John Gibbs (architect)
Encyclopedia
John Gibbs was a British Gothic Revival architect
based in Wigan
, Manchester
, and Oxford
, England
.
In 1858, he proposed a memorial fountain to commemorate Alfred the Great
(purported to be the founder of Oxford University for many years) to be located in the centre of the wide Broad Street
, southeast of St Giles', but it was never completed.
The current Banbury Cross was erected in 1859 to a design of Gibbs at the centre of Banbury
, Oxfordshire
, in commemoration of the marriage of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter to Prince Frederick of Prussia. It is a stone, spire-shaped monument decorated in Gothic form. The cross is 52 feet 6 inches high and is topped with a gilt cross. Statues surrounding the cross were added later in 1911.
Gibbs returned to Oxford in the 1860s and worked in St Giles'
, central Oxford
. In 1865, he designed a monument to Prince Albert
in Albert Park
, Abingdon
, then in Berkshire
. This consisted of a statue on a tall pedestal, a total of 48 feet high.
In North Oxford
, Gibbs designed three large and prominent houses on the west side of Banbury Road
(numbers 54, 56, and 58). No. 54 (1866) now forms part of Wycliffe Hall. No. 56 (1867) was built for Henry Hatch, a draper
, and was later the long-time residence of Sir Edward Bagnall Poulton
, FRS, Hope Professor of Zoology
at Oxford University. The building is now used at the Careers Service of Oxford University. No. 58 (also 1867) was built for the chemist, William Walsh. It includes a statue of William of Wykeham
by the sculptor W. Forsyth of Worcester
in a niche on the external wall of the house. The building is now the Department of Biological Anthropology
and Human Sciences at Oxford University.
John Gibbs designed the parsonage and the village school (1871) at South Leigh
in Oxfordshire west of Oxford.
Gibbs wrote books promoting the Victorian Gothic architectural style including Designs for Gothic Ornaments (1853) and English Gothic Architecture (1855).
He was also the author of a novel, The Old Parish Church: with the Ghost of Merton Hall, published in 1861.
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
based in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Life
John Gibbs was initially in Oxford but he moved to Wigan in the 1850s and then Manchester in the north of England.In 1858, he proposed a memorial fountain to commemorate Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
(purported to be the founder of Oxford University for many years) to be located in the centre of the wide Broad Street
Broad Street, Oxford
Broad Street is a wide street in central Oxford, England, located just north of the old city wall.The street is known for its bookshops, including the original Blackwell's bookshop at number 50, located here due to the University...
, southeast of St Giles', but it was never completed.
The current Banbury Cross was erected in 1859 to a design of Gibbs at the centre of Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, in commemoration of the marriage of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter to Prince Frederick of Prussia. It is a stone, spire-shaped monument decorated in Gothic form. The cross is 52 feet 6 inches high and is topped with a gilt cross. Statues surrounding the cross were added later in 1911.
Gibbs returned to Oxford in the 1860s and worked in St Giles'
St Giles', Oxford
St Giles is a wide street leading north from the centre of Oxford, England. At its northern end, the road divides into Woodstock Road to the left and Banbury Road to the right, both major roads through North Oxford. At the southern end, the road continues as Magdalen Street at the junction with...
, central Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. In 1865, he designed a monument to Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
in Albert Park
Albert Park, Abingdon
Abingdon Park is a park in the northwest of the town of Abingdon, Oxfordshire , England.- Overview :The park is surrounded by large residential houses and, to the east, Abingdon School, an independent school. Abingdon Bowls Club is located in the park...
, Abingdon
Abingdon
Abingdon may refer to the following places:In Australia :* Abingdon, Queensland, a place in Northern QueenslandIn Britain:*Abingdon, Oxfordshire**Abingdon School**Abingdon Abbey**Abingdon Lock**Abingdon Bridge**Abingdon Air & Country Show...
, then in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. This consisted of a statue on a tall pedestal, a total of 48 feet high.
In North Oxford
North Oxford
North Oxford is a suburban part of the city of Oxford in England. It was owned for many centuries largely by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold by the College....
, Gibbs designed three large and prominent houses on the west side of Banbury Road
Banbury Road
Banbury Road is a major arterial road in Oxford, England, running from St Giles' at the south end, north towards Banbury through the leafy suburb of North Oxford and Summertown, with its local shopping centre. Parallel and to the west is the Woodstock Road, which it meets at the junction with St...
(numbers 54, 56, and 58). No. 54 (1866) now forms part of Wycliffe Hall. No. 56 (1867) was built for Henry Hatch, a draper
Draper
Draper is the now largely obsolete term for a wholesaler, or especially retailer, of cloth, mainly for clothing, or one who works in a draper's shop. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher. The drapers were an important trade guild...
, and was later the long-time residence of Sir Edward Bagnall Poulton
Edward Bagnall Poulton
Sir Edward Bagnall Poulton, FRS was a British evolutionary biologist who was a lifelong advocate of natural selection...
, FRS, Hope Professor of Zoology
Hope Professor of Zoology
The Hope Professor of Zoology is a professorship at Oxford University. The first Hope Professor was John Obadiah Westwood. The current holder is Charles Godfray.* John Obadiah Westwood The Hope Professor of Zoology is a professorship at Oxford University. The first Hope Professor was John...
at Oxford University. The building is now used at the Careers Service of Oxford University. No. 58 (also 1867) was built for the chemist, William Walsh. It includes a statue of William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham was Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, founder of Winchester College, New College, Oxford, New College School, Oxford, and builder of a large part of Windsor Castle.-Life:...
by the sculptor W. Forsyth of Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
in a niche on the external wall of the house. The building is now the Department of Biological Anthropology
Biological anthropology
Biological anthropology is that branch of anthropology that studies the physical development of the human species. It plays an important part in paleoanthropology and in forensic anthropology...
and Human Sciences at Oxford University.
John Gibbs designed the parsonage and the village school (1871) at South Leigh
South Leigh
South Leigh is a village and civil parish on Limb Brook, a small tributary of the River Thames, about east of Witney in Oxfordshire.-Manor:South Leigh was not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but was recorded in 1190 as Stanton Lega....
in Oxfordshire west of Oxford.
Gibbs wrote books promoting the Victorian Gothic architectural style including Designs for Gothic Ornaments (1853) and English Gothic Architecture (1855).
He was also the author of a novel, The Old Parish Church: with the Ghost of Merton Hall, published in 1861.
External links
- John Gibbs (architect.), Google Books