Richard Phipson
Encyclopedia
Richard Makilwaine Phipson (Ipswich
, 1827–84) was an English architect
. A diocesan architect for the Anglican Diocese of Norwich
, he is responsible for the renovation of almost 100 churches in East Anglia
.
from 1871–84, and a county surveyor in the 1860s, though he was active from the 1850s. He restored a large number of churches in East Anglia in the mid- and late-nineteenth century; he was "fond of big, unexpected figure and foliage carvings". He is responsible, for instance, for the St John the Baptist church in Harleston
, the interior of the St Peter Mancroft
church in Norwich
, and the near-complete rebuilding of St Mary le Tower church in Ipswich
. The diocese then included East Suffolk
, where he worked on many churches including All Saints in Holbrook, Suffolk
, the church at Thelnetham
, and the Church of St Mary at Burgh-next-Aylsham.
, and "the nearest thing the town will ever have to a cathedral. This is Suffolk's Victorian church par excellence. It is full of the spirit of its age, from the Suffolk flushwork to the international gothic of the spire itself. One could no more imagine Ipswich without 'the Tower' than without the Orwell Bridge", according to Simon Knott. There was a medieval church on the site, which was almost entirely demolished in the 1860s, so that the present exterior is almost entirely Phipson's, though inside the nave arcades and various monuments and fittings are retained from the original.
Phipson replaced the tower and spire at Woolpit
after they were destroyed by lightning in the 1850s. Despite his use of a style typical of Northamptonshire
rather than Suffolk, his spire is grudgingly accepted as a success by most authorities, unlike his one at Great Finborough
, sometimes nicknamed "Thunderbird One" after the Supermarionation
space rescue vehicle. He also oversaw the restoration and alteration of the Moot Hall in Aldeburgh
in 1854-5.
In 1865–66 he oversaw the restoration of St Peter's church at Ickburgh
, a project paid for by Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton
. Phipson's work is praised as "surprisingly fine." In 1868, he added a chapel to the Union Workhouse at Beetley
in Norfolk, now the Norfolk Rural Life Museum. He restored All Saints in Alburgh
in 1876, adding "pinnacles with little flying buttresses" and reworking the chancel. In 1883 he restored the outside of St Peter's in Easton, Norfolk
, and in 1886 the tower of St Andrew's in Kirby Bedon
, the church in which he is buried.
Besides churches, Phipson also built commercial buildings, such as a bank on Hall Quay in Great Yarmouth
. In the 1880s Phipson appears as one of the "chief landowners" of the parish of Winfarthing
in Norfolk.
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, 1827–84) was an English architect
Architect
An 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...
. A diocesan architect for the Anglican Diocese of Norwich
Anglican Diocese of Norwich
The Diocese of Norwich forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.It traces its roots in an unbroken line to the diocese of Dunwich founded in 630. In common with many Anglo-Saxon bishoprics it moved, in this case to Elmham in 673...
, he is responsible for the renovation of almost 100 churches in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
.
Biography
Phipson was diocesan surveyor (architect) for the Anglican Diocese of NorwichAnglican Diocese of Norwich
The Diocese of Norwich forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.It traces its roots in an unbroken line to the diocese of Dunwich founded in 630. In common with many Anglo-Saxon bishoprics it moved, in this case to Elmham in 673...
from 1871–84, and a county surveyor in the 1860s, though he was active from the 1850s. He restored a large number of churches in East Anglia in the mid- and late-nineteenth century; he was "fond of big, unexpected figure and foliage carvings". He is responsible, for instance, for the St John the Baptist church in Harleston
Redenhall with Harleston
Redenhall with Harleston is a town and civil parish in the South Norfolk District of the English county of Norfolk, comprising the villages of Redenhall and Harleston. It covers an area of , and had a population of 4,058 in 1,841 households as of the 2001 census...
, the interior of the St Peter Mancroft
St Peter Mancroft
St Peter Mancroft is a parish church in the Church of England, in the centre of Norwich, Norfolk. It is the largest church in Norwich and was built between 1430 and 1455. It stands on a slightly elevated position, next to the market place...
church in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, and the near-complete rebuilding of St Mary le Tower church in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
. The diocese then included East Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, where he worked on many churches including All Saints in Holbrook, Suffolk
Holbrook, Suffolk
Holbrook is a village situated close to the northern shore of the Stour estuary in Suffolk, England. It is located on the Shotley peninsula in Babergh district, around 8⅓ km south of Ipswich....
