Benjamin Bucknall
Benjamin Bucknall (1833 – 16 November 1895) was an English architect of the Gothic Revival in South West England and South Wales, and then of neo-Moorish architecture in Algeria. His most noted works include the uncompleted Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire, England[2] and his restoration of the Villa Montfeld in El Biar, Algiers.[3]
Benjamin Bucknall | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1833[1] Rodborough, Gloucestershire[2] |
| Died | 16 November 1895[1] |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | Woodchester Mansion |
Career edit
In 1851 Bucknall began work as a millwright, but in 1852 William Leigh helped him to start work for the architect Charles Hansom in Clifton, Bristol.[2] Hansom was a Roman Catholic and in 1852 Bucknall converted to Catholicism.[2]
Bucknall admired the work of the French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, and travelled to visit him in France in 1861[2] and in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1872.[4] Between 1874 and 1881 Bucknall translated five of Viollet-le-Duc's works into English.[4]
Family edit
Bucknall was the fifth of seven sons born to Edwin and Mary Bucknall of Rodborough, Gloucs.[2] In 1862 Bucknall was married to Henrietta King.[4] After 1864 they moved to Swansea and by 1869 were living in Oystermouth.[4] The Bucknalls had four children: Mary, Charles (born 1864), Edgar (born 1868) and Beatrice (born 1870).[4]
Bucknall's health deteriorated and he spent the winter of 1876–77 in Algiers.[3] In 1878 he settled there permanently, leaving Henrietta and the children in Gloucestershire.[3] The 1881 Census recorded Henrietta and Mary living at Bisley, Gloucestershire.[3] Some of their children visited Bucknall in Algiers, and Edgar died there in a boating accident in 1889.[3]
In Algiers Bucknall changed his architectural style to neo-Moorish architecture, in which he built villas, notably in the El Biar district of Algiers.[3] His works include a restoration of the Villa Montfeld, now the residence of the US Ambassador to Algeria.[5] He died in Algiers in 1895 and is buried there.[3] A road in Algiers was named Chemin Bucknall in his honour, but since independence it has been renamed.[3]
Buildings edit
Houses edit
- Woodchester Mansion, Gloucs, circa 1858[6]
- St Stephens, a cottage orné at Nympsfield, Gloucs, circa 1860[7]
- Tocknells House, Painswick, Gloucs, circa 1860[8]
- West Grange, Stroud, Gloucs, 1866[9]
- Villa Montfeld, El Biar, Algiers: restoration[3]
Churches and monastic houses edit
- Church of Our Lady and St Michael, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, 1858[10]
- Saint George RC church, Taunton, Somerset, 1860[10]
- St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Monmouth, 1861–71[10]
- St Wulstan's Roman Catholic Church, Little Malvern, Worcestershire, 1862[10]
- Saint David's Priory RC church, Swansea, Glamorgan: extension, 1864[4]
- Saint Thomas' RC church, Fairford, Gloucestershire: presbytery, 1865[10]
- Holy Trinity Church of England parish church, Llanegwad, Carmarthenshire, 1865–78[10]
- Holy Trinity Church of England parish church, Slad, Gloucs: reconstruction, 1869[11]
- Longworth Chapel, Bartestree Convent, Herefordshire (with E.W. Pugin), 1869–70[10]
- Saint Francis of Assisi RC Church, Baddesley Clinton convent, Warwickshire (with T.R. Donnelly), 1870[4]
- Saint Rose of Lima Convent, Stroud, Gloucs.[10]
- Abbotskerswell Priory, Newton Abbot, Devon: later buildings[4]
- Swansea Seamen's Church[4]
Other buildings edit
- Swansea Grammar School[4]
- Imperial Hotel, Stroud[12]
Translations from French into English edit
- Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène (1874). Histoire d'une maison [How to Build a House. An Architectural Novelette]. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Searle.[4]
- Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène (1875). Histoire d'une forteresse [Annals of a Fortress]. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Searle.[4]
- Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène (1876). Histoire de l'habitation Humaine depuis les Temps Préhistoriques jusqu'à nos Jour [The Habitations of Man in All Ages]. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Rivington.[4]
- Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène (1877). Massif du Mont-Blanc, étude sur sa construction géodesique et géologique, sur ses transformations et sur l'état ancien et moderne de ses glaciers [Mont Blanc. A treatise on its geodesical and geological constitution; its transformations; and the ancient and recent state of its glaciers.]. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Rivington.[3]
- Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène (1877). Entretiens sur l'architecture [Lectures on Architecture]. Vol. 1. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Rivington.[4]
- Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène (1881). Entretiens sur l'architecture [Lectures on Architecture]. Vol. 2. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Rivington.[4]
- Godon, Julien (1879). Painted Tapestry and Its Application to Interior Decoration. Practical Lessons in Tapestry Painting with Liquid Colour. London: Lechertier, Barbe and Co.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b Brodie, 2001, p. 291.
- ^ a b c d e f Woodchester Mansion website: Benjamin Bucknall, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Woodchester Mansion website: Benjamin Bucknall, p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Woodchester Mansion website: Benjamin Bucknall, p. 3.
- ^ Ross, Christopher. "American Embassy Properties in Algiers - Their Origins and History" (PDF). Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ Verey, 1970, pp. 487–488.
- ^ Verey, 1970, p. 347.
- ^ Verey, 1970, p. 366.
- ^ Verey, 1970, p. 430.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Woodchester Mansion website: Benjamin Bucknall, p. 2.
- ^ Verey, 1970, p. 403.
- ^ Historic England. "Imperial Hotel (Grade II) (1477576)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
Sources edit
- Brodie, Antonia; Felstead, Alison; Franklin, Jonathan; Pinfield, Leslie, eds. (2001). Directory of British Architects 1834–1914, A–K. London & New York: Continuum. p. 291. ISBN 0-8264-5513-1.
- Verey, David (1970). The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire: The Cotswolds. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 487. ISBN 0-14-071040-X.
External links edit
- . Woodchester Mansion. 18 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
- Works by Benjamin Bucknall at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about Benjamin Bucknall at Internet Archive