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Francis Smith of Warwick

January 01, 1970

Francis Smith of Warwick (1672–1738) was an English master-builder and architect, much involved in the construction of country houses in the Midland counties of England. Smith of Warwick may refer also to his brothers, or his son.

Francis Smith of Warwick.

Architectural work edit

The county town of Warwick had been devastated by a fire in September 1694, and the projects involved in its rebuilding gave the Smith brothers their first prominence, which they retained for decades by a universal reputation for scrupulous honesty and competence. Howard Colvin, plotting their known commissions on a map, remarked that nearly all of them lay within a fifty-mile radius of their mason's yard, the "Marble House" in Warwick.

 
The Marble House, Warwick.

The antiquary Daines Barrington noted in 1784, after viewing several Smith of Warwick houses, found "all of them convenient and handsome" despite changes in taste.[1] Colvin summarised the elements by which a Smith house is easily recognizable: three storeys, with the central three bays emphasized by a slight projection or recession; uniform fenestration with exterior detail confined to keystones, architraves, quoins and a balustraded parapet, which was the most significant modernisation of a formula derived in essence from the late seventeenth-century model typified by Belton House. In the plans there was invariably a hall backed by a saloon in the centre, with a staircase set to one side. In spite of some splendid effects achieved by plasterwork and joinery, Colvin noted that "the spatial effects are simple and unenterprising".[2]

Four exceptional houses did not conform to these conventions. They were Kedleston (demolished and replaced by the celebrated Robert Adam house); Chicheley Hall with William Kent, doubtless in part the design of its owner Sir John Chester, and his virtuosi friends;[2] Stoneleigh Abbey, "a somewhat inept attempt to use a giant order in the grand baroque manner" (Colvin) and Sutton Scarsdale (stripped of its interiors in the 1920s), where Colvin, comparing its assurance with Stoneleigh's "gauche" crowded windows and "leggy pilasters", suspected some intervention by James Gibbs.

Andor Gomme has identified several churches which had Francis Smith’s architectural input, of which four survive in use with Smith’s contribution reasonably intact; namely All Saints, Gainsborough, Lincs. (all except tower), St Nicholas Alcester, Warks. (nave), All Saints, Lamport, Northants. (chancel) and St Botolph's, Sibson, Leics. The first two, with their Corinthian and Doric columns respectively and plastered ceilings, display Smith’s adoption of the Palladian style, as influenced by Gibbs.

Family edit

William Smith of Warwick (1661–1724), master builder trained as a bricklayer, was brother to Francis Smith:[3] the brothers, who often worked in partnership and with the third brother Richard, were sons of a bricklayer and master builder, Francis Smith, of The Wergs, near Tettenhall, Staffordshire. By the time of William's death in 1724 they had become the most prominent designers and builders of houses in the Midlands.[2]

Francis joined his brother William in the reconstruction of St Mary's Church, Warwick, but later oversaw the project of the new courthouse. Francis served on the Town Corporation in the 1720s and was the head of maintenance during the 1730s until he died in 1738.[4]

William Smith of Warwick (1705–1747) was the next generation in the firm, son of Francis.[5] The business passed to William and David Hiorn.[6]

Craftsmen edit

He was a major employer, and some of his craftsmen were individually credited on a lead plaque formerly at Sutton Scarsdale:

  • Thomas Eborall, joiner
  • Joshua Needham, plasterer
  • Edward Poynton of Nottingham, stone carver[7]
  • John Wilkes, door furniture

Another craftsman and architect who worked under Smith was William Baker of Audlem, who was employed as a carpenter by Smith at Ditchley in Oxfordshire in 1727, and later developed an extensive architectural practice in Shropshire and Staffordshire[8] A further architect and builder associated with the Smiths was Abraham Hayward, who came from Whitchurch, where Smith had built St Alkmund's Church. The Smiths employed Hayward on the re-building of St Peter at Arches Church, Lincoln, where Hayward was to stay and work as an architect.

Buildings (designed or worked on) edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Smith of Warwick.
 
Davenport House, 2010
 
Locko Park, Derbyshire.

