John Douglas was an
EnglishEngland 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...
architectAn architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who designed about 500 buildings in
CheshireCheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
,
North WalesNorth Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, and northwest England, in particular in the estate of
Eaton HallEaton Hall is the country house of the Duke of Westminster. It is set within a large estate south of the village of Eccleston, in Cheshire, England . The house is surrounded by formal gardens, parkland, farmland and woodland. The estate covers an area of about .The first substantial house was...
. He was trained in
LancasterLancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
and practised throughout his career from an office in
ChesterChester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
,
CheshireCheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. Initially he ran the practice on his own, but from 1884 until two years before his death he worked in partnerships with two of his former assistants.
Douglas's output included new churches,
restoringVictorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
and renovating existing churches, church furnishings, new houses and alterations to existing houses, and a variety of other buildings, including shops, banks, offices, schools, memorials and public buildings. His architectural styles were
eclecticEclecticism is a kind of mixed style in the fine arts: "the borrowing of a variety of styles from different sources and combining them" . Significantly, Eclecticism hardly ever constituted a specific style in art: it is characterized by the fact that it was not a particular style...
. Douglas worked during the period of the
Gothic RevivalThe Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
, and many of his works incorporate elements of the
English GothicEnglish Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
style. He was also influenced by architectural styles from the mainland of Europe and included elements of French, German and Dutch architecture. However he is probably best remembered for his incorporation of
vernacularVernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
elements in his buildings, in particular
half-timberingTimber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
, influenced by the
black-and-white revivalThe Black-and-white Revival was an architectural movement from the middle of the 19th century which revived the vernacular elements of the past, using timber framing. The wooden framing is painted black and the panels between the frames are painted white...
in Chester. Other vernacular elements he incorporated include tile-hanging,
pargetingPargeting is a decorative plastering applied to building walls.Pargeting derives from the word 'parget', a Middle English term that is probably derived from the Old French 'pargeter' / 'parjeter', to throw about, or 'porgeter', to roughcast a wall...
, and the use of decorative brick in diapering and the design of tall chimney stacks. Of particular importance is Douglas's use of
joinerA joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
y and highly detailed wood carving.
Throughout his career he attracted commissions from wealthy landowners and industrialists, especially the
GrosvenorThe title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
family of Eaton Hall. Most of his works have survived, particularly his churches. The city of Chester contains a number of his structures, the most admired of which are his half-timbered black-and-white buildings and Eastgate Clock. The highest concentration of his work is found in the Eaton Hall estate and the surrounding villages of
EcclestonEccleston is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, and close to Chester...
,
AldfordAldford is a village and civil parish in the county of Cheshire, England, south of Chester . It has a population of 213.The village lies on the east bank of the River Dee...
and
PulfordPulford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the B5445 road, to the south west of Chester and on the border with Wales. It is believed that the name of the village is derived from the...
.
Early life and training
John Douglas was born at Park Cottage,
SandiwaySandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the east of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington....
,
CheshireCheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, on 11 April 1830 and baptised on 16 May 1830 at
St Mary's Church, WeaverhamSt Mary's Church, Weaverham is in the village of Weaverham, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the Diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
. He was the second of the four children, and the only son, of John Douglas and his wife Mary née Swindley (17921863). John Douglas senior was born in
NorthamptonNorthampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
about 17981800 and his wife was born in
AldfordAldford is a village and civil parish in the county of Cheshire, England, south of Chester . It has a population of 213.The village lies on the east bank of the River Dee...
, a village on the Eaton estate in Cheshire; her father was the village
blacksmithA blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
at
EcclestonEccleston is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, and close to Chester...
, another village in the Eaton estate. John Douglas senior was by trade a builder and
joinerA joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
, and also described himself as a
surveyorConstruction surveying is to stake out reference points and markers that will guide the construction of new structures such as roads or buildings...
and a timber merchant. In 1835 he acted as architect for a house at
HartfordHartford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies at the intersection of the A559 road and the West Coast Mainline and is less than south west of the town of Northwich...
, a village between Sandiway and
NorthwichNorthwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
. At the time of the
1851 censusThe United Kingdom Census of 1851 recorded the people residing in every household on the night of 30 March 1851, and was the second of the UK censuses to include details of household members...
he was employing 48 men. He owned land in Sandiway, and a house and land in the neighbouring village of
CuddingtonCuddington is a civil parish and rural village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, about six miles west of Northwich and fourteen miles east of Chester....
.
Nothing is known of John Douglas junior's school education. He gained knowledge and experience in his father's building yard and workshop which were attached to the family house. In the mid or late 1840s he was
articledAn articled clerk, also known as an articling student, is an apprentice in a professional firm in Commonwealth countries. Generally the term arises in the accountancy profession and in the legal profession. The articled clerk signs a contract, known as "articles of clerkship", committing to a...
to
E. G. PaleyEdward Graham Paley, usually known as E. G. Paley, , was an English architect who practised in Lancaster, Lancashire, in the second half of the 19th century.-Education and career:...
, of Sharpe and Paley, architects in
LancasterLancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
,
LancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. When his articles were completed, Douglas became Paley's chief assistant. In either 1855 or 1860 he established his own office at No. 6 Abbey Square, Chester.
Family and personal life
Douglas's elder sister, Elizabeth, was born in 1827. His younger sisters were Mary Hannah and Emma, who were born in 1832 and 1834 respectively. Mary Hannah died five months before Emma's birth, and Emma herself died in 1848. Douglas married Elizabeth Edmunds, a farmer's daughter from
Bangor-is-y-CoedBangor-on-Dee is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is a village in the ancient district of Maelor in Wales, situated on the banks of the River Dee...
,
FlintshireFlintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, on 25 January 1860 in
St Dunawd's ChurchSt Dunawd's Church, Bangor Is-coed, is in the village of Bangor is y Coed, Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It is a Grade II* listed building. The church is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Bangor is y Coed, the archdeaconry of Wrexham and the diocese of St Asaph.-History:The church is...
in the village, a church he was later to restore. Initially the couple lived over the office at 6 Abbey Square, and later they moved next door to No. 4. Their five children were born in these houses, John Percy in 1861, Colin Edmunds in 1864, Mary Elizabeth in 1866, Sholto Theodore the following year, and Jerome in 1869. Only two of the children survived to adulthood; Mary Elizabeth died from
scarlet feverScarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
in 1868, Jerome lived for only a few days, and John Percy died aged 12 in 1873.
About 1876 the family moved to live at
31 and 33 Dee Banks31 and 33 Dee Banks is a pair of semi-detached houses in Chester, Cheshire, England. The houses have been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building...
, Chester, one of a pair of semi-detached houses overlooking the
River DeeThe River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
, which were built by Douglas. His wife died in 1878 from
laryngitisLaryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds . Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause....
after a year's illness. Douglas did not remarry. His son Colin trained as an architect and worked in Douglas's office but died in 1887 at the age of 23 from
consumptionTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. His other son Sholto is not known to have had any profession but he was a heavy drinker of alcohol. During the 1890s Douglas built a large house for himself,
Walmoor HillWalmoor Hill is a large house in an elevated position overlooking the River Dee on the west side of Dee Banks, Chester, Cheshire, England . It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building...
