chapel (1890)
- Bishopsgate
, St Helen's parish church (restoration, 1891)
- Catholic Apostolic (Irvingite) Church,
Maida Avenue
,
Maida Hill
(1891-3)
[15]
- St Paul's Church, Walsall
(1892)
- Barking
, All Hallows church (restoration, 1893)
- Cambridge,
Emmanuel College
(additions, 1893)
- Ledbury
, St Michael's church (restoration, 1894)
- Malta
,
Lady Rachel Hamilton-Gordon Memorial Chapel
(1893?1894)
- Two Temple Place
, London (1895), built as the Astor Estate Office
- St Theodore's Church, Port Talbot
(1895)
- Merthyr Tydfil
, St Tydfil's church (1895)
- Bordesley
St Patrick's Church, Bordesley
(1896), demolished 1964
- Daybrook
,
St Paul's Church
(1896)
- Nottingham
, St Bartholomew's Church (completed by his son, 1899?1902)
- Upper Norwood
,
St John the Evangelist
(Consecrated in 1887)
Gallery
[
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]
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
public domain
:
Chisholm, Hugh
, ed. (1911). "
Pearson, John Loughborough
".
Encyclopædia Britannica
. Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ^
a
b
c
Clare Howard, Simon Taylor (4 July 2017).
"The Church and Chapel Interiors of John Loughborough Pearson: A Selective Assessment of their Significance Historic England Research Report: 26/2016"
.
research.historicengland.org.uk
. Retrieved
23 April
2020
.
- ^
"John Loughborough Pearson, R.A."
Retrieved
1 June
2011
.
- ^
Eastlake, Charles Locke (1872).
A History of the Gothic Revival
. London: Longmans, Green & Co. pp.
303
?4.
- ^
"Bomb damage to St John the Evangelist, Red Lion Square, Camden, London: the vaults underneath a side chapel | RIBA"
.
RIBApix
. Retrieved
4 April
2019
.
- ^
Christopher Sykes
The Big House
.
- ^
Denzil Scrivens "John Loughborough Pearson RA and St John's Cathedral Brisbane: the Development of a Queensland Masterpiece" (published by St John's Cathedral, Brisbane 2017)
- ^
Historic England
.
"Church of All Saints, North Ferriby (1347004)"
.
National Heritage List for England
. Retrieved
27 March
2015
.
- ^
Preston, Richard.
"William Hinves and Alfred Bedborough: architects in nineteenth-century Southampton"
(PDF)
.
Southampton Local History Forum Journal
. Southampton City Council. p. 6. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 27 January 2013
. Retrieved
19 May
2012
.
- ^
"The Old Quarry Landscove"
.
Domesday Reloaded
. BBC. 1986
. Retrieved
20 May
2012
.
- ^
Historic England.
"Church of St Matthew (1108532)"
.
National Heritage List for England
. Retrieved
27 March
2015
.
- ^
Historic England.
"CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, Garton (1160977)"
.
National Heritage List for England
. Retrieved
26 November
2018
.
- ^
Historic England
(10 January 1984).
"PARISH CHURCH (ST MARY), Catherston Leweston (1213892)"
.
National Heritage List for England
. Retrieved
12 January
2021
.
- ^
Historic England.
"Church of the Holy Trinity, Wentworth (1192788)"
.
National Heritage List for England
. Retrieved
27 March
2015
.
- ^
Historic England.
"Church of St. Margaret, Horsforth (1261804)"
.
National Heritage List for England
. Retrieved
27 March
2015
.
- ^
Historic England.
"Catholic Apostolic Church and Church House, Non Civil Parish (1238911)"
.
National Heritage List for England
. Retrieved
16 January
2022
.
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