References edit

  • Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840, 3rd ed. (Yale University Press) 1995, s.v. "Smith, Francis".
  • Andor Gomme (2000), Smith of Warwick. Francis Smith, Architect and Master-Builder

Notes edit

  1. ^ Quoted in Colvin 1995.
  2. ^ a b c Colvin 1995.
  3. ^ 'Newcastle-under-Lyme: Churches', A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 8 (1963), pp. 16–24. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53357. Date accessed: 10 April 2008.
  4. ^ Evans, Lise (26 October 2007). "Lisa Evans looks at the rebuilding of Warwick after the Great Fire of 1694". ICCoventry.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Midlands Limited. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  5. ^ From: 'Thame : Topography, m, anors and estates', A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 7: Dorchester and Thame hundreds (1962), pp. 160–178. URL: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63775. Date accessed: 10 April 2008.
  6. ^ From: 'The borough of Warwick: Economic and social history, 1545–1835', A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 8: The City of Coventry and Borough of Warwick (1969), pp. 504–514. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=16055. Date accessed: 10 April 2008.
  7. ^ John Newman, Nikolaus Pevsner, Shropshire (2006), p. 146.
  8. ^ Colvin H. A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840 Yale University Press, 3rd edition London, 1995, 93
  9. ^ . Archived from the original on 21 August 2008.
  10. ^ "Buntingsdale Hall". discovershropshire.org.uk.
  11. ^ Nikolaus Pevsner, Elizabeth Williamson, Derbyshire (1978), p. 119.
  12. ^ "Bridgeman Art Library – Image Search".
  13. ^ . Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  14. ^ "Brewood: Introduction, manors and agriculture | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk.
  15. ^ "Cottesbrooke Hall & Gardens Northamptonshire".
  16. ^ "Noble Northamptonshire". 30 September 2007.
  17. ^ Nikolaus Pevsner, Elizabeth Williamson, Derbyshire (1978), p. 168.
  18. ^ "Attractions, places to visit and things to do in Derby". derby-guide.co.uk.
  19. ^ Historic England. "Ditchley House including flanking pavilions (Grade I) (1251422)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Dudmaston Hall Shropshire".
  21. ^ Andor Gomme, Smith and Rossi, Architectural History, Vol. 35, (1992), pp. 183–191.
  22. ^ "Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens". AboutBritain.com.
  23. ^ . Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  24. ^ "Parishes: Kirtlington | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk.
  25. ^ "Lamport Hall :: Historic Houses Association". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Lamport Hall Northamptonshire".
  27. ^ Cadw. "Leeswood Hall (Grade II*) (567)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Family and Estate Collections introduction". University of Nottingham.
  29. ^ "Mawley Hall – occupier Rupert Galliers-Pratt".
  30. ^ "Melbourne Hall – You and Yesterday | You and Yesterday".
  31. ^ Nikolaus Pevsner, Alan Brooks, Worcestershire (2007), p. 508.
  32. ^ John Newman, Nikolaus Pevsner, Shropshire (2006), p. 54.
  33. ^ St Mary's Church, Monmouth 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ From: 'Burton-upon-Trent: Established church', A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 9: Burton-upon-Trent (2003), pp. 107–130. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=12339. Date accessed: 10 April 2008.
  35. ^ Gomme, Andor (2000). Francis Smith of Warwick. Warwick County Libraries: Tyas.
  36. ^ ""Restoration Home" Stanwick Hall (TV Episode 2011)". IMDb.
  37. ^ Joan Thirsk, Peter J. Bowden, Christopher Clay, M. W. Barley, John Chartres, Chapters from the Agrarian history of England and Wales, 1500–1750 (1989), p. 123.
  38. ^ "Parishes: Stoneleigh | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk.
  39. ^ . Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  40. ^ "Current Concerns". warwicksociety.org.uk.
  41. ^ . Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
