Arthur Blomfield

Sir Arthur William Blomfield (6 March 1829 – 30 October 1899), English architect, son of Bishop C. J. Blomfield, was educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge.

Background

He was then articled as an architect to Philip Charles Hardwick, and subsequently obtained a large practice on his own account. He became president of the Architectural Association in 1861, and a fellow (1867) and vice-president (1886) of the Royal Institute of British Architects. In 1887 he became architect to the Bank of England, and designed the law courts branch in Fleet Street, and he was associated with A. E. Street in the building of the law courts. He also designed the Royal College of Music building. In 1889, he was knighted. He was twice married. His second wife was Lady Blomfield a noted author and humanitarian. [http://news.bahai.org/story/237 Memorial to a shining star] London, United Kingdom, 10 August 2003 (BWNS)] He had two sons, Charles J. Blomfield and Arthur Conran Blomfield, who he brought up to his own profession, of which they became distinguished representatives.

Legacy

Among the numerous churches which Sir Arthur Blomfield designed, his work at St. Saviour's Church, Southwark (now Southwark Cathedral) is a notable example of his use of a revived Gothic style, and he was highly regarded as a restorer. He also designed St. George's Anglican Cathedral in Georgetown, Guyana, which was considered the tallest wooden church in the world until 2003 when the Peri Monastery near Săpânţa in northern Romania was finished.

Trivia

In April 1862 a young Thomas Hardy joined his practice as assistant architect. The writer remained friends with Blomfield.

References

*1911