, also at Dee Banks overlooking the river. Here he lived until his death on 23 May 1911 at the age of 81. His funeral was held at Overleigh old cemetery, Chester, where he was buried. The following Sunday a memorial service was held at
St John the Evangelist's Church, SandiwaySt John the Evangelist's Church, Sandiway is in the village of Sandiway, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church of Sandiway and Cuddington in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich...
. His
estateAn estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
amounted to a little over £32,000 (£ as of ). Apart from his surviving buildings, only two memorials remain to his memory. One is a tablet in
St Paul's Church, BoughtonSt Paul's Church, Boughton, overlooks the River Dee in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
, the church in which he worshipped and which he had rebuilt. The other is a plaque placed on one of his
buildings in St Werburgh Street2–18 St Werburgh Street is a terrace consisting of a bank, shops and offices on the east side of St Werburgh Street and the north side of Eastgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England...
, Chester, in 1923 by his pupils and assistants.
Practice and personality
Douglas practised on his own until 1884, when his son, Colin, became ill. He then took Daniel Porter Fordham into partnership and practised as Douglas & Fordham. Fordham was born around 1846 and had been an assistant in Douglas's office since at least 1872. In 1898, having developed consumption, Fordham retired from the practice and went to live in
BournemouthBournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
where he died the following year. He was replaced as partner by Charles Howard Minshull, who had been born in Chester in 1858 and who became articled to Douglas in 1874; the practice became Douglas & Minshull. During the first decade of the 20th century, Douglas became less active but, for reasons which are unknown, the partnership was dissolved in 1909. The practice returned to the title of John Douglas, Architect. Minshull went into partnership with E. J. Muspratt in Foregate Street, Chester. When Douglas died, this partnership worked from the Abbey Square address as Douglas, Minshull & Muspratt.
Little is known about Douglas's private life and personality. Only two images of him are known to survive. One is a photograph taken in later middle age. The other is a caricature sketch made by an assistant in his office. This shows him in old age, bowed, bent and bespectacled, carrying a
portfolioA briefcase is a narrow box-shaped bag or case used mainly for carrying papers and other documents and equipped with a handle. Lawyers commonly use briefcases to carry briefs to present to a court, hence the name...
and an
ear trumpetA hearing aid is an electroacoustic device which typically fits in or behind the wearer's ear, and is designed to amplify and modulate sound for the wearer. Earlier devices, known as "ear trumpets" or "ear horns", were passive funnel-like amplification cones designed to gather sound energy and...
. According to architectural historian
Edward HubbardEdward Horton Hubbard was an English architectural historian who worked with Nikolaus Pevsner in compiling volumes of the Buildings of England...
, Douglas's life "seems to have been one of thorough devotion to architecture ... which may well have been intensified by the death of his wife and other domestic worries". His obituary in the
Chester ChronicleThe Chester Chronicle is a UK local weekly newspaper for the Chester and Cheshire area, first established in the 18th century. It is one of the UK's best-selling newspapers, published every Thursday.-Structure:It has a number of different editions:...
stated that he "lived heart and soul in his profession".
Douglas was a dedicated Christian who regularly attended his local church,
St Paul's Church, BoughtonSt Paul's Church, Boughton, overlooks the River Dee in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
, a church he rebuilt. His house, Walmoor Hill, included an
oratoryAn oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
. He also had a "strong sense of national loyalty", incorporating statues of
Queen VictoriaVictoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in
nichesA niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
at Walmoor Hill and in his buildings in St Werburgh Street, Chester. Douglas was not good at handling the financial matters of his practice. The
Duke of Westminster'sHugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster KG, PC, JP , styled Viscount Belgrave between 1831 and 1845 and Earl Grosvenor between 1845 and 1869 and known as the 3rd Marquess of Westminster between 1869 and 1874, was an English landowner, politician and racehorse owner.He inherited the estate of...
secretary wrote of him in 1884, "A good architect but a poor hand at accounts!". Delay in presenting his accounts often led to difficulties and confusion; such delay sometimes amounted to as much as ten years. Otherwise very little is known about his personal life. No family papers have survived and none of the documents from the office at 6 Abbey Square has been found.
Output and patronage
Douglas designed some 500 buildings. He built at least 40 new churches or chapels,
restoredVictorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
, altered or made additions to many other churches, and designed fittings and furniture for the interiors of churches. He designed new houses, altered or made additions to others, and built various structures associated with those houses. Douglas's works also included farms, shops, offices, hotels, a hospital, drinking fountains, clocks, schools, public baths, a library, a bridge, an
obeliskAn obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, cheese factories, and public conveniences. As his office was in Chester, most of his works were in Cheshire and North Wales, although some were further afield, in
LancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
,
StaffordshireStaffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
,
WarwickshireWarwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
and Scotland.
Throughout his career Douglas attracted commissions from wealthy and important patrons. His first-known independent work was an ornament, which is no longer in existence, for the garden of the Honourable Mrs Cholmondeley. She was the sister-in-law of
Hugh Cholmondeley, 2nd Baron DelamereHugh Cholmondeley, 2nd Baron Delamere , styled The Honourable from 1821 until 1855, was a British peer and politician.-Personal:...
, and it was from the 2nd Baron that Douglas received his first major commission, a considerable rebuilding of the south wing of his seat at
Vale Royal AbbeyVale Royal Abbey is a medieval abbey, and later country house, located in Whitegate, between Northwich and Winsford in Cheshire, England.The abbey was founded in 1270 by Edward I for monks of the austere Cistercian order...
in 1860. Around the same time, Lord Delamere commissioned him to build the church of
St John the EvangelistSt John the Evangelist's Church, Winsford, is in Over, Winsford, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building...
at
OverOver is a former borough and market town that forms the western part of the town of Winsford in the English county of Cheshire. Wharton forms the eastern part, the boundary being the River Weaver.-Ancient Origins:...
,
WinsfordWinsford is a town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich, and grew around the salt mining industry after the river was canalised in the...
, as a memorial to his first wife.
Douglas's most important patrons were the
GrosvenorThe title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
family of Eaton Hall, Cheshire. In 1865 he was commissioned to design the entrance lodge and other structures for
Grosvenor ParkGrosvenor Park is a public park in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England . It consists of of land overlooking the River Dee. It is regarded as one of the finest and most complete examples of Victorian parks in the North West of England, if not nationally...
in Chester, and
St John's ChurchSt John the Baptist's Church, Aldford is located in the village of Aldford, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
in the village of Aldford in the Eaton Hall estate for
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of WestminsterRichard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster KG, PC , styled Viscount Belgrave from 1802 to 1831 and Earl Belgrave from 1831 to 1845, was an English politician, landowner, property developer and benefactor....
