Stiff Leadbetter (c.1705–18 August 1766) was a British architect and builder, one of the most successful architect–builders of the 1750s and 1760s, working for many leading aristocratic families.[1]
Nuneham House, Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire. Designed by Leadbetter, 1757.
Leadbetter's career began when he was apprenticed as a carpenter in 1719, and he worked for the next decade or so as a journeyman carpenter. By 1731 he had settled in Eton, marrying Elizabeth Hill (born c.1709), daughter of a London timber merchant; and he worked as carpenter to Eton College from 1740. Leadbetter leased Eton College Wharf as his principal home and workshop from 1744. He was employed as a builder in his own right by the 1740s, and in the following two decades he worked both as a designer but primarily as a builder of many new country houses, hospitals and speculative urban development. In 1756 Leadbetter was appointed as Surveyor of the Fabric of St Paul's Cathedral, and through this position also gained many ecclesiastical commissions.
Many of his buildings were built within a close distance of Eton. As a builder he carried out the designs of other architects, notably Robert Adam and James Stuart.
Leadbetter's patron was Francis Godolphin, second earl of Godolphin, and through him, Leadbetter was introduced to and employed by the dukes of Portland, Marlborough, and Bedford, the countesses of Essex and Pomfret, Lord Foley, Admiral Boscawen, Sir John Elwill, and others.
Elvills, Englefield Green, Surrey. Designed by Leadbetter, 1758–63.
Leadbetter's work has been both praised and slightly damned by critics. Giles Worsley, who has written several articles about Leadbetter, stated
He was an innovative and possibly influential planner at a time when the design of the British country house was undergoing rapid change. His country houses, though plain in their interior and external detail, are imaginative, varied, and above all practical in their planning. Although he was not a leader in stylistic development, Elvills, Surrey (1758–63), was the first completely new house of the Georgian Gothic revival.[1]
Less generous praise comes from other quarters, sometimes emphasising his earlier trade as a carpenter and ignoring his work as an architect: "a minor provincial carpenter and builder",[5] "a second generation Palladian whose works lacked flair",[3] a "competent but dull architect"[6] and "a thorough but uninspired architect".[7]
Leadbetter does not warrant an individual entry in Colvin's dictionary of British architects, but is described in another architect's entry as "the master carpenter employed to carry out Robert Adam's designs" (at Syon House, 1763-5).[8]
Personal life
Leadbetter and his wife Elizabeth had five children in their short marriage, before Elizabeth died in 1737. Four of Leadbetter's children died before him.
^ abcWorsley, Giles (2004). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; entry for Stiff Leadbetter. OUP.
^Robert Chitham, Calder Loth (2005). The Classical Orders of Architecture. Elsevier. p. 119.
^ abPlaczek, Adolf K. (1982). Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects. Free Press. p. 625.
^Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). North Somerset and Bristol (The Buildings of England Series). Penguin Books. p. 234.
^ abWood, Martin (2005). Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style. Frances Lincoln Ltd. pp. 85 and 190.
^Harriet Richardson, Ian H. Goodall (1998). English Hospitals 1660–1948: A Survey of Their Architecture and Design. Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England). p. 23.
^May Woods, Arete Swartz Warren (1988). Glass Houses: A History of Greenhouses, Orangeries and Conservatories. Rizzoli. p. 70.
^ abColvin, Howard (2008). A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600–1840: Fourth Edition. Yale University Press. p. 118.
^. The DiCamillo Companion. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2008..
^. The National Trust. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
^Historic England. "LANGLEY PARK INCLUDING QUADRANT WALLS, CORNER TOWERS, PAVILIONS AND ORANGERY, WEXHAM, SOUTH BUCKS, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (1125028)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
^. Buckinghamshire County Council. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
^"Shardeloes". Amersham town website. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
^"The Cliveden Album II: Nineteenth Century and Miscellaneous Drawings". Architectural History. 46: 65–116. 2003.
Bibliography
D. B. W., 1940, "Stiff Leadbetter" Notes and Queries 178: 354–355
Worsley, Giles, 2004, "Leadbetter, Stiff (c.1705–1766)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB) Oxford University Press
Worsley, Giles, 1991, "Stiff but not dull" Country Life 25 July 1991
External links
Langley Park
January 31, 2023
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Stiff Leadbetter c 1705 18 August 1766 was a British architect and builder one of the most successful architect builders of the 1750s and 1760s working for many leading aristocratic families 1 Contents 1 Career 2 Appraisal 3 Personal life 4 Projects incomplete list 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksCareer Edit Nuneham House Nuneham Courtenay Oxfordshire Designed by Leadbetter 1757 Leadbetter s career began when he was apprenticed as a carpenter in 1719 and he worked for the next decade or so as a journeyman carpenter By 1731 he had settled in Eton marrying Elizabeth Hill born c 1709 daughter of a London timber merchant and he worked as carpenter to Eton College from 1740 Leadbetter leased Eton College Wharf as his principal home and workshop from 1744 He was employed as a builder in his own right by the 1740s and in the following two decades he worked both as a designer but primarily as a builder of many new country houses hospitals and speculative urban development In 1756 Leadbetter was appointed as Surveyor of the Fabric of St Paul s Cathedral and through this position also gained many ecclesiastical commissions Many of his buildings were built within a close distance of Eton As a builder he carried out the designs of other architects notably Robert Adam and James Stuart Leadbetter s patron was Francis Godolphin second earl of Godolphin and through him Leadbetter was