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R Sackville-West
Reginald Windsor Sackville (-West) (1817-96) was born in London, the younger son of the 5th Earl de la Warr and was rector of the family living of Withyham from 1841 to 1865. In 1871 he inherited the barony of Buckhurst by special remainder from his mother and about the same time dropped West from his surname. Two years later he succeeded his unmarried brother as 7th Earl and gave up his orders. In 1881 he called himself simply ‘peer’ and he died in London. His artistic interests were shared by his youngest sister Arabella Bannerman.
Obit: The Times 24 Jan 1896
Painting: Withyham, - St Michael
St Ann's Gate Architects
This practice of restoration and conservation architects is based in the Close at Salisbury and works both on houses and churches. Under its previous name of Michael Drury Architects the best known work of the practice was the new west end of Portsmouth cathedral, dating from 1991. The present partners are, as well as Michael Drury, Antony Feltham-King and Melanie Latham.
Restored: Boxgrove (2008-09)
J P St Aubyn
James Piers St Aubyn (1815-95) was the son of a vicar and connected with Lord St Leven of St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, where he restored many churches, though his practice was based in London and Devonport. He was a pupil of T Fulljames of Gloucester and was both Surveyor to the Middle Temple, where he had his office, and advisory architect to the ICBS. From 1885 he had a partner, Henry John Wadling (1844-1918), who gradually took over the practice and continued it after St Aubyn's death.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: Cross-in-Hand (1863); Selsey, - St Peter (1864-65)
Restored: Rudgwick (1887-88); Slaugham (1880)
H J Salisbury
Henry James Salisbury (1864-1916) was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, the son of a plumber and glazier, and was apprenticed there as a decorator, before opening a works in St Albans, where he was established as an artist in stained glass by 1889. Around 1897 he opened a business at 130 Brompton Road, London, which in 1899 became briefly known as Salisbury Brothers and Davies (KD/L). It is impossible to identify Davies, but the other brother was Frank O Salisbury (1874-1962), who was a well known painter in the earlier C20. He was apprenticed to his elder brother in St Albans and in consequence also designed stained glass for most of his career. Henry's address was in St Albans in the mid-1890s and though by 1901 he had moved to Hampstead, he still maintained a residence in the town in 1914 (KD/Herts). In 1901 he was once again without partners, though his business address was unchanged until he moved to 18 John Street, Bedford Row around 1908. His name was listed there in KD/L until 1935, well after his death, but it is not known who was actually running the business.
Source: DNB (for F O Salisbury)
Glass: Lyminster
A Salvin
Anthony Salvin (1799-1881) was originally a pupil of John Paterson of Edinburgh and, after moving to London, of John Nash. He developed an interest in mediaeval architecture (he was an FSA at the age of 25), though in his early days he preferred the Tudor style, designing mainly country houses and castles. However, he was more open than most of his contemporaries to the accurate use of gothic in churches and in 1841 became an honorary member of the Cambridge Camden Society (later Ecclesiological Society), for whom he restored the Round Church at Cambridge. This inclined him for a while to the Romanesque for new churches, which probably contributed to his falling out with the Ecclesiologists, who did not share this preference. As well as new work, he restored Durham and Wells cathedrals. In later life he moved away from churches, but he continued practising until shortly before he died, despite a stroke in 1856. He was descended from an ancient landed family in Yorkshire, a fact that weighed heavily upon him. He spent his final years in North Chapel, where he built a house.
Lit: J Allibone: Anthony Salvin, Pioneer of Gothic Revival Architecture, Cambridge 1988
Designed: Newhaven, - ‘St John Baptist’ (1877-78 – appears to be an error)
Restored: Fernhurst (1881); North Chapel (1876-77); Worth (1869-71)
P San Casciani
Paul San Casciani (b1935) trained in glass design and making at J Powell and Sons from 1950. He afterwards worked there and also with C J Edwards. He now works and teaches in Oxford and at West Dean College. He has written about the technique of stained glass.
Glass: Wilmington
J J Sanders
There is more than one Sanders with the intitial J in London during the C19 and there is no certainty about the identity of the J J Sanders who was a prolific producer of monuments, with an address in Fitzroy Square, who can be traced between c1812 and c1888. Roscoe (p1092) suggests that he is the same as the mason of the name who carried out repairs to St John, Westminster in 1812. This would suggest a remarkably long active career, though as the next latest monument dates from 1871, it is possible that a new generation had become involved.