. When the marquess died in 1869 he was succeeded by his son
Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of WestminsterHugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster KG, PC, JP , styled Viscount Belgrave between 1831 and 1845 and Earl Grosvenor between 1845 and 1869 and known as the 3rd Marquess of Westminster between 1869 and 1874, was an English landowner, politician and racehorse owner.He inherited the estate of...
. Douglas received a large number of commissions from the 1st Duke and from his son, the
2nd DukeHugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster GCVO DSO was the son of Victor Alexander Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor and Lady Sibell Mary Lumley, the daughter of the 9th Earl of Scarborough...
, throughout his career. It is estimated that for the 1st Duke alone he designed four churches and chapels, eight parsonages and large houses, about 15 schools, around 50 farms (in whole or in part), about 300 cottages, lodges and
smithiesA forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
, two factories, two inns and about 12 commercial buildings on the Eaton Hall estate alone. He also designed buildings on the duke's
HalkynHalkyn is a village in Flintshire, north-east Wales and situated between Pentre Halkyn, Northop and Rhosesmor. At the 2001 Census the population of the community was 2,876.- History :...
estate in
FlintshireFlintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, including another church.
Other wealthy landowners who commissioned work from Douglas included
William Molyneux, 4th Earl of SeftonWilliam Philip Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton, KG was a British peer.Born Viscount Molyneux, he was the eldest son of Charles Molyneux, 3rd Earl of Sefton and his wife, Mary. He was educated at Eton College, Berks. In 1854, Molyneux became an ensign in the Grenadier Guards and inherited his father's...
,
Francis Egerton, 3rd Earl of EllesmereFrancis Charles Granville Egerton, 3rd Earl of Ellesmere VD, DL, JP , styled Viscount Brackley between 1857 and 1862, was a British peer, soldier and author...
,
George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of CholmondeleyGeorge Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley GCVO , styled Earl of Rocksavage from birth until 1923, was a British peer. He was the Lord Great Chamberlain of England in 1936 and also between 1952 and 1966.-Personal:...
,
Rowland Egerton-WarburtonRowland Eyles Egerton-Warburton was a landowner in Cheshire, England. He was a devout Anglican in the high church tradition and a local benefactor. He paid for the restoration of his parish church and for the building of two new churches in villages on his estates...
of
Arley HallArley Hall is a country house in the village of Arley, Cheshire, England, about south of Lymm and north of Northwich. It is home to the owner, Viscount Ashbrook and his family. The house is a Grade II* listed building, as is its adjacent chapel. Formal gardens to the southwest of the hall...
, Cheshire, and in Wales, the family of
Lord KenyonLord Kenyon, Baron of Gredington, in the County of Flint, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1788 for the lawyer and judge Sir Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baronet. He served as Master of the Rolls and as Lord Chief Justice of England. Kenyon had already been created a Baronet, of...
, and the Gladstone family, including
W. E GladstoneWilliam Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
. He also received commissions from industrialists, including
John & Thomas JohnsonJohn & Thomas Johnson was a soap and alkali manufacturing business in Runcorn, Cheshire, England during the 19th century.John and Thomas Johnson were brothers after whom the business was named. Their father, also named John Johnson, had established a soapery on the south bank of the Bridgewater...
, soap and
alkaliIn chemistry, an alkali is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element. Some authors also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for base,...
manufacturers from
RuncornRuncorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
,
Richard Muspratt, a chemical industrialist from
FlintFlint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
, Flintshire, and
W. H. LeverWilliam Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme was an English industrialist, philanthropist, and politician....
, soap manufacturer and creator of the village of
Port SunlightPort Sunlight is a model village, suburb and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. It is located between Lower Bebington and New Ferry, on the Wirral Peninsula. Between 1894 and 1974 it formed part of Bebington urban district within the county of Cheshire...
.
Styles
Although the firm where Douglas received his training was in a provincial city in the north of England, it was at the forefront of the
Gothic RevivalThe Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
in the country. The Gothic Revival was a reaction against the
neoclassicalNeoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style, which had been popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and it incorporated features of the
GothicGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style of the
Middle AgesThe Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Both
Edmund SharpeEdmund Sharpe was an English architect and engineer. He started his career as an architect, initially on his own, then in partnership with Edward Paley, designing mainly churches but also some secular buildings...
and E. G. Paley had been influenced by the
Cambridge Camden SocietyThe Cambridge Camden Society, later known as the Ecclesiological Society from 1845 when it moved to London, was a learned architectural society founded in 1839 by undergraduates at Cambridge University to promote "the study of Gothic Architecture, and of Ecclesiastical Antiques." Its activities...
and, more specifically, by A. W. N Pugin who believed that "Gothic was the only correct and Christian way to build". Sharpe had also been influenced by
Thomas RickmanThomas Rickman , was an English architect who was a major figure in the Gothic Revival.He was born at Maidenhead, Berkshire, into a large Quaker family, and avoided the medical career envisaged for him by his father, a grocer and druggist; he went into business for himself and married his first...
, and he had written papers on medieval scholarship himself. Paley had been influenced by his brother,
Frederick Apthorp PaleyFrederick Apthorp Paley , was an English classical scholar.Born at Easingwold in Yorkshire, he was the grandson of William Paley, and was educated at Shrewsbury School and St John's College, Cambridge...
, who was enthusiastic about Gothic architecture, and who had also been influenced by Rickman. During the time Douglas was working in Lancaster the firm was responsible for building and restoring churches in Gothic Revival style, one of which was
St Wilfrid's ChurchSt Wilfrid's Church, Davenham is in the village of Davenham, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
in the Cheshire village of
DavenhamDavenham is a rural village and civil parish approximately south of the town of Northwich, part of the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 5,655. The village is close to the A556 and A533 roads and both the River Dane and...
, some 3 miles (5 km) from Sandiway. Douglas's first church, that of
St John the EvangelistSt John the Evangelist's Church, Winsford, is in Over, Winsford, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building...
at
OverOver is a former borough and market town that forms the western part of the town of Winsford in the English county of Cheshire. Wharton forms the eastern part, the boundary being the River Weaver.-Ancient Origins:...
,
WinsfordWinsford is a town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich, and grew around the salt mining industry after the river was canalised in the...
, was entirely
English GothicEnglish Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
in style, more specifically Early Decorated.
Douglas's influences were not from England alone. Although he never travelled abroad, he incorporated Gothic styles from continental countries, especially Germany and France. This combination of Gothic styles contributed to what has come to be known as the High Victorian style. Its features include a sense of massiveness, steep roofs which are frequently
hippedA hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
, round
turretIn architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s with conical roofs,
pinnacleA pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s, heavy corbel tables, and the use of
polychromismPolychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. It has also been defined as "The practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." Polychromatic light is composed of a number of different wavelengths...
. Many of Douglas's works, especially his earlier ones, are High Victorian in style, or incorporate High Victorian features. One characteristic feature of Douglas's work is the inclusion of
dormer windowsA dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
rising through the
eavesThe eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
and surmounted by hipped roofs.