francis, smith, warwick, 1672, 1738, english, master, builder, architect, much, involved, construction, country, houses, midland, counties, england, smith, warwick, refer, also, brothers, contents, architectural, work, family, craftsmen, buildings, designed, w. Francis Smith of Warwick 1672 1738 was an English master builder and architect much involved in the construction of country houses in the Midland counties of England Smith of Warwick may refer also to his brothers or his son Francis Smith of Warwick Contents 1 Architectural work 2 Family 3 Craftsmen 4 Buildings designed or worked on 5 References 6 Notes 7 External linksArchitectural work editThe county town of Warwick had been devastated by a fire in September 1694 and the projects involved in its rebuilding gave the Smith brothers their first prominence which they retained for decades by a universal reputation for scrupulous honesty and competence Howard Colvin plotting their known commissions on a map remarked that nearly all of them lay within a fifty mile radius of their mason s yard the Marble House in Warwick nbsp The Marble House Warwick The antiquary Daines Barrington noted in 1784 after viewing several Smith of Warwick houses found all of them convenient and handsome despite changes in taste 1 Colvin summarised the elements by which a Smith house is easily recognizable three storeys with the central three bays emphasized by a slight projection or recession uniform fenestration with exterior detail confined to keystones architraves quoins and a balustraded parapet which was the most significant modernisation of a formula derived in essence from the late seventeenth century model typified by Belton House In the plans there was invariably a hall backed by a saloon in the centre with a staircase set to one side In spite of some splendid effects achieved by plasterwork and joinery Colvin noted that the spatial effects are simple and unenterprising 2 Four exceptional houses did not conform to these conventions They were Kedleston demolished and replaced by the celebrated Robert Adam house Chicheley Hall with William Kent doubtless in part the design of its owner Sir John Chester and his virtuosi friends 2 Stoneleigh Abbey a somewhat inept attempt to use a giant order in the grand baroque manner Colvin and Sutton Scarsdale stripped of its interiors in the 1920s where Colvin comparing its assurance with Stoneleigh s gauche crowded windows and leggy pilasters suspected some intervention by James Gibbs Andor Gomme has identified several churches which had Francis Smith s architectural input of which four survive in use with Smith s contribution reasonably intact namely All Saints Gainsborough Lincs all except tower St Nicholas Alcester Warks nave All Saints Lamport Northants chancel and St Botolph s Sibson Leics The first two with their Corinthian and Doric columns respectively and plastered ceilings display Smith s adoption of the Palladian style as influenced by Gibbs Family editWilliam Smith of Warwick 1661 1724 master builder trained as a bricklayer was brother to Francis Smith 3 the brothers who often worked in partnership and with the third brother Richard were sons of a bricklayer and master builder Francis Smith of The Wergs near Tettenhall Staffordshire By the time of William s death in 1724 they had become the most prominent designers and builders of houses in the Midlands 2 Francis joined his brother William in the reconstruction of St Mary s Church Warwick but later oversaw the project of the new courthouse Francis served on the Town Corporation in the 1720s and was the head of maintenance during the 1730s until he died in 1738 4 William Smith of Warwick 1705 1747 was the next generation in the firm son of Francis 5 The business passed to William and David Hiorn 6 Craftsmen editHe was a major employer and some of his craftsmen were individually credited on a lead plaque formerly at Sutton Scarsdale Thomas Eborall joiner Joshua Needham plasterer Edward Poynton of Nottingham stone carver 7 John Wilkes door furniture Another craftsman and architect who worked under Smith was William Baker of Audlem who was employed as a carpenter by Smith at Ditchley in Oxfordshire in 1727 and later developed an extensive architectural practice in Shropshire and Staffordshire 8 A further architect and builder associated with the Smiths was Abraham Hayward who came from Whitchurch where Smith had built St Alkmund s Church The Smiths employed Hayward on the re building of St Peter at Arches Church Lincoln where Hayward was to stay and work as an architect Buildings designed or worked on edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Smith of Warwick nbsp Davenport House 2010 Acton Round Hall All Saints Church Gainsborough Lincolnshire Church of All Saints Lamport Northamptonshire Aston Hall Birmingham 1735 attributed 9 Buntingsdale Hall Shropshire c 1721 attributed to John Prince and Smith 10 Calke Abbey Derbyshire 1727 with James Gibbs 11 Chicheley Hall with William Kent 1719 1723 12 13 Chillington Hall Staffordshire 14 Cottesbrooke Hall attributed 15 16 Davenport House Worfield Shropshire c 1727 Derby Cathedral with James Gibbs 1723 1725 17 18 Ditchley Park Oxfordshire 19 Dudmaston Hall 1695 1701 20 Fawsley Hall Northamptonshire Hereford Cathedral Heythrop Hall 1707 1713 21 Kelmarsh Hall with James Gibbs 1732 22 23 Kemerton Court attributed Kirtlington House 24 Lamport Hall c 1732 25 26 Leeswood Hall Leeswood