introduced to and employed by the dukes of Portland Marlborough and Bedford the countesses of Essex and Pomfret Lord Foley Admiral Boscawen Sir John Elwill and others John Hawks the architect of Tryon Palace the official residence of the governor of North Carolina United States trained under Leadbetter 2 Appraisal Edit Elvills Englefield Green Surrey Designed by Leadbetter 1758 63 Leadbetter s work has been both praised and slightly damned by critics Giles Worsley who has written several articles about Leadbetter stated He was an innovative and possibly influential planner at a time when the design of the British country house was undergoing rapid change His country houses though plain in their interior and external detail are imaginative varied and above all practical in their planning Although he was not a leader in stylistic development Elvills Surrey 1758 63 was the first completely new house of the Georgian Gothic revival 1 Langley Park Nuneham House and Newton Park have been singled out as his best houses 3 with Newton Park described by Nikolaus Pevsner as one of the finest country mansions of the 18th century in Somerset 4 Less generous praise comes from other quarters sometimes emphasising his earlier trade as a carpenter and ignoring his work as an architect a minor provincial carpenter and builder 5 a second generation Palladian whose works lacked flair 3 a competent but dull architect 6 and a thorough but uninspired architect 7 Leadbetter does not warrant an individual entry in Colvin s dictionary of British architects but is described in another architect s entry as the master carpenter employed to carry out Robert Adam s designs at Syon House 1763 5 8 Personal life EditLeadbetter and his wife Elizabeth had five children in their short marriage before Elizabeth died in 1737 Four of Leadbetter s children died before him Projects incomplete list EditBulstrode Park Gerrards Cross Buckinghamshire 1740s for William Bentinck 2nd Duke of Portland original house dating from 1676 85 altered significantly by Leadbetter later demolished in 1860 and replaced by present day building 9 Ditchley Charlbury Oxfordshire 1763 Ionic rotunda in the grounds for Robert Lee 4th Earl of Lichfield 5 Elvills now Castle Hill Englefield Green Surrey 1758 63 for Sir John Elwill 4th Baronet 1 Fulham Palace 1764 6 East Court rebuilt in Gothick style for Bishop Terrick 10 Hatchlands Park East Clandon Surrey 1756 7 for Admiral Boscawen 11 12 Langley Park Wexham Buckinghamshire 1755 8 for Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough 13 14 Newton Park Newton St Loe Somerset 1762 5 for Joseph Langton 15 Nuneham House Nuneham Courtenay Oxfordshire 1757 for Simon Harcourt 1st Earl Harcourt 16 Radcliffe Infirmary Oxford 1759 70 for the Radcliffe Trustees benefaction of Dr John Radcliffe 17 Shardeloes Amersham Buckinghamshire 1758 66 for William Drake 18 19 Syon House Hounslow 1763 5 for Hugh Percy 1st Duke of Northumberland 8 Taplow Court Taplow Buckinghamshire about 1743 for Murrough O Brien 1st Marquess of Thomond 5th Earl of Inchiquin 20 References Edit a b c Worsley Giles 2004 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry for Stiff Leadbetter OUP Robert Chitham Calder Loth 2005 The Classical Orders of Architecture Elsevier p 119 a b Placzek Adolf K 1982 Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects Free Press p 625 Pevsner Nikolaus 1958 North Somerset and Bristol The Buildings of England Series Penguin Books p 234 a b Wood Martin 2005 Nancy Lancaster English Country House Style Frances Lincoln Ltd pp 85 and 190 Harriet Richardson Ian H Goodall 1998 English Hospitals 1660 1948 A Survey of Their Architecture and Design Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England p 23 May Woods Arete Swartz Warren 1988 Glass Houses A History of Greenhouses Orangeries and Conservatories Rizzoli p 70 a b Colvin Howard 2008 A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600 1840 Fourth Edition Yale University Press p 118 Bulstrode Park Buckinghamshire England The DiCamillo Companion Archived from the original on 19 May 2011 Retrieved 3 October 2008 Historic England WEST COURT AND EAST COURT FULHAM PALACE SW6 FULHAM HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM GREATER LONDON 1286903 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 3 October 2008 Historic England HATCHLANDS THE STREET EAST CLANDON GUILDFORD SURREY 1294970 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 3 October 2008 History of Hatchlands Park The National Trust Archived from the original on 8 July 2008 Retrieved 3 October 2008 Historic England LANGLEY PARK INCLUDING QUADRANT WALLS CORNER TOWERS PAVILIONS AND ORANGERY WEXHAM SOUTH BUCKS BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1125028 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 3 October 2008 Langley Park Project Detailed History Buckinghamshire County Council Archived from the original on 10 February 2012 Retrieved 3 October 2008 Historic England NEWTON PARK THE COUNTRY HOUSE OF THE COLLEGE ONLY NEWTON ST LOE BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET SOMERSET 1312838 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 3 October 2008 Historic England NUNEHAM PARK NUNEHAM COURTENAY SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE 1286179 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 3 October 2008 Historic England THE RADCLIFFE INFIRMARY MAIN BLOCK WOODSTOCK ROAD west side OXFORD OXFORD OXFORDSHIRE 1047066 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 3 October 2008 Historic England SHARDELOES WENDOVER ROAD A413 south side AMERSHAM CHILTERN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1238040 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 3 October 2008 Shardeloes Amersham town website Retrieved 3 October 2008 The Cliveden Album II Nineteenth Century and Miscellaneous Drawings Architectural History 46 65 116 2003 Bibliography EditD B W 1940 Stiff Leadbetter Notes and Queries 178 354 355 Worsley Giles 2004 Leadbetter Stiff c 1705 1766 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography ODNB Oxford University Press Worsley Giles 1991 Stiff but not dull Country Life 25 July 1991External links EditLangley Park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stiff Leadbetter amp oldid 1063934685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