Another major influence in his work was the rise of interest in
vernacular architectureVernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
. By the time Douglas moved to Chester, the black-and-white revival using
half-timberingTimber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
was well under way, and Douglas came to incorporate this style in his buildings in Chester and elsewhere. The black-and-white revival did not start in Chester, but it did become Chester's speciality. The first Chester architect involved in the revival had been
Thomas Mainwaring PensonThomas Mainwaring Penson was an English surveyor and architect who is credited with pioneering the revival of half-timbered architecture in Chester in the 1850s....
, whose first work in this genre was the restoration of a shop in Eastgate Street in the early 1850s. Other early Chester architects involved in the revival were T. A. Richardson and
James HarrisonJames Harrison was an English architect who worked mainly in Chester, Cheshire. His works were mainly on churches — building new churches, rebuilding old churches, and making amendments and alterations to existing churches....
and it came to be developed mainly by
T. M. LockwoodThomas Meakin Lockwood was an English architect whose main works are in Chester, Cheshire, England. Lockwood, together with Thomas Penson and John Douglas, were the architects mainly responsible for the black-and-white revival buildings in the city centre. Lockwood designed a number of buildings...
and by Douglas. Part of Douglas's earliest work for the Grosvenor family, the entrance lodge to Grosvenor Park, used half-timbering in its upper storey; this is the first known use by Douglas of black-and-white. Other vernacular motifs were taken from earlier styles of English architecture, in particular, the
TudorThe Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
style. These include tile-hanging,
pargettingPargeting is a decorative plastering applied to building walls.Pargeting derives from the word 'parget', a Middle English term that is probably derived from the Old French 'pargeter' / 'parjeter', to throw about, or 'porgeter', to roughcast a wall...
and massive brick ribbed chimney stacks. In this style, Douglas was influenced by the architects
NesfieldWilliam Eden Nesfield was an English architect, designer and painter.W. E. Nesfield was the eldest son of the landscape architect and painter William Andrews Nesfield. He was educated at Eton and then articled to the architect William Burn in 1850, transferring after two years to his uncle by...
and
ShawRichard Norman Shaw RA , was an influential Scottish architect from the 1870s to the 1900s, known for his country houses and for commercial buildings.-Life:...
. Douglas also used vernacular elements from the continent, especially the late medieval brickwork of Germany and the
Low CountriesThe Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
.
A characteristic of Douglas's work is his attention to both external and internal detailing. Such detailing was not derived from any particular style and Douglas chose elements from whichever style suited his purpose for each specific project. His detailing applied particularly to his
joinerA joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
y, perhaps inspired by his experience in his father's workshop, and was applied both to wooden fittings and to the furniture he designed. A further Continental influence was his use of a
Dutch gableA Dutch gable or Flemish gable is a gable whose sides have a shape made up of one or more curves and has a pediment at the top. The gable may be an entirely decorative projection above a flat section of roof line, or may be the termination of a roof, like a normal gable...
. The most important and consistently used element in Douglas's vernacular buildings was his use of half-timbering, which was usually used for parts of the building. However, in the cases of Rowden Abbey and
St Michael and All Angels Church, AltcarSt Michael and All Angels Church, Altcar, is to the west of the village of Great Altcar, West Lancashire, England. The church is timber-framed and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool, the...
, the entire buildings were timber-framed.
Early works (1860–70)
Douglas's earliest significant commissions were for the
2nd Baron DelamereHugh Cholmondeley, 2nd Baron Delamere , styled The Honourable from 1821 until 1855, was a British peer and politician.-Personal:...
and were very different in type and style from each another. The addition of a wing to Vale Royal Abbey (1860) was in
ElizabethanElizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
style while
St John's ChurchSt John the Evangelist's Church, Winsford, is in Over, Winsford, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building...
at
OverOver is a former borough and market town that forms the western part of the town of Winsford in the English county of Cheshire. Wharton forms the eastern part, the boundary being the River Weaver.-Ancient Origins:...
(1860–63) was of the
Gothic RevivalThe Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
in Early Decorated style. The
Congregational ChapelOver United Reformed Church is in Swanlow Lane, Over, Winsford, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, and continues to be an active congregation within the United Reformed Church....
, also at Over (1865) was again different, being built in
polychromicPolychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. It has also been defined as "The practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." Polychromatic light is composed of a number of different wavelengths...
brick in High Victorian style. Meanwhile Douglas had designed a shop at
19–21 Sankey Street19–21 Sankey Street is a shop in Warrington, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:The building was designed by the Chester architect John Douglas and was one of his earliest works...
,
WarringtonWarrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
(1864) with
GothicGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
arcadesAn arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
and detailed stone carving which Hubbard considers to be his "first building of real and outstanding quality...in its way one of the best things he ever did". Shortly after this came the first commissions for the
GrosvenorThe title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
family, consisting of a lodge and other structures in
Grosvenor Park, ChesterGrosvenor Park is a public park in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England . It consists of of land overlooking the River Dee. It is regarded as one of the finest and most complete examples of Victorian parks in the North West of England, if not nationally...
(1865–67), and
St John the Baptist's Church, AldfordSt John the Baptist's Church, Aldford is located in the village of Aldford, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
(1865–66). His first commission for a large house was
Oakmere HallOakmere Hall is a large house to the southwest of the villages of Cuddington and Sandiway, Cheshire, England, near the junction of the A49 and A556 roads. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. It was originally a private house and later became a...
(1867) for
John & Thomas JohnsonJohn & Thomas Johnson was a soap and alkali manufacturing business in Runcorn, Cheshire, England during the 19th century.John and Thomas Johnson were brothers after whom the business was named. Their father, also named John Johnson, had established a soapery on the south bank of the Bridgewater...
, industrialists of
RuncornRuncorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
. It is in High Victorian style and includes a main block and a service wing, a large tower on the south face, a small tower with
turretIn architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s, a
porte-cochèreA porte-cochère is the architectural term for a porch- or portico-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which a horse and carriage can pass in order for the occupants to alight under cover, protected from the weather.The porte-cochère was a feature of many late 18th...
, steep roofs and
dormerA dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
windows. Another early church was St Ann's at Warrington (1868–69), again High Victorian in style, which is described as being "quite startlingly bold" and "a prodigy church in Douglas's output". By 1869–70 Douglas had started to design buildings on the Eaton Hall estate. Around this time he also re-modelled
St Mary's Church, DodlestonSt Mary's Church, Dodleston is in the village of Dodleston, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building...
.
Secular
Many of the secular buildings in this period were smaller-scale structures. These include cottages in
Great BudworthGreat Budworth is a civil parish and village, approximately north of Northwich, England, within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It lies off the A559 road, east of Comberbach, northwest of Higher Marston and southeast of Budworth Heath...
, and cottages, houses, schools and farms in the Eaton Hall estate and its associated villages. In 1872 he designed
Shotwick ParkShotwick House is a large house in Great Saughall, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
, a large house in
Great SaughallSaughall is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated approximately north west of Chester and close to the Welsh border....
