List of non-ecclesiastical works by Thomas Rickman

Thomas Rickman (1776–1841) was a self-taught English architect who practised in Liverpool and Birmingham. His major output consisted of new churches, most of which were in Gothic Revival style. He also restored and made additions and alterations to churches, and worked on other designs, including country houses, public buildings, schools, and banks.[1]

New Court, St John's College, Cambridge

Rickman was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire. He trained in medicine and practised in Lewes, Sussex, from 1801 to 1803, but did not continue in this career, working in London with a corn factor, and then moving to Liverpool in 1808 to work as an insurance clerk. During this time he had begun to take an interest in Gothic architecture. While in Liverpool he met John Cragg, the owner of an iron foundry, and with him designed three churches. using cast iron for both their construction and decoration. He then worked with John Slater in the redesign of Scarisbrick Hall. In 1817 he opened an architectural office in Liverpool, and the following year he was joined by Henry Hutchinson, initially as a pupil, and from 1821 as a partner. Meanwhile, in 1817 he published the first edition of An Attempt to Discriminate the Styles of English Architecture.[1] In this he divided English architecture into styles that have continued to be accepted since, namely Norman, Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular.[2]

Rickman then became involved with the Church Commissioners, designing, with others, a series of churches that have become to be known as Commissioners' churches, the first of his being St George's Church in Birmingham. He opened an office in that city in 1820, and moved there with Hutchinson the following year, where he spent the rest of his career. At about this time he was appointed as architect to Worcester Cathedral, and shortly after this he started work with Hutchinson on what was to become his major commission, New Court at St John's College, Cambridge. In 1830 he was elected to the Society of Antiquaries of London, thus acknowledging his acceptance into the profession. Hutchinson died in 1831, and during that year R. C. Hussey joined the practice, becoming a partner in 1835. Rickman died from liver disease in 1841.[1]

This list includes details of works on non-ecclesiastical buildings by Thomas Rickman.

Grade Criteria[3]
Grade I Buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.
Grade II* Particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II Buildings of national importance and special interest.
"—" denotes a work that is not graded.

Churches

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Name Location Photograph Date Notes Grade
Scarisbrick Hall Scarisbrick, Lancashire
53°36′23″N 2°55′15″W / 53.6064°N 2.9208°W / 53.6064; -2.9208 (Scarisbrick Hall)
  1813–16 Additions to a country house dating from 1595; almost certain that Rickman contributed to these.[1][4][5] I
Gwrych Castle Abergele, Conwy, Wales
53°17′00″N 3°36′31″W / 53.2833°N 3.6087°W / 53.2833; -3.6087 (Gwrych Castle)
  1819–20 Rickman was involved in drawing up the early plans.[6] I
Maitland House Gloucester
51°51′38″N 2°14′57″W / 51.8605°N 2.2493°W / 51.8605; -2.2493 (Maitland House)
c. 1820 Designed for Alexander Maitland, a former London merchant. As of 2012 in use as offices.[7] II
Town Hall (former) Clitheroe, Lancashire
53°52′24″N 2°23′26″W / 53.8733°N 2.3905°W / 53.8733; -2.3905 (Town Hall, Clitheroe)
  1820–22 Now forms part of Clitheroe Library.[8][9] II
Ettington Park Hotel Ettington, Warwickshire
52°07′26″N 1°38′24″W / 52.1238°N 1.6400°W / 52.1238; -1.6400 (Ettington Park Hotel)
  1824 Originated as a country house; interior alterations, (with Henry Hutchinson).[10] I
Sessions House Preston, Lancashire
53°45′41″N 2°41′18″W / 53.7613°N 2.6882°W / 53.7613; -2.6882 (Sessions House, Preston)
  1825 Designed as a court house; as of 2012, used as a museum.[11] II
Down House Redmarley D'Abitot, Gloucestershire
51°58′21″N 2°20′12″W / 51.9724°N 2.3366°W / 51.9724; -2.3366 (Down House)
1825 A country house for G. Dowdeswell. The stables are also listed at Grade II.[12][13] II
Castle Bromwich Hall Castle Bromwich, Solihull, West Midlands
52°30′21″N 1°47′28″W / 52.5057°N 1.7910°W / 52.5057; -1.7910 (Castle Bromwich House)
  1825–40 Enlarged by the addition of a wing and passages.[14] I
New Court,
St John's College
Cambridge
52°12′32″N 0°06′54″E / 52.2088°N 0.1150°E / 52.2088; 0.1150 (New Court, St John's College, Cambridge)
  1826–31 Designed with Henry Hutchinson.[15] I
Brunstock House Stanwix Rural, Cumbria
54°55′34″N 2°54′31″W / 54.9261°N 2.9085°W / 54.9261; -2.9085 (Brunstock House)
1827–33 New house for George Saul.[16][17] II*
Matfen Hall Matfen, Northumberland
55°02′21″N 1°57′08″W / 55.0393°N 1.9523°W / 55.0393; -1.9523 (Matfen Hall)
  1828–30 Designed by Rickman for Sir Edward Blacket who completed it himself. As of 2012 it is used as a hotel.[18][19] II*
Rose Castle Dalston, Cumbria
54°48′23″N 2°58′49″W / 54.8064°N 2.9802°W / 54.8064; -2.9802 (Rose Castle)
  1828–31 Alterations to the home of the bishops of Carlisle.[20][21] I
Midland Bank Bennett's Hill, Birmingham,
West Midlands
52°28′49″N 1°54′00″W / 52.4802°N 1.9001°W / 52.4802; -1.9001 (Midland Bank, Birmingham)
  1830 Designed with Henry Hutchinson.[22] II
Henbury Village Hall Henbury, Bristol
51°30′25″N 2°37′51″W / 51.5069°N 2.6309°W / 51.5069; -2.6309 (Henbury Village Hall)
  1830 Built originally as a school in Jacobean style. Later a village hall.[23] II
Weston Park Shifnal, Shropshire

