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John Thomas Micklethwaite

April 12, 2024

John Thomas Micklethwaite (3 May 1843 – 28 October 1906) was an English architect and archaeologist. He had a long association with Westminster Abbey, and was noted for his criticisms of the current practices of church restoration.[1]

Biography edit

He was born at Rishworth House, Bond Street, Wakefield, Yorkshire (which stood on the site of what is now County Hall, Wakefield) to James Micklethwaite of Hopton, Mirfield, a worsted spinner and colliery owner, and his wife, Sarah Eliza Stanway of Manchester. He grew up in the Micklethwaite family’s ancestral home at Hopton Hall and was educated in Tadcaster and Wakefield. After moving to London where he attended King’s College, he was apprenticed, in 1862, to George Gilbert Scott, commencing independent practice in London in 1869.[1]

By 1876 Micklethwaite had entered partnership with Somers Clarke, his lifelong friend and fellow pupil of Scott. His work as an architect consisted mainly of small-scale ecclesiastical commissions. He also designed furnishings for many churches, and throughout his career devoted himself to archaeological studies and wrote widely about church archaeology, architecture, sculpture and ornament.[1]

He was greatly concerned with issues of preservation and restoration of ancient buildings, especially churches. In 1881 he wrote a paper On The Treatment Of Ancient Architectural Remains in which he argued that the "restoration" practices of the last generation had been "...more destructive than the axe of the Puritan, or the century and a half of churchwardenism which came after it" (p. 353). He dismissed the idea that a church belongs to a particular period, arguing that all churches have long histories, and each generation has left its mark. He was particularly critical of restorations where the new work could not be distinguished from the old, leading to a complete loss of the historical significance of the building. When repairing Winchelsea Church in Sussex, some stonework had to be replaced. The new stones were dated, to avoid confusing future generations.[2]

 
St Mary Magdalene, East Ham

In 1891, Micklethwaite prepared a report on St Mary Magdalene's Church, East Ham. This church, largely of the 12th-Century, was in poor repair and threatened with demolition. The report showed that the church could be repaired, and it was, between 1891-6.[3][4]

He was one of the founders of the Alcuin Club, the Henry Bradshaw Society, and the St Paul's Ecclesiological Society. He was a member of the Art Workers' Guild to which he was elected Master in 1893,[5] and took a leading part in the affairs of the Archaeological Institute and of the Society of Antiquaries.

 
Ground Plan and Longitudinal Section of Westminster Abbey, drawn in 1893

Micklethwaite had a long association with Westminster Abbey, and published a number of articles describing various parts of the Abbey complex. Following the first of these, in 1870, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. From 1898 until his death in 1906, aged 63, Micklethwaite served as Surveyor of the Fabric of the Abbey, where he is buried in the West Cloister. The Dean wrote: "Yesterday (October 31, 1906) we laid in the cloisters an eager, reverent, skilful worker. John Thomas Micklethwaite studied this Abbey during the main part of his life. He gave his whole heart to this place, and jealously guarded every fragment that could tell of its long history".[1]

Notable works edit

 
St Hilda's Church, Cross Green, Leeds

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Niven, W. (1907). "The Late John Thomas Micklethwaite, F.S.A". Archaeological Journal. 64: 58–62. doi:10.1080/00665983.1907.10853063.
  2. ^ Kirkman, Samuel M. (1908). "Winchelsea Church, Sussex". The Antiquary. 44: 292–294.
  3. ^ Powell, W. R., ed. (1973). "East Ham: Churches". A History of the County of Essex: Volume 6. London. pp. 25–31. Retrieved 15 July 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Cherry, Bridget; O'Brien, Charles; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2005). The Buildings of England: London 5: East. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 269. ISBN 978030010701-2.
  5. ^ British Sculpture 1850-1914: Catalogue of a Loan Exhibition of Sculpture and Medals Sponsored by the Victorian Society, 30th September-30th October 1968. 1968. p. 29.
  6. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Ratcliffe, Enid (1967). The Buildings of England: Yorkshire the West Riding. Harmondsworth: Penguin. p. 324. ISBN 0140710175.
  7. ^ "St. Leonard's Home page". from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  8. ^ Denby, Elaine (1998). Grand Hotels: Reality & Illusion; An Architectural and Social History. Reaktion Books. p. 183. ISBN 978-1861891211.
  9. ^ Bettley, James; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2015). The Buildings of England: Suffolk: East. Yale University Press. pp. 446–449. ISBN 978-0-300-19654-2.
  10. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1968). The Buildings of England: Bedfordshire. Harmondsworth: Penguin. p. 116.
  11. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Harris, John; Antran, Nicholas (1995). The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (2 ed.). London: Penguin. p. 566. ISBN 0140710272.
  12. ^ Sherwood, Jennifer; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1974). The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire. Harmondsworth: Penguin. p. 228.
  13. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Radcliffe, Enid (1965). The Buildings of England: Essex (2 ed.). London: Penguin. p. 91. ISBN 0140710116.
  14. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). The Buildings of England: Shropshire. Harmondsworth: Penguin. p. 191.
  15. ^ Jenkins, Simon (1999). England's Thousand Best Churches. London: Penguin. pp. 577–578. ISBN 0140297952.