Flintshire 27 nbsp Locko Park Derbyshire Locko Park Derbyshire 1725 1730 28 Mason Croft Stratford upon Avon Warwickshire Mawley Hall Shropshire 1730 29 Melbourne Hall Derbyshire 30 Ombersley Court Worcestershire 31 Preston on the Weald Moors Hospital Shropshire 1720 1726 attributed 32 Shardeloes St Alkmund s Church Whitchurch Shropshire St Botolph s Church Sibson Leicestershire St Mary s Priory Church Monmouth 1732 33 St Modwen s Church Burton upon Trent 34 St Nicholas Church Alcester Warks 1729 35 St Peter at Arches Church Lincoln c1720 24 Stanford Hall Leicestershire Stanwick Hall Northamptonshire 36 Stoneleigh Abbey Warwickshire 1714 1728 37 38 Sutton Scarsdale House Derbyshire 39 Umberslade Hall 1695 1700 Warwick Court House 40 41 References editHoward Colvin A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600 1840 3rd ed Yale University Press 1995 s v Smith Francis Andor Gomme 2000 Smith of Warwick Francis Smith Architect and Master BuilderNotes edit Quoted in Colvin 1995 a b c Colvin 1995 Newcastle under Lyme Churches A History of the County of Stafford Volume 8 1963 pp 16 24 URL http www british history ac uk report aspx compid 53357 Date accessed 10 April 2008 Evans Lise 26 October 2007 Lisa Evans looks at the rebuilding of Warwick after the Great Fire of 1694 ICCoventry co uk Trinity Mirror Midlands Limited Retrieved 28 January 2010 From Thame Topography m anors and estates A History of the County of Oxford Volume 7 Dorchester and Thame hundreds 1962 pp 160 178 URL https www british history ac uk report aspx compid 63775 Date accessed 10 April 2008 From The borough of Warwick Economic and social history 1545 1835 A History of the County of Warwick Volume 8 The City of Coventry and Borough of Warwick 1969 pp 504 514 URL http www british history ac uk report aspx compid 16055 Date accessed 10 April 2008 John Newman Nikolaus Pevsner Shropshire 2006 p 146 Colvin H A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600 1840 Yale University Press 3rd edition London 1995 93 AOTLHG The Big Houses Archived from the original on 21 August 2008 Buntingsdale Hall discovershropshire org uk Nikolaus Pevsner Elizabeth Williamson Derbyshire 1978 p 119 Bridgeman Art Library Image Search MK Council Archaeology MKWeb Archived from the original on 29 October 2007 Retrieved 10 April 2008 Brewood Introduction manors and agriculture British History Online british history ac uk Cottesbrooke Hall amp Gardens Northamptonshire Noble Northamptonshire 30 September 2007 Nikolaus Pevsner Elizabeth Williamson Derbyshire 1978 p 168 Attractions places to visit and things to do in Derby derby guide co uk Historic England Ditchley House including flanking pavilions Grade I 1251422 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 28 November 2021 Dudmaston Hall Shropshire Andor Gomme Smith and Rossi Architectural History Vol 35 1992 pp 183 191 Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens AboutBritain com Kelmarsh Hall Kelmarsh Northampton NN6 9LY www statelyhomes com Archived from the original on 5 September 2008 Retrieved 10 April 2008 Parishes Kirtlington British History Online british history ac uk Lamport Hall Historic Houses Association Archived from the original on 2 August 2012 Retrieved 24 January 2021 Lamport Hall Northamptonshire Cadw Leeswood Hall Grade II 567 National Historic Assets of Wales Retrieved 16 June 2020 Family and Estate Collections introduction University of Nottingham Mawley Hall occupier Rupert Galliers Pratt Melbourne Hall You and Yesterday You and Yesterday Nikolaus Pevsner Alan Brooks Worcestershire 2007 p 508 John Newman Nikolaus Pevsner Shropshire 2006 p 54 St Mary s Church Monmouth Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine From Burton upon Trent Established church A History of the County of Stafford Volume 9 Burton upon Trent 2003 pp 107 130 URL http www british history ac uk report aspx compid 12339 Date accessed 10 April 2008 Gomme Andor 2000 Francis Smith of Warwick Warwick County Libraries Tyas Restoration Home Stanwick Hall TV Episode 2011 IMDb Joan Thirsk Peter J Bowden Christopher Clay M W Barley John Chartres Chapters from the Agrarian history of England and Wales 1500 1750 1989 p 123 Parishes Stoneleigh British History Online british history ac uk McCrea Kenneth D Archived from the original on 6 June 2011 Retrieved 10 April 2008 Current Concerns warwicksociety org uk The Wolley Manuscripts Derbyshire Documents and Deeds Archived from the original on 28 August 2008 Retrieved 10 April 2008 External links editPosthumous bust by Michael Rysbrack 1741 from the Radcliffe Camera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Smith of Warwick amp oldid 1221298155, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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