, the church at Thelnetham
Thelnetham
Thelnetham is a village and civil parish in the St Edmundsbury district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located on the southern bank of the River Little Ouse , six miles west of Diss, in 2005 its population was 230....
, and the Church of St Mary at Burgh-next-Aylsham.
Notable projects
St Mary-le-Tower is the civic church of IpswichIpswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, and "the nearest thing the town will ever have to a cathedral. This is Suffolk's Victorian church par excellence. It is full of the spirit of its age, from the Suffolk flushwork to the international gothic of the spire itself. One could no more imagine Ipswich without 'the Tower' than without the Orwell Bridge", according to Simon Knott. There was a medieval church on the site, which was almost entirely demolished in the 1860s, so that the present exterior is almost entirely Phipson's, though inside the nave arcades and various monuments and fittings are retained from the original.
Phipson replaced the tower and spire at Woolpit
Woolpit
Woolpit is a village in the English county of Suffolk, midway between the towns of Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket As of 2007 it has a population of 2030. It is notable for the 12th-century legend of the green children of Woolpit and for its parish church, which has especially fine medieval woodwork...
after they were destroyed by lightning in the 1850s. Despite his use of a style typical of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
rather than Suffolk, his spire is grudgingly accepted as a success by most authorities, unlike his one at Great Finborough
Great Finborough
Great Finborough is a rural village in Suffolk, England about south west of Stowmarket and near one of the sources of the River Gipping. It has a population of 755....
, sometimes nicknamed "Thunderbird One" after the Supermarionation
Supermarionation
Supermarionation is a puppetry technique devised in the 1960s by British production company AP Films. It was used extensively in the company's numerous Gerry and Sylvia Anderson-produced action-adventure series, the most famous of which was Thunderbirds...
space rescue vehicle. He also oversaw the restoration and alteration of the Moot Hall in Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh is a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. Located on the River Alde, the town is notable for its Blue Flag shingle beach and fisherman huts where freshly caught fish are sold daily, and the Aldeburgh Yacht Club...
in 1854-5.
In 1865–66 he oversaw the restoration of St Peter's church at Ickburgh
Ickburgh
Ickburgh is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A1065 Mildenhall to Fakenham road, some north of Brandon and south of Swaffham. The village is from the city of Norwich and from London....
, a project paid for by Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton
Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton
Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton was a British peer Whig and later Tory politician.He was elected at the 1830 general election as a Whig Member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford in Norfolk,...
. Phipson's work is praised as "surprisingly fine." In 1868, he added a chapel to the Union Workhouse at Beetley
Beetley
Beetley is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,385. The village is situated four miles north of Toftwood....
in Norfolk, now the Norfolk Rural Life Museum. He restored All Saints in Alburgh
Alburgh
Alburgh is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated about four miles north-east of Harleston....
in 1876, adding "pinnacles with little flying buttresses" and reworking the chancel. In 1883 he restored the outside of St Peter's in Easton, Norfolk
Easton, Norfolk
Easton is a small village in Norfolk, to the west of Norwich. It covers an area of and had a population of 1,141 in 445 households as of the 2001 census. Located close to the Royal Norfolk Showground and the A47, it also houses Easton College, a large agricultural college...
, and in 1886 the tower of St Andrew's in Kirby Bedon
Kirby Bedon
Kirby Bedon is a small village in South Norfolk which lies approximately 3½ miles southeast of Norwich on the road to Bramerton. It covers an area of and had a population of 186 in 77 households as of the 2001 census....
, the church in which he is buried.
Besides churches, Phipson also built commercial buildings, such as a bank on Hall Quay in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. In the 1880s Phipson appears as one of the "chief landowners" of the parish of Winfarthing
Winfarthing
Winfarthing is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located 6 km north of the town of Diss, 20 km east of the town of Thetford, and 30 km south of the city of Norwich....
in Norfolk.