, built in brick with some half-timbering; it has steep roofs, tall ribbed chimneys and turrets. About the same time he reconstructed
Broxton Higher HallBroxton Old Hall is in Old Coach Road west of the village of Brown Knowl, in the civil parish of Broxton, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
, incorporating much half-timbering. Commissions for more large houses came in the late 1870s and 1880s.
The GelliThe Gelli is a small country house situated between Tallarn Green and Tybroughton in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It is a Grade II* listed building standing in a prominent position on the edge of a hill.-History:...
(1877) is a house in three
rangesIn architecture, an ell is a wing of a building that lies perpendicular to the length of the main portion.In connected farm architecture, the ell is often extended to attach the main house to another building, usually a barn. It takes its name from the shape of the letter L.-External links:*...
designed for the Kenyon sisters in the village of Tallarn Green,
FlintshireFlintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
. Also built for the Kenyon family is
Llannerch PannaTudor Court, Penley is a house south of the village of Penley, Wrexham, Wales. It was originally called Llannerch Panna.-History:The house was built in 1878–79 for Hon. George T. Kenyon, the younger son of the 3rd Baron Kenyon. It was designed by the Chester architect John...
in
PenleyPenley is a village in the County Borough of Wrexham, in Wales close to the border with Shropshire, EnglandThe village was, until 1974, in an exclave of the ancient county of Flintshire known as Maelor Saesneg. , sometimes called "Flintshire Detached", which was administered from Overton-on-Dee...
, Flintshire (1878–79), which is "competent in its handling of timberwork". An entirely black-and-white house with
jettyingJettying is a building technique used in medieval timber frame buildings in which an upper floor projects beyond the dimensions of the floor below. This has the advantage of increasing the available space in the building without obstructing the street...
is Rowden Abbey (1881) in
HertfordshireHertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. Back in North Wales,
Plas MynachPlas Mynach is a large country house in Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales. It is a Grade II* listed building standing in a prominent position overlooking the sea.-History:...
(1883) in
BarmouthBarmouth ; Y Bermo ) is a town in the county of Gwynedd, north-western Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Mawddach and Cardigan Bay.The town is served by Barmouth railway station.- History :...
includes much detailed woodwork internally.
In about 1879–81 Douglas built a terrace of houses on his own land in Chester,
6–11 Grosvenor Park Road6–11 Grosvenor Park Road is a terrace of houses in Chester, Cheshire, England. The building is listed at Grade II* by English Heritage. It was designed by the Chester architect John Douglas, and the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner describes it as "a brilliant group of brick...
, the road leading to the main entrance to Grosvenor Park, in High Victorian style. About 1883 he designed Barrowmore Hall (or Barrow Court) at
Great BarrowBarrow is a civil parish containing the villages of Great Barrow, Little Barrow and Stamford Bridge. It is situated about east-north-east of Chester, north-west of Tarporley, and south of Frodsham.-See also:*St Bartholomew's Church, Barrow...
(since demolished) which was one of his largest houses. Also around this time he designed buildings on the Eaton Hall estate, including
Eccleston HillEccleston Hill is a house in the village of Eccleston, Cheshire, England. The house, with its attached conservatory, wall, and service wing, has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
(1881–82), a large house for the Duke's secretary, the
Stud LodgeStud Lodge is a building in the grounds of Eaton Hall, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building....
, a smaller building of the same dates,
Eccleston Hill LodgeEccleston Hill Lodge is a gateway and lodge near the village of Eccleston, Cheshire, England. It stands at the entrance of the Chester Approach to the estate of Eaton Hall. The structure has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.-History and critique:The building...
(1881), a three-storey gatehouse at the main entrance to the park, with a high hipped roof and turrets, and
The PaddocksEccleston Paddocks is a large house in the village of Eccleston, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building...
(1882–83), another large house, this time for the Duke's land agent. In Chester city centre his designs included the
Grosvenor Club and North and South Wales BankThe Grosvenor Club and North and South Wales Bank is a building at 47–57 Eastgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building and continues to be used as a bank.-History:...
(1881–83) in Eastgate Street, built in stone and brick, with a turret and a stepped gable, and
142 Foregate Street142 Foregate Street is a building on the south side of Foregate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
for the
Cheshire County ConstabularyCheshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington. The force is responsible for policing an area of with a population of roughly 1 million.The Chief Constable of the...
(1884), with a shaped gable in Flemish style.
Churches
St Mary's Church, WhitegateSt Mary's Church, Whitegate, is located in the village of Whitegate, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich. Its benefice is combined with that of St Peter, Little Budworth. The church...
was restored in 1874–75 for the
2nd Baron DelamereHugh Cholmondeley, 2nd Baron Delamere , styled The Honourable from 1821 until 1855, was a British peer and politician.-Personal:...
, retaining much of the medieval interior but rebuilding the exterior, adding a short chancel, and incorporating half-timbering.
St Paul's Church, BoughtonSt Paul's Church, Boughton, overlooks the River Dee in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
in Chester was Douglas's own parish church which he rebuilt in 1876 incorporating parts of the pre-existing building. Douglas's only church built entirely in half-timbering is the small church of
St Michael and All AngelsSt Michael and All Angels Church, Altcar, is to the west of the village of Great Altcar, West Lancashire, England. The church is timber-framed and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool, the...
at
Great AltcarGreat Altcar is a village and civil parish in West Lancashire, close to Formby on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. The name Altcar is Norse meaning "marsh by the Alt". The church of St Michael and All Angels is a timber framed structure dating from 1879....
in
LancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. A church built in brick with half-timbering is
St Chad'sSt Chad's Church, Hopwas is in the village of Hopwas, Staffordshire, England, and in the parish of Tamworth. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, and is an active Anglican church. The church is in the deanery of Tamworth, the archdeaconry of Lichfield and...
(1881) at
HopwasHopwas is a village in Staffordshire, England. It lies just over west of Tamworth and east of Lichfield. It is situated where the A51 road crosses both the River Tame and the Coventry Canal...
in
StaffordshireStaffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. During this period Douglas built or restored a series of churches entirely in stone, incorporating mainly Gothic features together with vernacular elements. These include
St John the Baptist's Church, HartfordSt John the Baptist Church, Hartford is in the village of Hartford, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, and is the Anglican parish church of Hartford and Greenbank...
(1873–75), St Paul's,
Marstonthumb|right|200px|Map of civil parish of Marston within the former borough of Vale RoyalMarston is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in the north west of England, on the River Weaver, close to Anderton and the...
(1874, now demolished), the Presbyterian Chapel (1875) at
RossettRossett is a village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.At the time of the 2001 Census, Rossett community had a total population of 3,336 people.-Geography:Rossett is geographically located near to the Welsh and English...
,
DenbighshireDenbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
,
St Stephen'sSt Stephen's Church, Moulton, is located in the village of Moulton, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of...
,
Moultonthumb|right|200px|Map of civil parish of Moulton within the former borough of Vale RoyalMoulton is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and near the centre of the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, situated south of Northwich and north of...
