Geddes Hyslop
Encyclopedia
P[aul] Geddes Hyslop was a 20th century British architect, trained at the British School in Rome. Linked with the Bloomsbury set, his work, mostly in the classical style, was fashionable amongst the British upper classes and intelligentsia in the years immediately surrounding World War II
. He is remembered today as a restorer of country houses, a designer of knowledgeable pastiches rather than as an innovative architect.
, ensured his access to the leading society patrons and aesthetes of the day.
One of his earliest works, in 1933, was on the St. Helier estate, a new planned community, extending Morden, Surrey
to the south and east. Geddes designed the community's modernistic brick Bishop Andrewe's Church, Wigmore Road.
In 1934, The 2nd Lord Faringdon employed Hyslop to remodel Buscot Park
and restore it to an approximation of an 18th century appearance. This was achieved by removing the 19th century extensions and alterations which obscured the clean and simple lines of the neoclassical house. To restore some of the space lost by the demolition of a large wing, Hyslop created two flanking pavilions in a classical style, "which
suit the house to perfection", John Julius Norwich
observed, with temple fronts to the south and north. The pavilions and house were given a unified composition by linking high box hedging, complete with topiary pilaster
s. The interior of the mansion received a similar treatment: Victorian decoration was removed and 18th century ceilings, fireplaces and motifs were acquired and installed. Small rooms were merged to accentuate the sense of light and space needed to accommodate Lord Faringdon's large political houseparties.
At Buscot, and in smaller neo-Georgian settings, Hyslop introduced actual Georgian fittings. At Great Swifts, a neo-Georgian house that Hyslop designed c. 1935, he installed an early 18th-century staircase from Tangier House, Taunton, and brought in fine wall panelling from Ashley Park, Walton-on-Thames, and a rococo chimnneypiece from a house at Blackheath, London.
During World War II Major Hyslop, Royal Engineers, as he was commissioned, saw service in North Africa, where he headed up the Antiquities Department of British forces in 1944-45. He was employed converting Greenlands, Hambleden, Buckinghamshire as a Government administrative staff college in 1945, occasioning the loss of some apparently not–very–characteristic or notable interior work by Norman Shaw; the commission was extended to include conversion of the north range to dormitory bedrooms in 1946, the conversion of the stable block to a library in 1951, and development of a freestanding dormitory on a butterfly-wing-plan, with a "bold flying staircase", in 1955.
Hyslop's preference for working in the classical styles was severely tested in the years of austerity and building restrictions immediately following World war II. This is most apparent in Cambridge
, where he designed a student hostel, King's College: West Road: Garden Hostel. Built between 1948 and 1950, its utilitarian austerity is softened by the adjacent King's College Fellows' Garden
. Despite the imposed restrictions, Hyslop still managed to impart some classical ideals of proportion and height through the use of brick pilasters; further reference to an earlier form of architecture is provided by oeil-de-boeuf
windows pierced on the floors above the entrance.
Building on his functional college works, Geddes was commissioned as architect for the Staff College at Henley-on-Thame.
The post–war work was not all austerity, however, as some wealthy patrons still existed. The Countess of Rosebery
, one of the founders of the Edinburgh Festival, in 1950, persuaded her husband, the Earl of Rosebery, buoyed by his mother's fortune
, to have the Rosebery's Scottish seat, Dalmeny House
, restored. Considered one of Scotland's finest houses, the mansion had been damaged by fire during the war. The resultant work, executed "sensitively" according to Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd and Christopher Sykes, involved the use of older materials such as original bookcases and 18th century fireplaces imported from elsewhere.
Another postwar commission was at Daylesford
, the house built by S.P. Cockerell
for the Indian nabob Warren Hastings
.
Further works included: Roydon Hall, East Peckham, Kent, the seat of Mr Ralph M. Cook.; alterations to the west front of Greenlands, Temple Island in 1936-38; 41 Kensington Square for Mrs Thomas Lowinsky; works at Sommerville College, Oxford; and a Garden Hostel, King's College, Cambridge.
