Lionel Brett, 4th Viscount Esher
Encyclopedia
Lionel Gordon Baliol Brett, 4th Viscount Esher (18 July 1913 – 9 July 2004) was a Britih peer, architect and town-planner. He succeeded to his title on the death of his father in 1963.
He was born in Windsor, Berkshire, the son of Oliver Sylvain Baliol Brett, 3rd Viscount Esher and educated at Eton College
and New College, Oxford
, where he read history. He married Helena Christian Pike (a painter) in 1935 and proceeded to the Architectural Association but left to learn from the traditionalist A. S. G. Butler and then, as a non-qualified partner of William and Aileen Tatton-Brown, he passed the RIBA external exams in the summer of 1939, winning the Ashpitel Prize.
He spent WWII mostly in Britain, training gunners in the Royal Artillery, until he went through France and Belgium to witness the surrender of Lübeck and Hamburg. In 1945, he stood as Liberal Candidate for South Oxfordshire, coming third at the polls.
He formed a partnership with Kenneth Boyd to design new houses as Architect-Planner of Hatfield New Town but, unfortunately, some 50 of their two-storey terraced houses lost their monopitch roofs in one stormy night in November 1957 and the adverse publicity and financial liability ended the business. From this period, despite not wanting to be known as a country-house architect, he was most proud of small houses in Oxfordshire for Hans Juda and Warwickshire for Lord Dormer. A design for the High Commissioner's residence in Lagos in 1958 was compromised by the taste of an incoming Commissioner's wife. A second practice terminated in 1971.
Esher's real interest was in planning and he carried out a study of York for the government, after which he published York: a study in conservation (1968). After a period as Rector of the Royal College of Art
he turned again to writing. A Broken Wave: the rebuilding of England 1940-1980 (1981) was an attempt to chronicle and analyse the achievements of post-war architecture and planning, following on from Parameters and Images: architecture in a crowded world (1970).
In 1985, Ourselves Unknown, his autobiography, records how he nursed his wife, who survived him, through a long mental breakdown in the 1960s, but how she gave him equal support and strength over nearly 70 years.
He served as president of the Royal Institute of British Architects
from 1966 to 1967. He was awarded CBE
in 1970.
He was born in Windsor, Berkshire, the son of Oliver Sylvain Baliol Brett, 3rd Viscount Esher and educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, where he read history. He married Helena Christian Pike (a painter) in 1935 and proceeded to the Architectural Association but left to learn from the traditionalist A. S. G. Butler and then, as a non-qualified partner of William and Aileen Tatton-Brown, he passed the RIBA external exams in the summer of 1939, winning the Ashpitel Prize.
He spent WWII mostly in Britain, training gunners in the Royal Artillery, until he went through France and Belgium to witness the surrender of Lübeck and Hamburg. In 1945, he stood as Liberal Candidate for South Oxfordshire, coming third at the polls.
He formed a partnership with Kenneth Boyd to design new houses as Architect-Planner of Hatfield New Town but, unfortunately, some 50 of their two-storey terraced houses lost their monopitch roofs in one stormy night in November 1957 and the adverse publicity and financial liability ended the business. From this period, despite not wanting to be known as a country-house architect, he was most proud of small houses in Oxfordshire for Hans Juda and Warwickshire for Lord Dormer. A design for the High Commissioner's residence in Lagos in 1958 was compromised by the taste of an incoming Commissioner's wife. A second practice terminated in 1971.
Esher's real interest was in planning and he carried out a study of York for the government, after which he published York: a study in conservation (1968). After a period as Rector of the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
he turned again to writing. A Broken Wave: the rebuilding of England 1940-1980 (1981) was an attempt to chronicle and analyse the achievements of post-war architecture and planning, following on from Parameters and Images: architecture in a crowded world (1970).
In 1985, Ourselves Unknown, his autobiography, records how he nursed his wife, who survived him, through a long mental breakdown in the 1960s, but how she gave him equal support and strength over nearly 70 years.
He served as president of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
from 1966 to 1967. He was awarded CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1970.