Selected publications edit

  • Micklethwaite, John Thomas (1872). "The Shrine of St. Alban". Archaeological Journal. 29: 201–211. doi:10.1080/00665983.1872.10851555.
  • —— (1873). "Description of the Chapel of Saint Erasmus in Westminster Abbey". Archaeologia. 44: 93–99. doi:10.1017/S0261340900006640.
  • —— (1874). Modern Parish Churches: Their Plan, Design, and Furniture. London: Henry S. King.
  • —— (1876). "Notes on the Abbey buildings of Westminster". Archaeological Journal. 33: 15–48. doi:10.1080/00665983.1876.10851715.
  • —— (1878). "Parish churches in the year 1548". Archaeological Journal. 35: 372–396. doi:10.1080/00665983.1878.10851837.
  • —— (1889). "Description of the Paintings in the Church of Kempley, near Ross". Archaeologia. 46: 187–194. doi:10.1017/S0261340900006093.
  • —— (1881). "On The Treatment Of Ancient Architectural Remains". Archaeological Journal. 38: 352–360. doi:10.1080/00665983.1881.10851993.
  • —— (1881). "The Ancient and The Modern way of Building Parish Churches compared". Reports and Papers of the Architectural and Archaeological Societies of the Counties of Lincoln and Northampton. 16: 144–150.
  • —— (1882). "On the Crypts at Hexham and Ripon". Archaeological Journal. 39: 347–354. doi:10.1080/00665983.1882.10852041.
  • —— (1883). "Opening Address Of The Section Of Architecture at The Lewes Meeting". Archaeological Journal. 40: 368–376. doi:10.1080/00665983.1883.10852095.
  • —— (1883). "Notes on the Imagery of Henry the Seventh's Chapel, Westminster". Archaeologia. 47 (2): 361–380. doi:10.1017/S0261340900004963.
  • —— (1888). "On Pigeon Houses in Churches". Archaeological Journal. 45: 374–378. doi:10.1080/00665983.1888.10852326.
  • —— (1892). "On the indoor games of school boys in the Middle Ages". Archaeological Journal. 49: 319–328. doi:10.1080/00665983.1892.10852528.
  • —— (1892). "On a Filtering Cistern of the Fourteenth Century at Westminster Abbey". Archaeologia. 53: 161–170. doi:10.1017/S0261340900011267.
  • —— (1894). "Further Notes on the Abbey Buildings at Westminster". Archaeological Journal. 51: 1–27. doi:10.1080/00665983.1894.10852610.
  • —— (1896). "Something about Saxon church building". Archaeological Journal. 53: 293–351. doi:10.1080/00665983.1896.10852716.
  • —— (1898). "Some Further Notes on Saxon Churches: Being the Address at the Opening of the Architectural Section of the Lancaster Meeting". Archaeological Journal. 55: 340–349. doi:10.1080/00665983.1898.10852777.
  • —— (1900). The Cistercian order. Yorkshire Archaeological Society.
  • Feasey, H.J.; Micklethwaite, J.T.; Bell, E. (1899). Westminster Abbey Historically Described. G. Bell & sons.
  • Poole, R.S.; Richmond, W.B.; Micklethwaite, J.T.; Morris, W. (1882). Lectures on Art. Macmillan and Company.

Sources edit

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1912). "Micklethwaite, John Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.

External links edit

  • "Micklethwaite, J.T." London Churches in Pictures. Retrieved 15 July 2021.