(1876), the rebuilding of
Christ ChurchChrist Church, Chester, is in Somerset Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, and continues to be an active Anglican church in the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Chester...
, Chester (also in 1876), the
Church of St Mary the VirginThe Church of St Mary the Virgin, Halkyn is to the north of the village of Halkyn, Flintshire, Wales. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of St Asaph. The church is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
(1877–78) at
HalkynHalkyn is a village in Flintshire, north-east Wales and situated between Pentre Halkyn, Northop and Rhosesmor. At the 2001 Census the population of the community was 2,876.- History :...
,
FlintshireFlintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, and the Welsh Church of
St John the EvangelistSt John the Evangelist's Church, Mold, was a Welsh church in King Street, Mold, Flintshire, North Wales . It is now redundant as a church; it has been divided and is used as a church hall. It is a Grade II listed building....
(1878) in
MoldMold is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, on the River Alyn. It is the administrative seat of Flintshire County Council, and was also the county town of Clwyd from 1974 to 1996...
, also in Flintshire. Later in this period he built
St Mary's ChurchSt Mary's Church, Pulford is in the village of Pulford, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Chester...
, at
PulfordPulford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the B5445 road, to the south west of Chester and on the border with Wales. It is believed that the name of the village is derived from the...
in 1881–84 for the Duke of Westminster and in 1882–85 St Werburgh's New Church at
WarburtonWarburton is a village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Cheshire, Warburton lies on the south bank of the River Mersey between the borough of Warrington and Greater Manchester. Today, the village remains...
for
Rowland Egerton-WarburtonRowland Eyles Egerton-Warburton was a landowner in Cheshire, England. He was a devout Anglican in the high church tradition and a local benefactor. He paid for the restoration of his parish church and for the building of two new churches in villages on his estates...
.
Douglas & Fordham (1884–98)
In 1885–87 the partnership designed
Abbeystead HouseAbbeystead House is a large country house to the east of the village of Abbeystead, Lancashire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
for the
4th Earl of SeftonWilliam Philip Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton, KG was a British peer.Born Viscount Molyneux, he was the eldest son of Charles Molyneux, 3rd Earl of Sefton and his wife, Mary. He was educated at Eton College, Berks. In 1854, Molyneux became an ensign in the Grenadier Guards and inherited his father's...
in North Lancashire. Hubbard describes this as "the finest of Douglas's Elizabethan houses, and one of the largest which he ever designed". During this time additions were made to
Jodrell HallJodrell Hall is a mansion in Jodrell Bank in the parish of Twemlow, Cheshire, England, and is now used as a school, Terra Nova School. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
in Cheshire and
Halkyn CastleHalkyn Castle is a mansion house in the village of Halkyn, Flintshire, Wales. The house, with its associated stable block, is a Grade II* listed building.-History:...
in Flintshire. In 1885 the Castle Hotel at
ConwyConwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
,
CaernarfonshireCaernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
, was remodelled, and in 1887–88 a strongroom was added to
Hawarden CastleNew Hawarden Castle, in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales was the estate of former British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, which previously belonged to the family of his wife, Catherine Glynne. It was built in 1752...
, followed by a porch in 1890. During this period more buildings were added to the Eaton Hall estate, and these included houses and cottages, such as
Eccleston HillEccleston Hill is a house in the village of Eccleston, Cheshire, England. The house, with its attached conservatory, wall, and service wing, has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
, and
Eccleston Ferry HouseEccleston Ferry House is a farmhouse to the southeast of the village of Eccleston, Cheshire, England. It is situated on the east bank of the River Dee near the site of an ancient ferry crossing of the river; it is a Grade II listed building....
, and farms such as
Saighton Lane FarmSaighton Lane Farm is a historical farm in Saighton Lane, to the north-northeast of the village of Saighton, Cheshire, England. The farmhouse and the farm buildings are recognised separately as Grade II listed buildings by English Heritage.-History:...
. In 1890–91 an
obeliskAn obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
was built in the Belgrave Avenue approach to Eaton Hall. The last house designed by Douglas on a large scale was
Brocksford HallBrocksford Hall is a country house about one mile east of Doveridge village, in the south west corner of Derbyshire county, England. It is a Grade II listed building.-History:...
(1893) in Derbyshire. This was a country house in Elizabethan style using diapered brick and stone dressings with a clock tower. In Chester city centre,
38 Bridge Street38 Bridge Street is a commercial property in Chester, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. The building was constructed in 1897 and was designed by the local architects Douglas & Fordham...
(1897) is a timber-framed shop that incorporates a section of
Chester RowsChester Rows consist of covered walkways at the first floor behind which are entrances to shops and other premises. At street level is another set of shops and other premises, many of which are entered by going down a few steps...
and contains heavily decorated carving. From 1892 the partnership designed houses and cottages in
Port SunlightPort Sunlight is a model village, suburb and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. It is located between Lower Bebington and New Ferry, on the Wirral Peninsula. Between 1894 and 1974 it formed part of Bebington urban district within the county of Cheshire...
for
Lever BrothersLever Brothers was a British manufacturer founded in 1885 by William Hesketh Lever and his brother, James Darcy Lever . The brothers had invested in and promoted a new soap making process invented by chemist William Hough Watson, it was a huge success...
. Also in the village they designed the
Dell BridgeDell Bridge is a footbridge in Port Sunlight, Wirral, England. It is a Grade II listed building.The bridge was built in sandstone in 1894 for Lever Brothers in their model village of Port Sunlight and was designed by the Chester architects' firm of Douglas & Fordham. It carries a pedestrian...
(1894), and the school (1894–96), which is now called the
LyceumThe Lyceum is a building in Bridge Street, Port Sunlight, Merseyside, England. Originally built as a school, it is now used for a variety of purposes, including housing a social club...
. In 1896 Douglas designed a house for himself,
Walmoor HillWalmoor Hill is a large house in an elevated position overlooking the River Dee on the west side of Dee Banks, Chester, Cheshire, England . It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building...
in Dee Banks, Chester, in Elizabethan style. Between 1895 and 1897 he designed a range of buildings on the
east side of St Werburgh Street2–18 St Werburgh Street is a terrace consisting of a bank, shops and offices on the east side of St Werburgh Street and the north side of Eastgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England...
in the centre of Chester. At its south end, on the corner of Eastgate Street, is a bank whose ground storey is built in stone, and behind this leading up St Werburgh Street, the ground storey consists of shop fronts. Above this the range consists of two storeys plus an attic, which are covered in highly ornamented timber-framing. On the first floor is a series of
oriel windowOriel windows are a form of bay window commonly found in Gothic architecture, which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Corbels or brackets are often used to support this kind of window. They are seen in combination with the Tudor arch. This type of window was...
s, the second floor is
jettiedJettying is a building technique used in medieval timber frame buildings in which an upper floor projects beyond the dimensions of the floor below. This has the advantage of increasing the available space in the building without obstructing the street...
, and at the top are eleven gables.
