Giles Worsley
Encyclopedia
Dr Giles Arthington Worsley MA, PhD, FSA (22 March 1961 - 17 January 2006) was an English architectural historian, author, editor, journalist and critic, specialising in British country houses
. He was the second son of Sir Marcus Worsley
of Hovingham Hall
, a nephew of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, and died of cancer
aged 44.
, being the second of three sons of Sir (William) Marcus John Worsley
, 5th Baronet, and his wife the Hon. Bridget Assheton (1926–2004), a daughter of Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe
. His family moved into Hovingham Hall when he was aged 12, after his father inherited the title and estate, which in 2006 was 3,000 acres.
He was educated at Eton College
, studied Modern History at New College
University of Oxford
(MA) including architectural history from Howard Colvin
, and then in 1983 studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art
(PhD
, 1989) with his thesis on The Design and Development of the Stable and Riding House in Great Britain from the Thirteenth Century to 1914, which was later reworked into his 2004 book The British Stable. He married Joanna Beaufort Pitman (born 1963, daughter of Peter Pitman), the writer and The Times
(London) journalist, a great-granddaughter of George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke
, by her grandmother the Hon Margaret Beaufort Lawson Johnston who married Sir Isaac James Pitman
), at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, 21 September 1996, with one of the page boys attending the bride being Edward Windsor, styled Baron Downpatrick, grandson of the Duke of Kent
. They had three daughters, Alice Beaufort, (born 19 June 1998, on the pavement outside St Mary's Hospital, Paddington), Emma Sylvia, (born 13 October 2000), and Lucy. They lived in North Kensington, London.
Worsley’s mother died of cancer on 22 May 2004, and he was diagnosed with cancer in the Spring of 2005. He died in London on 17 January 2006. His funeral took place in Hovingham, North Yorkshire, on 26 January 2006. A service celebrating his life was held in London on 9 March 2006. A memorial plaque was placed at St Clement’s Church, North Kensington, London.
in 1985 as an Architectural Writer, working for Clive Aslet
and Marcus Binney
, becoming Architectural Editor in 1989. In 1994 he left Country Life to take over from Dan Cruickshank
as Editor of the recently created Perspectives on Architecture monthly magazine, funded by Prince Charles
through his Institute of Architecture. In March 1998 Perspectives on Architecture ceased publication after 33 issues (its February/March issue being the last) and he became the Architecture Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph
newspaper in London, which he continued until his death in 2006. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
(FSA) in 1999. He became a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research
in 2002, which he also continued until his death in 2006.
In 1988 he won the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain
’s Essay Medal. In 1995 his book Classical Architecture in Britain: the Heroic Age won the Yorkshire Post Best Art Book Award.
Honorary Positions held:
and the British School at Rome
. The Fellowship is awarded each year to an architect or architectural historian, who then spends three months (October to December) at the British School at Rome, studying an architectural topic of their choice. Travel, accommodation and board and a monthly stipend is provided. Each Fellow is then required to deliver a public presentation on their return. The first applications were received in February 2008, with the recipient being announced in April.
Recipients:
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
. He was the second son of Sir Marcus Worsley
Marcus Worsley
Sir Marcus John Worsley, 5th Baronet JP MA is a former British Conservative Party politician and a brother of Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kent.- Family life :...
of Hovingham Hall
Hovingham Hall
Hovingham Hall is a Palladian-style mansion in the village of Hovingham, North Yorkshire, England, the home of the Worsley family and the childhood home of the Duchess of Kent. It was built in the 18th century, and the Worsleys have lived in Hovingham since the 16th century...
, a nephew of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, and died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
aged 44.
Family life
Giles Arthington Worsley was born on 22 March 1961 in North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, being the second of three sons of Sir (William) Marcus John Worsley
Marcus Worsley
Sir Marcus John Worsley, 5th Baronet JP MA is a former British Conservative Party politician and a brother of Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kent.- Family life :...
, 5th Baronet, and his wife the Hon. Bridget Assheton (1926–2004), a daughter of Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe
Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe
Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe PC was a British Conservative Party politician.He was Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe from 1934 to 1945, for the City of London from 1945 to 1950, and for Blackburn West from 1950 to 1955.In the wartime government under Winston Churchill, he was Minister of...