Memorial: Hartfield
K A Saunders
He was living at Felpham in 1979 when he produced a window for Middleton church by sandblasting.
Glass: Middleton
T Saunders
Thomas Saunders is said to have been local to Brighton when he designed the Chapel Royal in 1793, though the Universal British Directory of that year does not give anyone of the name in Sussex. The only known architect with the right name had an address at Golden Square, London and died in 1798.
Designed: Brighton, - Chapel Royal (1793)
W G Saunders W A Saunders
W Gualbert (or less frequently Albert) Saunders (1837-1923) appears as a pupil of W Burges in 1865 and made furniture and tiles for him (examples of both are to be found in the catalogue of the Manchester Art Gallery), but the association originated with the supply of stained glass. He was briefly in partnership with H Holiday before starting his own manufactory in 1869 in Endell Street, Covent Garden. Here he continued the association with Burges and employed designers such as the young C Whall and H W Lonsdale. Saunders left the country in 1880, handing over his business to his assistant, W Worrall and apparently ceasing all artistic activity, at least in this country. However, if his date of death as given on the website of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers is correct, he lived for over 40 years more, though there is no likely death recorded in England and Wales.
Glass: Brighton and Hove, - St Mary (attr); - St Michael
A Savell A Savell and Co Savell and Young
Arthur Savell (1858/59-1933) was an Irishman born at Kilkenny. Nothing is known of his training, but according to an unusually full entry in KD/L 1922 his firm was founded in 1887. It actually appears the following year for the first time there as Savell and Young of 29 Albany Street, London NW and a year later was at 20 Albany Street, where it probably remained for the rest of its existence, becoming A Savell and Co in 1890 - nothing is known of Young. There does, however, seem to have been some imprecision about the address, for when one of the windows at Lewes was produced, it was said to be 30 Albany Street. By 1901 (when he was there at the time of the census), Savell had a further branch in Cambridge at 31 Regent Street. The firm disappears from KD/L between 1916 and the entry for 1922 already mentioned and it is likely that it had retreated to Cambridge because of World War I and its aftermath. Thereafter, the only further reference in KD/L was in 1924, when just the Cambridge address was given. In the 1922 entry, the firm claimed to make not only stained glass, including both domestic and heraldic, but also memorial brasses.
Glass: Lewes, - St John-sub-Castro
H Scarlett
Harry Scarlett (1857-1919) is described as an architect of Uckfield in 1888, but he is clearly the Harry ‘Scarlet’ who was at his father’s house, Downlands, Uckfield in 1881, described as a student of law and formerly of Trinity College, Cambridge. He became Harry Scarlett LL.B (a JP and holder of other public positions) and lived at West Firle. He was a member of the Sussex Archaeological Society from 1888 and though describing himself as a barrister and architect in 1901, cannot have been more than an amateur in the latter capacity.
Restored: Uckfield (1888)
P Scheemakers
Peter Gaspar Scheemakers (1691-1781) was born in Antwerp, the son of a successful sculptor of the same name. He was trained first by his father and then in Copenhagen. He travelled to Italy before settling in London, where he attained great success, though not until after a further visit to Italy. His monuments and busts were well received, as were the various garden ornaments and fireplaces he produced. In later years, much of the output of his workshop was produced by assistants, while he concentrated on the business aspects. Amongst those who passed through his workshop were Sir H Cheere (probably) and J Nollekens. Towards the end of his long life he returned to Antwerp.
Lit: I Roscoe: Peter Scheemakers, WS 61 (1999) pp163-304; DNB
Memorial: East Grinstead, - St Swithun (attr)
J Schwerdt and Partners
John Richard Schwerdt (1924-89) studied architecture after wartime service in the Navy and then established his practice in Lewes, with a further office in London. Though never large, the practice, which still exists under the name of McKellar Schwerdt, was responsible for both schools and at least one church, as well as some work in France. Conservation work was one of their specialities and they designed several buildings at Chailey Heritage. Schwerdt himself was active in the preservation and adaptation of historic buildings in Lewes and took a leading part in the 1960s against the proposed inner relief road. The partner responsible for work on Selmeston church, and perhaps others, was David Oscar Russell.