52°41′27″N 2°17′21″E / 52.6908°N 2.2893°E / 52.6908; 2.2893

1830-1833 Addition of West Wing with Henry Hutchinson and Richard Charles Hussey[24] I
Drapers' Hall Coventry, West Midlands
52°24′27″N 1°30′26″W / 52.4076°N 1.5072°W / 52.4076; -1.5072 (Midland Bank, Birmingham)
  1832 Designed with Henry Hutchinson.[25] II*
Goodnestone Park Goodnestone, Kent
51°14′37″N 1°13′38″E / 51.2437°N 1.2271°E / 51.2437; 1.2271 (Goodnestone Park)
  1838–44 Alterations (with R. C. Hussey).[26] II*

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Aldrich, Megan (2009) [2004], "Rickman, Thomas (1776–1841)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 9 April 2012 ((subscription or UK public library membership required))
  2. ^ Rickman 1835, p. 39.
  3. ^ Listed Buildings, Historic England, retrieved 29 March 2015
  4. ^ Historic England, "Scarisbrick Hall (1038565)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 April 2012
  5. ^ Hartwell & Pevsner 2009, pp. 599–606.
  6. ^ Hubbard 1986, pp. 175–178.
  7. ^ Historic England, "Maitland House (1245619)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 April 2012
  8. ^ Historic England, "Town Hall, Clitheroe (1072374)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 6 April 2012
  9. ^ Hartwell & Pevsner 2009, p. 242.
  10. ^ Historic England, "Ettington Park Hotel (1382586)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 8 April 2012
  11. ^ Historic England, "The Old Sessions House, Preston (1219103)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 April 2012
  12. ^ Historic England, "The Down House (1302873)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 April 2012
  13. ^ Historic England, "Stables, The Down House (1341973)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 April 2012
  14. ^ Historic England, "Castle Bromwich Hall (1366587)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 8 April 2012
  15. ^ Historic England, "St John's College, New Court, Cambridge (1332178)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 April 2012
  16. ^ Historic England, "Brunstock House (1087726)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 6 April 2012
  17. ^ Hyde & Pevsner 2010, pp. 413–414.
  18. ^ Historic England, "Matfen Hall (1155328)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 April 2012
  19. ^ Matfen Hall Hotel, Prima Hotel Group, archived from the original on 13 April 2012, retrieved 7 April 2012
  20. ^ Historic England, "Rose Castle (1087473)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 6 April 2012
  21. ^ Hyde & Pevsner 2010, pp. 589–593.
  22. ^ Historic England, "Midland Bank, Birmingham (1075753)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 8 April 2012
  23. ^ Historic England, "Henbury Village Hall (1202073)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 April 2012
  24. ^ Staffordshire Archives Bradford MSS inc Designs (i.e. D1287/M/385) and correspondence with 2nd Earl of Bradford
  25. ^ Historic England, "Draper's Hall, Coventry (1076660)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 8 April 2012
  26. ^ Historic England, "Goodnestone Park (1070296)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 6 April 2012
Bibliography