PevsnerSir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
considers that this range of buildings is "Douglas at his best (though also at his showiest)". Hubbard expresses the opinion that "in this work, the city's half-timber revival reached its very apogee".
During the partnership, work continued on designing new churches and restoring older ones. In 1884–85 a chapel was built at Carlett Park at
EasthamEastham is a village and an electoral ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the Wirral Peninsula, to the south of Bromborough...
in the
WirralWirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
and in 1884–87 St Deiniol's Church was built in
CricciethCriccieth is a town and community on Cardigan Bay, in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd in Wales. The town lies west of Porthmadog, east of Pwllheli and south of Caernarfon. It has a population of 1,826....
,
CaernarfonshireCaernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
.
Christ Church, RossettChrist Church, Rossett, is in Chester Road, Rossett, Wrexham County Borough, Wales . It is a Grade II listed building. Christ Church is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Gresford, the archdeaconry of Wrexham and the diocese of St Asaph. It is the parish church of the parish of...
(1886–92),
St Paul's Church, Colwyn BaySt Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay is the parish church of the town of Colwyn Bay, in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Rhos, the archdeaconry of St Asaph, and the Diocese of St Asaph...
(1887–88 with later additions), and
St Andrew's Church, West KirbySt Andrew's Church, West Kirby, is located in Meols Drive, West Kirby, Wirral, Merseyside, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Wirral North...
(1889–91) followed.
St John's ChurchSt John's Church, Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales was built between 1889 and 1895 and designed by the Chester architects Douglas & Fordham. The foundation stone was laid by Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom...
in
BarmouthBarmouth ; Y Bermo ) is a town in the county of Gwynedd, north-western Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Mawddach and Cardigan Bay.The town is served by Barmouth railway station.- History :...
,
MerionethshireMerionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
was built between 1889 and 1895. It is one of the largest of Douglas's churches, although in 1891, during its construction, the tower collapsed and had to be rebuilt. Other churches built in North Wales were
Christ ChurchChrist Church, Bryn-y-Maen is in the small village of Bryn-y-Maen on the B5113 road some 3km to the south of Colwyn Bay in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Rhos, the archdeaconry of St Asaph and the diocese of St Asaph. The church is known...
in Bryn-y-Maen, Colwyn Bay, and
All SaintsAll Saints Church, Deganwy, is in the town of Deganwy, Conwy County Borough, Wales, on a site overlooking the Conwy estuary . It is an active Anglican church in the benefice of Eglwysrhos , the deanery of Llanrwst, the archdeaconry of St Asaph, and the diocese of St Asaph. It is a...
,
DeganwyDeganwy is a village in Conwy County Borough in Wales with a population of 3,700. It is in a more English-speaking region of North Wales, with only 1 in 4 residents speaking Welsh as a first language...
(both 1897–99).
In about 1891–92 the
Church of St James the GreatThe Church of St James the Great, Haydock, is in Church Road in the former mining community of Haydock, now part of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Helens, Merseyside, in the North-west of England...
,
HaydockHaydock is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. It contains all of the Haydock electoral ward and a section of the Blackbrook electoral ward. The village is located roughly mid-way between Liverpool and Manchester, close to the junction of the M6 motorway...
, was built. This was constructed in half-timber to give protection against possible mining subsidence. Other new churches built during this partnership were
St Wenefrede's Church, BickleySt Wenefrede's Church, Bickley is in the civil parish of Bickley, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester, and the deanery of Malpas...
(1892),
St David's Welsh ChurchSt David's Welsh Church, Rhosllannerchrugog, is in Broad Street, Rhosllannerchrugog, in Wrexham County Borough, Wales .The church was built in 1892 to a design by Douglas & Fordham. It consists of a nave and a north aisle. It was intended to have a chancel and a steeple at the northeast, but...
in Rhosllannerchrugog,
DenbighshireDenbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
,
All Saints Church, Higher KinnertonAll Saints Church, Higher Kinnerton is in Main Road, Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, Wales. It is an active Anglican parish church in the Diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester, and the deanery of Chester....
(1893), the Congregational Church in
Great CrosbyGreat Crosby is an area of the town of Crosby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England.-Location:In 1907, the Victoria County History described Great Crosby's location thus: 'The ancient township of Great Crosby, which includes Waterloo, lies on the northern shore of the estuary...
(1897–98), and
St John the Evangelist's Church, WestonSt John the Evangelist's Church is in Weston, once a separate village and now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry...
,
RuncornRuncorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
(1897–1900). A spire was added to
St Peter's Church, ChesterSt Peter's Church, Chester is in Eastgate Street in the centre of the city of Chester, Cheshire, England, immediately to the north of Chester Cross. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the...
in 1886–87 and a tower was added to
Holy Trinity Church, CapenhurstHoly Trinity Church, Capenhurst is in the village of Capenhurst, Cheshire, England. The church is a Grade II listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Wirral South...
in about 1889–90. In 1886–87 Douglas added a bell tower to
St John the Baptist's Church, ChesterSt John the Baptist's Church, Chester is in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It lies outside the city walls on a cliff above the north bank of the River Dee. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese...
and this was followed by the rebuilding of its north aisle. Other restorations, embellishments, and additions of monuments and furniture were carried out in churches during this partnership.
Douglas & Minshull (1898–1909) and Douglas alone (1909–11)
In 1898 the firm designed
St Oswald's ChambersSt Oswald's Chambers consists of a commercial property at 20–22 St Werburgh Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
in St Werburgh Street, Chester, and this was followed by further buildings in the city. In 1902–03 Douglas built
St John the Evangelist's ChurchSt John the Evangelist's Church, Sandiway is in the village of Sandiway, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church of Sandiway and Cuddington in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich...
, in the village of his birth,
SandiwaySandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the east of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington....
. It was built on land owned by Douglas and he paid for the cost of the chancel and the lych gate. In 1899 the Diamond Jubilee Memorial Clock, constructed in open
wrought ironthumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
, was erected on the Eastgate in Chester to commemorate
Queen Victoria'sVictoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
Diamond JubileeA Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
in 1897. In 1898–1901
Chester's public bathsThe Public Baths are on the north side of Union Street at its junction with Bath Street in Chester, Cheshire, England. The structure has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
were built; this was an unusual work for Douglas as it involved specialist engineering work. During this period one of Douglas's most important secular buildings was designed,
St Deiniol's LibraryGladstone's Library, known until 2010 as St Deiniol's Library , is a residential library in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales.The library was founded by the Victorian statesman and politician William Ewart Gladstone ....
, at
HawardenHawarden is a village in Flintshire, North Wales. Hawarden forms part of the Deeside conurbation on the Welsh/English border. At the 2001 Census, the population of Hawarden Ward was 1,858...
,
FlintshireFlintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, for
W. E. GladstoneWilliam Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
and his family. The first phase was constructed between 1899 and 1902, and the library was completed in 1904–06. Around this time the practice was commissioned to work on two churches in association with Gladstone;
St Ethelwold'sSt Ethelwold's Church, Shotton, is in the town of Shotton, Flintshire, Wales . It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Hawarden, the archdeaconry of Wrexham and the diocese of St Asaph...