Lit: BAL Biog file (Schwerdt); Obit (Schwerdt): RIBAJ 97 (1990) p114
Repaired: Selmeston (1967-69)
A G Scott
Adrian Gilbert Scott (1883-1963) was the brother of Sir Giles G Scott (see below) and like him was articled to T Moore. Afterwards they frequently worked together, eg on Liverpool Cathedral and the House of Commons. He also practised independently, mostly designing Roman Catholic churches, which were stylistically close to his brother’s work. He worked on Lutyens’s grand design for the Roman Catholic cathedral at Liverpool after the architect’s death, but was no more successful in building it. Though the family had property at Ninfield, Scott lived in Hampstead, of which he was an enthusiastic defender.
Lit: BAL Biog file; Obits: The Times 24 April 1963; RIBAJ 70 (July 1963) pp298-99
Designed: Hastings, - St Leonard (1953-61 – with his brother)
Altered: Ninfield (1923)
C M O Scott
Charles Marriott Oldrid Scott (1880-1952), the son of J O Scott (see below), was a pupil of Sir R Blomfield and assistant to his father before spending time in the office of G F Bodley in preparation for becoming his father's partner in 1904. He appears also to have spent some time in T Moore's office. After his father's death, he completed his outstanding commissions and maintained a busy practice, including some domestic work but mostly restoring and repairing churches and designing fittings, for the rest of his life; in the 1930s he was in partnership with Charles Thomas Miles.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Completed: Brighton and Hove, - St Philip (1910-11 - with father)
Restored: Coolhurst (1931-33); Peasmarsh (1925-27)
Fitting: Coolhurst, font-cover
E E Scott
Edmund Evan Scott (1828-95) was a Brighton man with a mostly local practice and shows a marked aversion to publicity, unlike local contemporaries like A Loader, C E Clayton and J G Gibbins. He had an artistic background but apart from a brief appearance at a boarding school in Uckfield in 1841, nothing is known, even about his training, before his election as an ARIBA in 1851 when he was living in London – even here the admission papers are missing. In 1851 he was in Brighton with relatives, but later worked in London, possibly in F C Penrose’s office as he gave the same address as him in the RIBA member's list for 1852, before returning in 1853 to 42 Russell Square, Brighton; in 1855 his address was 8 Pavilion Buildings (KD). His earliest certain building dates from 1863, but in 1857 he and M P Manning, a London architect with slight Brighton connections (BN 15 p646), won second premium in a competition in Brighton. In a long career Manning is not known to have worked with Scott again. His first full partner was R G Suter (see below), with whom in 1863 he designed St Andrew, Portslade by Sea. Their office was at 46a Regency Square, but in 1869 Suter was back in London before emigrating. More is known of Scott’s next partnership with his former pupil R S Hyde lasting from 1874 to 1880, during which they did much commercial and domestic work. A final one with F T Cawthorn had started by 1884 (BN 47 p51) and it is likely that Cawthorn played an increasingly leading part, for the churches show a new awareness of the Perp style. Scott’s most remarkable church is St Bartholomew, Brighton, in which if Somers Clarke is to be believed, A D Wagner had a decisive hand.
Lit: N Taylor: Wagnerian High Church, St Bartholomew’s, Brighton, AR 137 (1965) pp212-17; Byzantium in Brighton, AR 139 (1966) pp274-77; BAL Biog file
Designed: Brighton and Hove, - St Bartholomew (1872-74); - St James (1873-75 – as S and Hyde - dem); - St Matthew (c1880 – as S and Hyde, not built); St Saviour (plans 1880 – as S and Hyde; built 1885-86 – as S and Cawthorn – dem); Buxted, - St Mary (1885-86 as S and Cawthorn); Portslade by Sea (1863-64 with Suter); South Lancing (1880 – as S and Hyde – not executed); Worthing, - St Botolph, Heene (1872-73 and 1878-79)
Restored/extended: Albourne (1859 – attr); Brighton and Hove, - Annunciation (1880-81 as S and Hyde and 1892 as S and Cawthorn); - All Souls, Eastern Road (1879 – as S and Hyde – dem); - Chapel Royal (nd, with Hyde); - Christ Church, Montpelier Road (1886 – as S and Cawthorn - dem); St John, Carlton Hill (1879 – as S and Hyde); Buxted, - St Margaret (1879); Clayton (1893 – as S and Cawthorn); Denton (1865-66); Eastbourne, - Christ Church (1879 – as S and Hyde); Keymer (1866 as S and Suter and 1890 as S and Cawthorn); Portslade (1867 (possibly) and 1869-70); Streat (1882 and possibly earlier)
Fitting: Lower Beeding, pulpit
Sir George G Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-78) was the son and grandson of clergymen, who showed an early interest in churches and was articled to J Edmeston. He started by designing workhouses, initially on his own and then in partnership with a fellow pupil, W B Moffat (1812-87). Even before this ended in 1845, Scott had far outstripped his partner and was on the way to becoming the most celebrated architect of the age, primarily in the gothic style, though his classical Foreign Office building in London suggests he was at least equally competent in that idiom. His huge practice included both public buildings (eg St Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial) and churches and cathedrals – it has been estimated that he designed or worked on some 500. He came to be ashamed of his first churches, typical of their 1830s date, though his first more scholarly efforts predate his encounter with the Ecclesiologists, who influenced him significantly. However, he was never as doctrinaire as many architects of his time who were similarly influenced. Much of his restoration work was more cautious than his contemporaries or later generations allowed, as a chapter in his Recollections and a section of the introduction by Dean Burgon of Chichester show. Nevertheless, changing fashions as well as health problems caused a falling off of work in the last years of his life. In Sussex he did only restorations, including Chichester cathedral. Because of the volume of business, his many pupils and assistants carried out smaller commissions with little detailed supervision. His fame is perhaps the reason for the many wrong ascriptions of buildings to him.