, Islington, London with the one time New Statesman
editor and art critic, Raymond Mortimer
. Some ephemeral essays on architects and architecture by Geddes Hyslop appeared from time to time in The New Statesman, in part through this connection.
Hyslop did not design huge futuristic buildings intended to startle the senses, but works that were almost unremarkable, in the sense that their harmony with adjacent buildings, rendered them part of an existing composition. Yet his work was remarkable, for showing a complete understanding of proportion, perspective and historical accuracy.
Geddes Hyslop died in 1989.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is remembered today as a restorer of country houses, a designer of knowledgeable pastiches rather than as an innovative architect.
Architecture
Hyslop began his architectural career during the early 1930s. His connections with the Bloomsbury Set and a circle of friends, which included such Victoria Sackville-West, Harold Nicholson and James Lees-MilneJames Lees-Milne
James Lees-Milne was an English writer and expert on country houses. He was an architectural historian, novelist, and a biographer. He is also remembered as a diarist.-Biography:...
, ensured his access to the leading society patrons and aesthetes of the day.
One of his earliest works, in 1933, was on the St. Helier estate, a new planned community, extending Morden, Surrey
Morden
Morden is a district in the London Borough of Merton. It is located approximately South-southwest of central London between Merton Park , Mitcham , Sutton and Worcester Park .- Origin of name :...
to the south and east. Geddes designed the community's modernistic brick Bishop Andrewe's Church, Wigmore Road.
In 1934, The 2nd Lord Faringdon employed Hyslop to remodel Buscot Park
Buscot Park
Buscot Park is a country house at Buscot near the town of Faringdon in Oxfordshire. It was built in an austere neoclassical style between 1780 and 1783 for Edward Loveden Townsend. It remained in the Loveden Townsend family until sold in 1859 to Robert Tertius Campbell, an Australian...
and restore it to an approximation of an 18th century appearance. This was achieved by removing the 19th century extensions and alterations which obscured the clean and simple lines of the neoclassical house. To restore some of the space lost by the demolition of a large wing, Hyslop created two flanking pavilions in a classical style, "which
suit the house to perfection", John Julius Norwich
John Julius Norwich
John Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich CVO — known as John Julius Norwich — is an English historian, travel writer and television personality.-Early life:...
observed, with temple fronts to the south and north. The pavilions and house were given a unified composition by linking high box hedging, complete with topiary pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s. The interior of the mansion received a similar treatment: Victorian decoration was removed and 18th century ceilings, fireplaces and motifs were acquired and installed. Small rooms were merged to accentuate the sense of light and space needed to accommodate Lord Faringdon's large political houseparties.
At Buscot, and in smaller neo-Georgian settings, Hyslop introduced actual Georgian fittings. At Great Swifts, a neo-Georgian house that Hyslop designed c. 1935, he installed an early 18th-century staircase from Tangier House, Taunton, and brought in fine wall panelling from Ashley Park, Walton-on-Thames, and a rococo chimnneypiece from a house at Blackheath, London.
During World War II Major Hyslop, Royal Engineers, as he was commissioned, saw service in North Africa, where he headed up the Antiquities Department of British forces in 1944-45. He was employed converting Greenlands, Hambleden, Buckinghamshire as a Government administrative staff college in 1945, occasioning the loss of some apparently not–very–characteristic or notable interior work by Norman Shaw; the commission was extended to include conversion of the north range to dormitory bedrooms in 1946, the conversion of the stable block to a library in 1951, and development of a freestanding dormitory on a butterfly-wing-plan, with a "bold flying staircase", in 1955.