(1898–1902) was a new church at
ShottonShotton is a town in Flintshire, north Wales, lying on the River Dee. The name derives from the Old Norse words sjò and tùn . It is continuous with the towns of Connah's Quay and Queensferry in what is called Deeside...
in Flintshire, and additions were made to
St Matthew'sSt Matthew's Church, Buckley, is in the town of Buckley, Flintshire, Wales. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Hawarden, the archdeaconry of Wrexham and the diocese of St Asaph. The church is a Grade II* listed building.-History:...
at
BuckleyBuckley is a town and community in Flintshire, located in north-east Wales. It is situated 2 miles from the county town of Mold and is contiguous with the nearby villages of Ewloe, Alltami and Mynydd Isa...
, also in Flintshire, between 1897 and 1905. The other new churches built during this period were Douglas's only Scottish church, the Episcopal Church (1903) in
LockerbieLockerbie is a town in the Dumfries and Galloway region of south-western Scotland. It lies approximately from Glasgow, and from the English border. It had a population of 4,009 at the 2001 census...
,
DumfriesshireDumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
, and St Matthew's Church (1910–11) in
SaltneySaltney is a small town in Flintshire, Wales. It is immediately to the west of the border with Cheshire in England and is contiguous with the Chester urban area.The name is derived from the former salt marshes on which it is built, lying on the River Dee...
, Flintshire. Alterations were made and furniture was designed for other churches. Douglas's last major project was the addition of a tower to his church of
St Paul'sSt Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay is the parish church of the town of Colwyn Bay, in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Rhos, the archdeaconry of St Asaph, and the Diocese of St Asaph...
at Colwyn Bay, but he died before this could be completed.
Publication
Douglas published no writings of his own and left no records of his ideas and thoughts. The only publication with which he was associated was the
Abbey Square Sketch Book, which he edited. The book appeared in three volumes, the first dated 1872 and the others undated; it consisted of sketches and drawings (with some photographs in the third volume) by many contributors. The pictures depicted buildings and furniture, mainly dating from the late medieval period and the 16th and 17th centuries, and mostly from Cheshire and northwest England. Douglas's only contribution was a jointly ascribed plate in the third volume. It is likely that he designed the title pages, or at least the drawing incorporated in it, of the
Abbey GatewayThe Abbey Gateway is in Chester, Cheshire, England and leads from Northgate Street into Abbey Square. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.-History:...
in
ChesterChester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
.
Reputation, influences and legacy
Douglas practised for the whole of his career in a provincial county town, and most of his works were concentrated in Cheshire and North Wales, yet he "conducted a practice which achieved national renown". He was never a member of the
Royal Institute of British ArchitectsThe Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, but his works featured frequently in national publications, including
Building News,
The BuilderBuilding is one of the United Kingdom’s oldest business-to-business magazines, launched as The Builder in 1843 by Joseph Aloysius Hansom – architect of Birmingham Town Hall and designer of the Hansom Cab. The journal was renamed Building in 1966 as it is still known today. Building is the only UK...
,
The Architect, and
The British Architect, the last of which particularly praised many of his works. A number of Douglas's works were exhibited at the
Royal AcademyThe Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and appeared in
Academy Architecture. Douglas's obituary in
The British Architect referred to him as having "achieved a reputation which has long placed him in the front rank of living architects". In the series
The Buildings of EnglandThe Pevsner Architectural Guides are a series of guide books to the architecture of the British Isles. Begun in the 1940s by art historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the 46 volumes of the Buildings of England series were published between 1951 and 1975. The series was then extended to Scotland and...
,
Nikolaus PevsnerSir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
described him, without reservation, as "the best Cheshire architect". In the companion series
The Buildings of Wales: Clwyd,
HubbardEdward Horton Hubbard was an English architectural historian who worked with Nikolaus Pevsner in compiling volumes of the Buildings of England...
expressed the opinion that he was "the most important and active local architect of the period". Critical praise was not confined to Britain; Douglas's works were acclaimed by the French architect
Paul SédillePaul Sédille was a French architect and theorist; and designed the 1880 reconstruction of the iconic Magasins du Printemps department store in Paris.- Life :...
, and the German architect and writer
Hermann MuthesiusAdam Gottlieb Hermann Muthesius , known as Hermann Muthesius, was a German architect, author and diplomat, perhaps best known for promoting many of the ideas of the English Arts and Crafts movement within Germany and for his subsequent influence on early pioneers of German architectural modernism...
. Despite this, the only official recognition he received in his lifetime was a medal for
Abbeystead HouseAbbeystead House is a large country house to the east of the village of Abbeystead, Lancashire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
, which was shown at an exhibition in Paris.
Many of the architects training and working in Douglas's office were influenced by him. Perhaps the best known of these were
Edmund KirbyEdmund Kirby was an English architect. He was born in Liverpool, educated at Sedgeley Park School and Oscott College. He was articled to E. W. Pugin, then worked for Hardman & Co., and for John Douglas in Chester. By 1863 he was practising in Birkenhead and by 1866 his office was in Derby...
and
Edward OuldEdward Augustus Lyle Ould was an English architect.Ould was a son of the rector of Tattenhall, Cheshire. He became a pupil of the Chester architect John Douglas and in 1886 he joined in partnership with the Liverpool architect G. E. Grayson. His early work was influenced by Douglas,...
. Kirby is best remembered for his
Roman CatholicThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
churches. Ould went on to design a number of buildings in Chester and further afield in a Douglas-like style, including notably
Wightwick ManorWightwick Manor is a Victorian manor house located on Wightwick Bank, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, and one of only a few surviving examples of a house built and furnished under the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement...
and various buildings at
Port SunlightPort Sunlight is a model village, suburb and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. It is located between Lower Bebington and New Ferry, on the Wirral Peninsula. Between 1894 and 1974 it formed part of Bebington urban district within the county of Cheshire...
. Other architects who did not work in his office were also influenced by him; these include
Thomas LockwoodThomas Meakin Lockwood was an English architect whose main works are in Chester, Cheshire, England. Lockwood, together with Thomas Penson and John Douglas, were the architects mainly responsible for the black-and-white revival buildings in the city centre. Lockwood designed a number of buildings...
, Richard Thomas Beckett, Howard Hignett, A. E. Powers, James Strong and the Cheshire County Architect, Henry Beswick.
A large proportion of Douglas's buildings still exist, many of them being
listed buildings, in a wide variety of types and styles. Douglas is not remembered for any one building type; his churches and houses are considered to be of equal importance. He was not a pioneer of any particular new development, but instead followed national stylistic trends while still retaining his individuality. His buildings are "anything but copyist" and they "bear a highly individual and nearly always recognisable stamp". The major characteristics of his buildings are "sure proportions, imaginative massing and grouping ... immaculate detailing and a superb sense of craftsmanship and feeling for materials". His work is "architecture which can be enjoyed as well as admired".
See also
External links