Lit: D Cole: The Works of Sir Gilbert Scott, 1980; R Dixon (ed): Sir Gilbert Scott and the Scott Dynasty, 1980; RIBA Library: Typescript of Buildings designed by Sir G G Scott, 1957; Sir G G Scott: Personal and Professional Recollections, revised edition by G Stamp, Stamford, 1995
Restored: Albourne (1859 – attr but doubtful); Ardingly (1855); Arundel (1874); Boxgrove (1864-65); Brighton and Hove, - St Peter, Preston (nd - ?error for East Preston); Clapham (1873-74); East Preston (1869); Findon (1866-67); Hartfield (1851 - survey only); Harting (1853 - attr); Icklesham (nd - ?error); Itchingfield (1865-66); Little Horsted (1862-63); Petworth (nd - ?error); Portslade (1867 - attr but doubtful); Rottingdean (1851-56); Uckfield (nd - possibly in error for Little Horsted nearby)
Fittings: Brighton and Hove, - St Patrick, pulpit; Hurstpierpoint, - Holy Trinity, font (restored)
George G Scott junior
George Gilbert Scott junior (1837-97) was the eldest son of Sir George G Scott (see immediately above) and studied at Cambridge before working with his father. He developed his own artistic personality, preferring late mediaeval gothic as a model and admired the work of Morris and Co. He did his standing in the Church of England no good by becoming a Roman Catholic after his father died. Following court proceedings in 1883, his eccentric behaviour caused him to be certified insane – he was put into hospital in Northampton as ‘a wandering lunatic’ in 1888 – before going to France. He returned and recovered somewhat. He had independent means and died at the Midland Hotel at St Pancras (BN 72 p699), one of his father’s masterpieces. His more pedestrian (I had chosen this word before discovering that Gavin Stamp, in his introduction to his edition of Sir George G Scott’s Recollections had also used it) brother, J O Scott (see below) took over his unfinished work, as he had their father’s.
Lit: G Stamp: An Architect of Promise; George Gilbert Scott Junior, 2002
Restored: Clapham (1873-74 – attr); Findon (1866-67 – attr); Ninfield (1874-76 – unexecuted); Pevensey (1877-79)
Sir Giles G Scott
Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) was the eldest son of George G Scott junior (see immediately above) and was brought up with his brother A G Scott (see above) at Ninfield in a house belonging to his mother’s family, after his father was declared insane. Although a Roman Catholic, he is said to have taken great interest in the local churches. He was articled to T Moore, a former pupil and assistant of his father, and at the age of 23 won the competition for Liverpool Anglican cathedral. This set him on the path towards becoming the most prolific architect of his generation. He had a fertile mind, which came up with a variety of solutions, but after the 1920s, the middle course he followed between traditionalists and modernists led to a fall from popularity, most notably over his abortive scheme for rebuilding Coventry cathedral after World War II. As well as churches, he designed Battersea and Bankside (now Tate Modern) power stations and Waterloo Bridge, London. By the nature of such projects, his role was often that of a consulting architect, mainly responsible for the elevations. To the end of his life, his churches were in a simplified gothic and show the love for plain walling, which also characterised his industrial buildings.