. His family moved into Hovingham Hall when he was aged 12, after his father inherited the title and estate, which in 2006 was 3,000 acres.
He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, studied Modern History at New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(MA) including architectural history from Howard Colvin
Howard Colvin
Sir Howard Montagu Colvin, CVO, CBE , was a British architectural historian who produced two of the most outstanding works of scholarship in his field.-Life and works:...
, and then in 1983 studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art
Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld Institute of Art is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art. The Courtauld is one of the premier centres for the teaching of art history in the world; it was the only History of Art department in the UK to be awarded a top...
(PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, 1989) with his thesis on The Design and Development of the Stable and Riding House in Great Britain from the Thirteenth Century to 1914, which was later reworked into his 2004 book The British Stable. He married Joanna Beaufort Pitman (born 1963, daughter of Peter Pitman), the writer and The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
(London) journalist, a great-granddaughter of George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke
George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke
George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke, KBE , was a British businessman.Luke was the second son of John Lawson Johnston, a beef manufacturer and the founder of Bovril Ltd and Elizabeth, daughter of George Lawson, biscuit manufacturer of Edinburgh...
, by her grandmother the Hon Margaret Beaufort Lawson Johnston who married Sir Isaac James Pitman
James Pitman
Sir James Pitman, KBE was a British businessman, civil servant, publisher, politician and spelling reformer.Sir James was vitally concerned with the teaching of children to write the English language...
), at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, 21 September 1996, with one of the page boys attending the bride being Edward Windsor, styled Baron Downpatrick, grandson of the Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent is a title which has been created various times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth son of George V.-Pre-history:...
. They had three daughters, Alice Beaufort, (born 19 June 1998, on the pavement outside St Mary's Hospital, Paddington), Emma Sylvia, (born 13 October 2000), and Lucy. They lived in North Kensington, London.
Worsley’s mother died of cancer on 22 May 2004, and he was diagnosed with cancer in the Spring of 2005. He died in London on 17 January 2006. His funeral took place in Hovingham, North Yorkshire, on 26 January 2006. A service celebrating his life was held in London on 9 March 2006. A memorial plaque was placed at St Clement’s Church, North Kensington, London.
Career
Worsley joined Country Life weekly magazineCountry Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
in 1985 as an Architectural Writer, working for Clive Aslet
Clive Aslet
Clive Aslet is editor-at-large of Country Life magazine, a writer on British architecture and life, and a campaigner on countryside and other issues.-Career:...
and Marcus Binney
Marcus Binney
Marcus Binney, CBE is a British architectural historian and author. He is best known for his conservation work regarding Britain's heritage.-Early and family life:...
, becoming Architectural Editor in 1989. In 1994 he left Country Life to take over from Dan Cruickshank
Dan Cruickshank
Dan Cruickshank is an art historian and BBC television presenter.-Early life:As a young child he lived for some years in Poland...
as Editor of the recently created Perspectives on Architecture monthly magazine, funded by Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
through his Institute of Architecture. In March 1998 Perspectives on Architecture ceased publication after 33 issues (its February/March issue being the last) and he became the Architecture Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
newspaper in London, which he continued until his death in 2006. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(FSA) in 1999. He became a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research
Institute of Historical Research
The Institute of Historical Research is a British educational organisation providing resources and training for historical researchers. It is part of the School of Advanced Study in the University of London and is located at Senate House. The Institute was founded in 1921 by A. F...
in 2002, which he also continued until his death in 2006.
In 1988 he won the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain
Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain
The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain is a leading society in Great Britain for people interested in the history of architecture.- Purpose :...
’s Essay Medal. In 1995 his book Classical Architecture in Britain: the Heroic Age won the Yorkshire Post Best Art Book Award.
Honorary Positions held:
- Georgian GroupGeorgian GroupThe Georgian Group is an English and Welsh conservation organisation created to campaign for the preservation of historic buildings and planned landscapes of the 18th and early 19th centuries...