April 12, 2024
john, thomas, micklethwaite, 1843, october, 1906, english, architect, archaeologist, long, association, with, westminster, abbey, noted, criticisms, current, practices, church, restoration, contents, biography, notable, works, references, selected, publication. John Thomas Micklethwaite 3 May 1843 28 October 1906 was an English architect and archaeologist He had a long association with Westminster Abbey and was noted for his criticisms of the current practices of church restoration 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Notable works 3 References 4 Selected publications 5 Sources 6 External linksBiography editHe was born at Rishworth House Bond Street Wakefield Yorkshire which stood on the site of what is now County Hall Wakefield to James Micklethwaite of Hopton Mirfield a worsted spinner and colliery owner and his wife Sarah Eliza Stanway of Manchester He grew up in the Micklethwaite family s ancestral home at Hopton Hall and was educated in Tadcaster and Wakefield After moving to London where he attended King s College he was apprenticed in 1862 to George Gilbert Scott commencing independent practice in London in 1869 1 By 1876 Micklethwaite had entered partnership with Somers Clarke his lifelong friend and fellow pupil of Scott His work as an architect consisted mainly of small scale ecclesiastical commissions He also designed furnishings for many churches and throughout his career devoted himself to archaeological studies and wrote widely about church archaeology architecture sculpture and ornament 1 He was greatly concerned with issues of preservation and restoration of ancient buildings especially churches In 1881 he wrote a paper On The Treatment Of Ancient Architectural Remains in which he argued that the restoration practices of the last generation had been more destructive than the axe of the Puritan or the century and a half of churchwardenism which came after it p 353 He dismissed the idea that a church belongs to a particular period arguing that all churches have long histories and each generation has left its mark He was particularly critical of restorations where the new work could not be distinguished from the old leading to a complete loss of the historical significance of the building When repairing Winchelsea Church in Sussex some stonework had to be replaced The new stones were dated to avoid confusing future generations 2 nbsp St Mary Magdalene East HamIn 1891 Micklethwaite prepared a report on St Mary Magdalene s Church East Ham This church largely of the 12th Century was in poor repair and threatened with demolition The report showed that the church could be repaired and it was between 1891 6 3 4 He was one of the founders of the Alcuin Club the Henry Bradshaw Society and the St Paul s Ecclesiological Society He was a member of the Art Workers Guild to which he was elected Master in 1893 5 and took a leading part in the affairs of the Archaeological Institute and of the Society of Antiquaries nbsp Ground Plan and Longitudinal Section of Westminster Abbey drawn in 1893Micklethwaite had a long association with Westminster Abbey and published a number of articles describing various parts of the Abbey complex Following the first of these in 1870 he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries From 1898 until his death in 1906 aged 63 Micklethwaite served as Surveyor of the Fabric of the Abbey where he is buried in the West Cloister The Dean wrote Yesterday October 31 1906 we laid in the cloisters an eager reverent skilful worker John Thomas Micklethwaite studied this Abbey during the main part of his life He gave his whole heart to this place and jealously guarded every fragment that could tell of its long history 1 Notable works edit nbsp St Hilda s Church Cross Green Leeds1876 81 St Hilda Cross Green Leeds 6 1884 1894 St Leonard s Church Bengeo 7 1891 with Somers Clarke Reid s New Hotel Funchal Madeira 8 1894 1900 St Bartholomew s Church Orford reconstruction 9 1897 1905 St Saviour Luton 10 1891 St Paul Morton re building except tower 11 1892 Keble College Oxford Side chapel to house The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt 12 1897 St Peter Bocking Essex 13 1907 St Michael Lydbury North Shropshire restoration 14 15 References edit a b c d Niven W 1907 The Late John Thomas Micklethwaite F S A Archaeological Journal 64 58 62 doi 10 1080 00665983 1907 10853063 Kirkman Samuel M 1908 Winchelsea Church Sussex The Antiquary 