Lit: G Stamp: Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, in R Dixon (ed): Sir Gilbert Scott and the Scott Dynasty, 1980, pp48-53; DNB
Designed: Hastings, - St Leonard (1953-61 – with A G Scott)
Altered: Brighton and Hove, - St Bartholomew (1924 – mostly unexecuted)
Fitting: Kingston Buci, war memorial
J O Scott
John Oldrid Scott (1841-1913) was the second son of Sir George G Scott (see above) and Oldrid was his mother’s maiden name. He trained in his father’s office from 1860 and then worked there. Among his father’s projects with which he was involved was the Foreign Office building. He inherited his father’s practice, but though he did produce some designs in Renaissance style, his interests were seen as narrowly ecclesiastical and at his death he was widely seen as very old fashioned, despite his preference for C14 gothic as a model. His obituaries were less than enthusiastic, using phrases such as ‘a sound workman’, but his career was successful enough – he worked on several cathedrals and also at Arundel castle – and was a consulting architect to the ICBS. He also succeeded G E Street (see below) as Oxford Diocesan Architect. He died at Bexhill and is buried at Peasmarsh, where he had just bought a house.
Lit: BAL Biog file; Obits: The Builder 104 pp643, 650-51, RIBAJ 20 p614
Designed: Brighton and Hove, - St Philip, Hove (also known as Aldrington – 1894-1911); Chailey, - St Mary (1876)
Fittings: Coolhurst, reredos and pulpit; Goring, font; Maresfield, organ case; South Bersted, font; West Hoathly, stalls and lectern
Restored/altered: Arundel (1893 - consulted); Brighton and Hove, - St Leonard, Aldrington (1906 - not carried out); - St Margaret (1874 – dem); Chailey, - St Peter (1878-79 and 1886); Coolhurst (1889 and 1890-1916); Fletching (1880-81); Framfield (1897); Frant (1880); Hartfield (1894); Maresfield (1875-79); Newick (1886-1905); Oving (1897 - probably carried out 1900); Stanmer (1905)
S Scott
Sally Scott is a glass engraver and also a painter. She studied at Croydon School of Art and the RA Schools and in addition to teaching, was from 1986 to 2000 in partnership with David Peace. Their joint work and Sally Scott's work alone is to be found in churches, cathedrals and public buildings all over the country, including Norwich cathedral and Westminster Abbey. many of her paintings are portraits.
Engraved glass: Newick
W G Scott
William Gillbee Scott (1857-1930) was articled to M E Habershon and E P L Brock and then worked in E Christian’s office. He was no relation of Sir George G Scott, but as he and William Gillbee Habershon shared their unusual second name, a relationship may be inferred, especially as he wrote Habershon’s obituary in Proc RIBA. He went into independent practice in 1882 and in 1914 his address was 25 Bedford Row WC (KD/L). In later life he took his son as a partner, though he is listed by himself in KD/L as late as 1924. He was active in the RIBA and elsewhere in the interests of the architectural profession. Most of his buildings are schools or other public buildings.
Lit: BAL Biog file; Obits: The Builder 139 p418; RIBAJ 37 p712
Designed: Horsham, - Holy Trinity (1899-1900)
Restored/altered: Brighton, - St Mark (1890); Eastbourne, - St John Meads (1895 – bombed)
J D Sedding
John Dando Sedding (1838-91) joined his elder brother Edmund (1836-1868) as a pupil of G E Street (see below) in 1858 and subsequently they were in practice together in Penzance. Edmund, as well as being an architect in the West Country was an ardent church musician, being particularly famed for his books of carols. After his early death, J D Sedding moved first to Bristol and then in 1874 to London. He worked extensively on churches of a High Church character, but there is none by him in Sussex. Most of his earlier work was in the West Country and he was made diocesan architect in Bath and Wells in 1881, though, despite this, in the course of the 1880s he was increasingly involved with projects in London, most famously Holy Trinity, Sloane Street. His preferred style for churches was late gothic, though his Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell was in the early Italian Renaissance style, and, for the few houses he designed, the Italian renaissance style. He was an early member of the Art Workers Guild, of which he was the second President, and designed textiles, wallpapers and metalwork, throughout his career. This matched his increasing interest in craftsmanship of church fittings. After his sudden death his practice was inherited by Edmund's son, Edmund Harold (1863-1921), who had been a pupil and continued very much in the same idiom, though several of his uncle's uncompleted works were finished by H Wilson, another former pupil.
