Francis Thompson (architect)
Encyclopedia
Francis Thompson was an architect particularly well known for his railway work.
He was born in 1808 in Woodbridge
in Suffolk
, England
, to a family of builders. He married Anna Maria Watson in 1830 at Woodbridge church and emigrated to Montreal
in British North America (now Canada
). Their son Francis Jacob was born in 1831. Anna died the following year during the cholera epidemic which claimed 4000 lives in Montreal.
Having an interest in and understanding of architecture gained from his relatives Thompson designed houses, commercial buildings, court facilities and a church. With John Wells he designed St Ann's market hall, which later became the Canadian parliament house.
After the death of his wife, and because of the increasing political unrest between the French and the increasing number of British settlers, he returned to England in 1837.
appointed him to be the architect for the North Midland Railway
then under construction.
He designed many publicly acclaimed buildings, major and minor railway stations, and warehouses. One of the most representative of his surviving work is the Midland Hotel in Derby
.
This was part of a complete railway complex, the world's first, comprising one of the most magnificent station buildings of the time, attached to which was a large three-bay glazed train-shed, together
with workers' houses, and a locomotive roundhouse and workshop.
Notable for his criticism of the extravagant nature of the railway architecture of the day, Whishaw was nevertheless full of praise, writing:
"The admirably contrived and elegant roofs, the spacious platforms, the great length of the whole erection extending to upwards of a thousand feet. All unite in rendering it the most complete structure of the kind in the United Kingdom or perhaps the world."
Though the original station has been rebuilt the hotel survives along with the Cottages and the original workshop.
Thompson continued to work with Robert Stephenson and assisted with the Chester and Holyhead Railway
and with the Britannia Bridge
over the Menai Strait
. His building at Chester still exists.
He was appointed architect for the Grand Trunk Railway
of Canada and the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad
, designing the masonry for the Victoria Bridge
in Montreal, and the terminus at Portland, Maine
. The latter opened in 1855 and was claimed to be the largest station in America at that time.
He and his wife returned to London in 1859 and in 1866 he retired to Hastings
, moving finally to Bredfield
, where he died on 23 April 1895.
He was born in 1808 in Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to a family of builders. He married Anna Maria Watson in 1830 at Woodbridge church and emigrated to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in British North America (now Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
). Their son Francis Jacob was born in 1831. Anna died the following year during the cholera epidemic which claimed 4000 lives in Montreal.
Having an interest in and understanding of architecture gained from his relatives Thompson designed houses, commercial buildings, court facilities and a church. With John Wells he designed St Ann's market hall, which later became the Canadian parliament house.
After the death of his wife, and because of the increasing political unrest between the French and the increasing number of British settlers, he returned to England in 1837.
Railway mania
The first "railway mania" was in full swing and, although at first sight young and inexperienced, Robert StephensonRobert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
appointed him to be the architect for the North Midland Railway
North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway was a British railway company, which opened its line from Derby to Rotherham and Leeds in 1840.At Derby it connected with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
then under construction.
He designed many publicly acclaimed buildings, major and minor railway stations, and warehouses. One of the most representative of his surviving work is the Midland Hotel in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
.
This was part of a complete railway complex, the world's first, comprising one of the most magnificent station buildings of the time, attached to which was a large three-bay glazed train-shed, together
with workers' houses, and a locomotive roundhouse and workshop.
Notable for his criticism of the extravagant nature of the railway architecture of the day, Whishaw was nevertheless full of praise, writing:
"The admirably contrived and elegant roofs, the spacious platforms, the great length of the whole erection extending to upwards of a thousand feet. All unite in rendering it the most complete structure of the kind in the United Kingdom or perhaps the world."
Though the original station has been rebuilt the hotel survives along with the Cottages and the original workshop.
Derby Works
The Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities in Derby building locomotives and, initially, rolling stock in Derby, UK.-Early days:...
Thompson continued to work with Robert Stephenson and assisted with the Chester and Holyhead Railway
Chester and Holyhead Railway
The Chester and Holyhead Railway was incorporated out of a proposal to link Holyhead, the traditional port for the Irish Mail, with London by way of the existing Chester and Crewe Railway, and what is now the West Coast Main Line...
and with the Britannia Bridge
Britannia Bridge
Britannia Bridge is a bridge across the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales. It was originally designed and built by Robert Stephenson as a tubular bridge of wrought iron rectangular box-section spans for carrying rail traffic...
over the Menai Strait
Menai Strait
The Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.The strait is bridged in two places - the main A5 road is carried over the strait by Thomas Telford's elegant iron suspension bridge, the first of its kind,...
. His building at Chester still exists.
Canada again
Thompson had remarried in 1840. His second wife, Elizabeth, died in 1852 and in 1853, he married Mary Ann Groves and returned to Canada.He was appointed architect for the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
of Canada and the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad
St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad
The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad , known as St-Laurent et Atlantique Quebec in Canada, is a short line railroad operating between Portland, Maine on the Atlantic Ocean and Montreal, Quebec on the St. Lawrence River. It crosses the Canada-U.S...
, designing the masonry for the Victoria Bridge
Victoria Bridge (Montreal)
Victoria Bridge , formerly originally known as Victoria Jubilee Bridge, is a bridge over the St. Lawrence River, linking Montreal, Quebec, to the south shore city of Saint-Lambert....
in Montreal, and the terminus at Portland, Maine
Portland (Maine) Union Station
The railroad history of Portland, Maine, began in 1842 with the arrival of the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth Railway . Most of the rail activity in Portland revolved around agricultural goods bound for export and import freight from Europe...
. The latter opened in 1855 and was claimed to be the largest station in America at that time.
He and his wife returned to London in 1859 and in 1866 he retired to Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, moving finally to Bredfield
Bredfield
Bredfield is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It is situated just off the A12, two miles north of Woodbridge. Another village, Dallinghoo, is to the north, and to the west is Boulge, a small hamlet...
, where he died on 23 April 1895.