44 292 294 Powell W R ed 1973 East Ham Churches A History of the County of Essex Volume 6 London pp 25 31 Retrieved 15 July 2021 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Cherry Bridget O Brien Charles Pevsner Nikolaus 2005 The Buildings of England London 5 East New Haven CT Yale University Press p 269 ISBN 978030010701 2 British Sculpture 1850 1914 Catalogue of a Loan Exhibition of Sculpture and Medals Sponsored by the Victorian Society 30th September 30th October 1968 1968 p 29 Pevsner Nikolaus Ratcliffe Enid 1967 The Buildings of England Yorkshire the West Riding Harmondsworth Penguin p 324 ISBN 0140710175 St Leonard s Home page Archived from the original on 4 July 2021 Retrieved 4 July 2021 Denby Elaine 1998 Grand Hotels Reality amp Illusion An Architectural and Social History Reaktion Books p 183 ISBN 978 1861891211 Bettley James Pevsner Nikolaus 2015 The Buildings of England Suffolk East Yale University Press pp 446 449 ISBN 978 0 300 19654 2 Pevsner Nikolaus 1968 The Buildings of England Bedfordshire Harmondsworth Penguin p 116 Pevsner Nikolaus Harris John Antran Nicholas 1995 The Buildings of England Lincolnshire 2 ed London Penguin p 566 ISBN 0140710272 Sherwood Jennifer Pevsner Nikolaus 1974 The Buildings of England Oxfordshire Harmondsworth Penguin p 228 Pevsner Nikolaus Radcliffe Enid 1965 The Buildings of England Essex 2 ed London Penguin p 91 ISBN 0140710116 Pevsner Nikolaus 1958 The Buildings of England Shropshire Harmondsworth Penguin p 191 Jenkins Simon 1999 England s Thousand Best Churches London Penguin pp 577 578 ISBN 0140297952 Selected publications editMicklethwaite John Thomas 1872 The Shrine of St Alban Archaeological Journal 29 201 211 doi 10 1080 00665983 1872 10851555 1873 Description of the Chapel of Saint Erasmus in Westminster Abbey Archaeologia 44 93 99 doi 10 1017 S0261340900006640 1874 Modern Parish Churches Their Plan Design and Furniture London Henry S King 1876 Notes on the Abbey buildings of Westminster Archaeological Journal 33 15 48 doi 10 1080 00665983 1876 10851715 1878 Parish churches in the year 1548 Archaeological Journal 35 372 396 doi 10 1080 00665983 1878 10851837 1889 Description of the Paintings in the Church of Kempley near Ross Archaeologia 46 187 194 doi 10 1017 S0261340900006093 1881 On The Treatment Of Ancient Architectural Remains Archaeological Journal 38 352 360 doi 10 1080 00665983 1881 10851993 1881 The Ancient and The Modern way of Building Parish Churches compared Reports and Papers of the Architectural and Archaeological Societies of the Counties of Lincoln and Northampton 16 144 150 1882 On the Crypts at Hexham and Ripon Archaeological Journal 39 347 354 doi 10 1080 00665983 1882 10852041 1883 Opening Address Of The Section Of Architecture at The Lewes Meeting Archaeological Journal 40 368 376 doi 10 1080 00665983 1883 10852095 1883 Notes on the Imagery of Henry the Seventh s Chapel Westminster Archaeologia 47 2 361 380 doi 10 1017 S0261340900004963 1888 On Pigeon Houses in Churches Archaeological Journal 45 374 378 doi 10 1080 00665983 1888 10852326 1892 On the indoor games of school boys in the Middle Ages Archaeological Journal 49 319 328 doi 10 1080 00665983 1892 10852528 1892 On a Filtering Cistern of the Fourteenth Century at Westminster Abbey Archaeologia 53 161 170 doi 10 1017 S0261340900011267 1894 Further Notes on the Abbey Buildings at Westminster Archaeological Journal 51 1 27 doi 10 1080 00665983 1894 10852610 1896 Something about Saxon church building Archaeological Journal 53 293 351 doi 10 1080 00665983 1896 10852716 1898 Some Further Notes on Saxon Churches Being the Address at the Opening of the Architectural Section of the Lancaster Meeting Archaeological Journal 55 340 349 doi 10 1080 00665983 1898 10852777 1900 The Cistercian order Yorkshire Archaeological Society Feasey H J Micklethwaite J T Bell E 1899 Westminster Abbey Historically Described G Bell amp sons Poole R S Richmond W B Micklethwaite J T Morris W 1882 Lectures on Art Macmillan and Company Sources edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1912 Micklethwaite John Thomas Dictionary of National Biography 2nd supplement London Smith Elder amp Co External links edit Micklethwaite J T London Churches in Pictures Retrieved 15 July 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Thomas Micklethwaite amp oldid 1180585879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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