Journal, Editor, 1991-94. - Georgian GroupGeorgian GroupThe Georgian Group is an English and Welsh conservation organisation created to campaign for the preservation of historic buildings and planned landscapes of the 18th and early 19th centuries...
committee member. - Somerset HouseSomerset HouseSomerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
Trust, member. - The National Gallery Trustees, Building Committee member.
- Royal Fine Art Commission, member.
- Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial FountainDiana, Princess of Wales Memorial FountainThe Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales. It was designed to express Diana's spirit and love of children. It is located in the southwest corner of Hyde Park in London, just south of the Serpentine Lake and east of the Serpentine Gallery...
, Design Committee member, from 2001.
Travel Fellowship
The annual Giles Worsley Travel Fellowship was announced in February 2007 by the RIBARiba
Riba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
and the British School at Rome
British School at Rome
The British School at Rome was established in 1901 and granted a Royal Charter in 1912 as an educational institute in the fields of archaeology, literature, music, and history of Rome and Italy of every period, and for the study of the fine arts and architecture...
. The Fellowship is awarded each year to an architect or architectural historian, who then spends three months (October to December) at the British School at Rome, studying an architectural topic of their choice. Travel, accommodation and board and a monthly stipend is provided. Each Fellow is then required to deliver a public presentation on their return. The first applications were received in February 2008, with the recipient being announced in April.
Recipients:
- 2008-9 - Rebecca Madgin – The contemporary value of industrial architecture - the Ostiense Quarter.
Books
- Architectural Drawings of the Regency Period 1790-1837 (1991) catalogue of exhibition of RIBARibaRiba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
Drawings Collection at its Heinz Gallery in London, Andre Deutsch, ISBN 0233986251, ISBN 978-0233986258. - The Georgian Group Journal, and various Georgian Group Symposiums, Editor, 1991-94.
- Classical Architecture in Britain: the Heroic Age (1995) Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, Yale University Press, ISBN 0300058969, ISBN 978-0300058963.
- The Life and Works of John Carr of York (2000) by the late Brian Wragg, edited by Giles Worsley, Oblong Creative, ISBN 0953657426, ISBN 978-0953657421.
- England's Lost Houses: From the Archives of Country Life (2002) Aurum Press, ISBN 1854108204, ISBN 978-1854108203.
- The British Stable (2004) An Architectural and Social History (based on Worsley’s PhD thesis), photography by William Curtis Rolf, Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, Yale University Press, ISBN 0300107080, ISBN 978-0300107081.
- Drawing from the Past: William Weddell and the Transformation of Newby HallNewby HallNewby Hall is an historic mansion house and Grade I listed building situated on the banks of the River Ure at Skelton-on-Ure, near Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire, England.-History:...
(2005) by Giles Worsley, Kerry Bristol, and William Connor (catalogue of 2004-5 exhibition of Robert AdamRobert AdamRobert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
’s sculpture gallery drawings held at Leeds Art GalleryLeeds Art GalleryLeeds Art Gallery in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England is a museum whose collection of 20th century British Art is recognised by the British government as a collection "of national importance". Its collection also includes 19th century and earlier art works. The gallery opened on 3 October 1888 as...
), Jeremy Mills Publishing, ISBN 0901981699, ISBN 978-0901981691. - Inigo Jones and the European Classicist Tradition (2007) published posthumously, Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, Yale University Press, ISBN 0300117299, ISBN 978-0300117295.
Articles
- Gothic Architecture and Its Meanings, 1550-1830 (2002) edited by Michael Hall, based on a Georgian Group Symposium, with Giles Worsley explaining Vanbrugh's architecture in terms of the search for a national style, Spire Books, ISBN 0954361504, ISBN 978-0954361501.
- Aske HallAske HallAske Hall is a Georgian country house, with parkland attributed to Capability Brown, north of Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. It contains an impressive collection of 18th-century furniture, paintings and porcelain, and in its grounds a John Carr stable block converted into a chapel in...
, Yorkshire, the seat of the Marquess of Zetland, Parts I & II, Country Life, 1 March 1990 and 8 March 1990 (pages 98–103).