John Douglas (1830–1911) was an English architect based in Chester, Cheshire. His designs included new churches, alterations to and restoration of existing churches, church furnishings, new houses and alterations to existing houses, and a variety of other buildings, including shops, banks, offices, schools, memorials and public buildings.[1] His architectural styles were eclectic, but as he worked during the period of the Gothic Revival, much of his work incorporates elements of the English Gothic style.[2] Douglas is probably best remembered for his incorporation of vernacular elements in his buildings, especially half-timbering.[3] Of particular importance is Douglas' use of joinery and highly detailed wood carving.[4]
Douglas was born in the Cheshire village of Sandiway and was articled to the Lancaster architect E. G. Paley, later becoming his chief assistant. He established an office in Chester in either 1855 or 1860, from where he practised throughout his career.[1][5] Initially he ran the office himself but in 1884 he appointed his assistant, Daniel Porter Fordham, as a partner. When Fordham retired in 1897, he was succeeded by Charles Howard Minshull. In 1909 this partnership was dissolved and Douglas ran the office alone until his death in 1911.[6] As his office was in Chester, most of his work on houses was in Cheshire and North Wales, although some was further afield, in Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire, Surrey, and Scotland.[7]
Douglas' new houses embrace a range of sizes and types, and include substantial country houses, such as Oakmere Hall and Abbeystead House; cottages, such as the pair known as Tai Cochion; workers' houses, such as those in Port Sunlight; and terraces of houses built for speculation, including 6–11 Grosvenor Park Road and 1–11 and 13 Bath Street in Chester. Work carried out on grand houses included additions to Vale Royal Abbey and Hawarden Castle. Works associated with houses include entrance gates for Mostyn Hall and a set of kennels at Croxteth Hall. Many of Douglas' new houses have been designated as listed buildings. Listed buildings are divided into three grades according to their importance.[8] This list consists of work carried out by Douglas in designing new houses, additions and modifications to pre-existing houses, and structures related to houses such as kennels and gates. The details have been taken mainly from the Catalogue of Works in the biography by Edward Hubbard.[7] Not all structures in these categories are included. If a building is listed, it has been included. Some unlisted buildings have been included because they are of interest, or they demonstrate that Douglas worked in areas at a distance away from his office in Chester. The works excluded are, on the whole, small houses, cottages and outbuildings. Works attributed to Douglas by Hubbard on stylistic grounds together with evidence of a local association, even though they are not confirmed by other reliable evidence, are included.[9] Where this is the case, it is stated in the Notes column. Unexecuted schemes are not included.
Alterations were made to the house for the 2nd Baron Delamere: in 1860 the centre of the south range, which had previously been timber-framed, was encased in brick; the following year Douglas added the southwest wing; and in 1877 the library was remodelled.[12][13]
Reconstruction for John Scott Bankes; the 18th-century house, which had been remodelled in the 1820s by Charles Barry, was encased in brick, the façade was reconstructed, a porch added to the south front and, in 1872, a game larder was built.[29][30]
Douglas built the houses for himself and lived in No. 33; No. 31 was probably planned as an investment. Their style is Gothic Revival—they are built in brick with polychromicdiapering.[32][33]
The vicarage incorporated earlier parts of a building on the site of an abbess' lodging. It has an irregular E-plan, and is built in brick and timber framing.[40]
Originally named Shotwick Park, this is a large brick house with turrets and steeply hipped roofs built for H. D. Trelawny. After a fire in 1907 it was enlarged and rebuilt for Thorneycroft Vernon.[49][50]
The farmhouse was part of a model farm for Septimus Ledward; it was built in stone with a half-timbered upper storey.[57][58] Outbuildings for the farm were also designed by Douglas.[59]
This house was built in three ranges at right angles to each other in brick with some stone and half-timbering for Hons. Georgina and Henrietta Kenyon. It includes a tower with a pyramidal roof and a turret incorporating a dovecote.[62][63]
The original building consisted of a house, stables and a cottage constructed as a residence for the secretary of the 1st Duke of Westminster. Alterations and additions were made to it in the 1890s.[36][96]
The Paddocks (or Eccleston Paddocks) was built for Cecil Parker, the land agent of the 1st Duke of Westminster; its service wing was demolished in 1960. The house has a sandstone lower storey with brick above, two circular turrets, steep hipped roofs and a massive chimney.[36][99]
This was the re-building of an earlier house on the site for Rev. R. H. Howard. It is in Jacobethan style, built in red brick with stone dressings; it has an L-plan with a pyramid-roofed tower.[101][102]
Work on rebuilding the hall was commissioned by Richard Muspratt but ceased on his death and was not completed. It is now used as a venue for weddings and for dining.[106][107][108]
Additions were made to the house for W. E. Gladstone. An octagonal strongroom for storing papers was built, followed by a porch to celebrate the Gladstones' golden wedding.[125][126]
This was a block of 30 flats built for the 1st Duke of Westminster and named after his nephew and land agent, Cecil Parker. The flats were to provide accommodation for retired workers from the Duke's estate at Eaton Hall.[80][128]
This was the largest of Douglas' houses in which half-timbering was used on an extensive scale; it is entirely black-and-white above the ground storey. The house was built for J. E. Greaves.[138]
Douglas was one of the architects who designed a number of domestic buildings in a variety of styles in the model village of Port Sunlight for the Lever Brothers.[139][140]
Brocksford Hall was a major country house in Jacobethan style designed for C. W. Jervis Smith. It was the last house designed by Douglas on such a great scale. It was later used as an independent school and has now been converted into apartments.[142][143][144][145]
This consists of a new house built for John Eden, and the re-modelling of earlier building to form stables. The house is a simple stone-built villa with gabled cross wings. It is now owned by the North Wales Police Authority.[146][147]
Alterations and additions were made to the house and stables were added for the 1st Duke of Westminster. It is now used by Abbey Gate College.[157][158]
Walmoor Hill is a sandstone house that Douglas built for himself. It has a T-shaped plan and is in Elizabethan style. Since Douglas' death it has been used as a girls' school and as the County Fire Headquarters.[33][160]
This house was built for Mrs Perris-Williams. It is a stone house with a slate roof in two storeys plus a cellar. An extension was added in the 20th century.[169][170]
Douglas sold the land to B. J. Sanby and the large house built on the site is attributed to him. Its name was changed to Redwalls and was used as a children's home.[178] In 2010 it is being used as a nursing home.[179]
Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2004), Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East, The Buildings of England, New Haven: Yale University Press, ISBN0-300-10583-5
Pollard, Richard; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2006), The Buildings of England: Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West, New Haven & London: Yale University Press, ISBN0-300-10910-5
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