Hyslop's preference for working in the classical styles was severely tested in the years of austerity and building restrictions immediately following World war II. This is most apparent in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, where he designed a student hostel, King's College: West Road: Garden Hostel. Built between 1948 and 1950, its utilitarian austerity is softened by the adjacent King's College Fellows' Garden
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. Despite the imposed restrictions, Hyslop still managed to impart some classical ideals of proportion and height through the use of brick pilasters; further reference to an earlier form of architecture is provided by oeil-de-boeuf
Oeil-de-Boeuf
Oeil-de-boeuf, also œil de bœuf, is a term applied to a relatively small oval window, typically for an upper storey, and sometimes set on a roof slope as a dormer, or above a door to give light. Windows of this type are commonly found in the grand architecture of Baroque France...
windows pierced on the floors above the entrance.
Building on his functional college works, Geddes was commissioned as architect for the Staff College at Henley-on-Thame.
The post–war work was not all austerity, however, as some wealthy patrons still existed. The Countess of Rosebery
Eva Primrose, Countess of Rosebery
Dame Eva Isabel Marion Primrose, Countess of Rosebery was the daughter of Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare and his wife, Constance.-First marriage:...
, one of the founders of the Edinburgh Festival, in 1950, persuaded her husband, the Earl of Rosebery, buoyed by his mother's fortune
Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery
Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery was the daughter of Mayer de Rothschild and his wife Juliana, née Cohen...
, to have the Rosebery's Scottish seat, Dalmeny House
Dalmeny House
Dalmeny House is a Gothic revival mansion located in an estate close to Dalmeny on the Firth of Forth, to the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was designed by William Wilkins, and completed in 1817.Dalmeny House is the home of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery. The house was the first in...
, restored. Considered one of Scotland's finest houses, the mansion had been damaged by fire during the war. The resultant work, executed "sensitively" according to Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd and Christopher Sykes, involved the use of older materials such as original bookcases and 18th century fireplaces imported from elsewhere.
Another postwar commission was at Daylesford
Daylesford
The name Daylesford is borne by a number of settlements:*Daylesford, Victoria, Australia*Daylesford, Gloucestershire, England*Daylesford, Pennsylvania, United States**Daylesford , a commuter rail station...
, the house built by S.P. Cockerell
Samuel Pepys Cockerell
Samuel Pepys Cockerell was an English architect. He was the son of John Cockerell, of Bishop's Hull, Somerset, and the brother of Sir Charles Cockerell, 1st Baronet, for whom he designed the house he is best known for, Sezincote House, Gloucestershire, where the uniquely Orientalizing features...
for the Indian nabob Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
.
Further works included: Roydon Hall, East Peckham, Kent, the seat of Mr Ralph M. Cook.; alterations to the west front of Greenlands, Temple Island in 1936-38; 41 Kensington Square for Mrs Thomas Lowinsky; works at Sommerville College, Oxford; and a Garden Hostel, King's College, Cambridge.
Private life
Hyslop lived in an 18th-century house in Canonbury Place, CanonburyCanonbury
Canonbury is a residential district in the London Borough of Islington in the north of London. It is roughly in the area between Essex Road, Upper Street and Cross Street and either side of St Paul's Road....
, Islington, London with the one time New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
editor and art critic, Raymond Mortimer
Raymond Mortimer
Charles Raymond Mortimer Bell , who wrote under the name Raymond Mortimer, was a British writer, known mostly as a critic and literary editor....
. Some ephemeral essays on architects and architecture by Geddes Hyslop appeared from time to time in The New Statesman, in part through this connection.
Legacy
Geddes Hyslop's contribution to British architecture was his talent for designing buildings in complete empathy with their surroundings. In part, he achieved this by the re-use of materials salvaged from older buildings faced with demolition, this is especially true of his interiors.Hyslop did not design huge futuristic buildings intended to startle the senses, but works that were almost unremarkable, in the sense that their harmony with adjacent buildings, rendered them part of an existing composition. Yet his work was remarkable, for showing a complete understanding of proportion, perspective and historical accuracy.
Geddes Hyslop died in 1989.