Lit: Architectural Association: A Memorial of the Late J D Sedding, 1892; DNB (for both brothers)
Fitting: Framfield, reredos (probably)
J Seely Lord Mottistone
Henry John Alexander Seely (known as 'Jack' and from 1947, when he inherited the title from his father, Lord Mottistone) (1899-1963) was in practice from 1926 with P Paget. After World War II the two did much rebuilding work, including Lambeth Palace, the Charterhouse and canons’ houses at Westminster Abbey. They also designed several new or rebuilt churches in London, which are mostly conservative in idiom, but display certain unexpected influences, e g C18 galleried churches. Seeley became Surveyor to St Paul’s Cathedral in 1956. He lived in the Isle of Wight and did much work there.
Lit: BAL Biog file; Obit: The Times 19 Jan 1963
Restored: Petworth (1953)
J Selden
John Selden's family is recorded in Petworth from the early C17 and he himself appears in the accounts for the building and fitting out of Petworth House from 1687 to 1697. During this time he was mainly assisting Grinling Gibbons with the remarkable wood-carving there, much of which is clearly by Selden, though widely attributed to the more famous Gibbons. He continued to live in Petworth until his death in a fire in 1715. No work executed during this later period is known for sure, since his only known monument is undated.
Memorial: Thakeham
W E Seth-Smith
William Howard Seth-Smith (1852-1928) was born of Scottish ancestry at Wonersh, Surrey and there are indications of an association with A R G Fenning. From 1905 until shortly before his death he was a partner of W E Monro and by 1914 their address was 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields (KD/L). Seth-Smith's name was retained in the title of the successor partnership, which was probably led by Monro, long after his death, so he was not involved in the practice's only work in Sussex. The address of the practice in 1957 was in Gray's Inn, where another partner, A E Matthew, is also listed.
Designed (in name): Eastbourne, - St John Meads (1955-57)
A Seward and Co
The firm was founded in Lancaster in the early C19 by Abraham Seward (1760-1823). After his son Charles (d1825) joined, the firm started to make stained glass, though that side of work became more prominent in the late C19, well after Charles's son Abraham junior (1815-1904) took over, supported by his brothers, Charles junior and John. Most of its glass dates from after c1895 and the latest known was made around 1920, by which time John's son Charles junior (d1930) was in charge; most of it is to be found in the North West. However, its earliest glass predates the best known producer of stained glass in Lancaster, Shrigley and Hunt (see below).
Glass: Brighton and Hove, - St Barnabas, Hove
G H Shackle
George Harvey Shackle (1853-1922) was born in Cambridge and as a student won RIBA prizes for drawing in 1877 and 1882. Then and in 1891 he was lodging at 8 Great Marylebone Street, London. By 1903 he was in practice at 9 The Green, Marlborough (KD/Wilts), where he died.
Extended: Eastbourne, - Christ Church (1921-22)
T Sharp
Thomas Sharp (1805-82) exhibited at the RA even before he entered its Schools in 1831. He continued to do so for most of his life from various addresses in London. He produced only a few monuments, but a considerable quantity of busts, for whch he was best known. Unusually, he was also a designer of silverware.
Memorial: Crowhurst
R N Shaw
Richard Norman Shaw (1831-1912) was born in Edinburgh but his family moved to London when he was 15. There he became a pupil of William Burn, a fellow Scot with an office in London; he also attended the RA Schools before working in the offices of G E Street and A Salvin (see above and below) before starting to practise independently in 1863. He quickly became one of the most respected architects of his generation and inspired many younger architects, not all his pupils, and influenced the foundation of the Art Workers Guild. His most famous building is the former Scotland Yard building on the Embankment in London. Many of his domestic and public buildings were in the so-called Queen Anne Style, a term he appears to have invented, though later he used a more conventionally classical idiom, the best example of which is the Piccadilly Hotel in London. His churches, mostly early or linked to places where he already had clients, remained gothic and often reveal the influence of G F Bodley and G G Scott junior (see this section above).
Lit: A Saint: Richard Norman Shaw, 1976
Designed: Groombridge (1883)
Restored: Edburton (1877-81); Tarring Neville (1871-72 and 1887 – latter not carried out)
W Shaw W Maynard Shaw
W Shaw is known only in connection with the building of a new aisle at Nutley in 1871. No likely architect or surveyor of this name is listed in Sussex or London directories and Basil Clarke does not say where he found a middle name of Maynard.
Extended: Nutley (1871)
T Shelbourne
Thomas Shelbourne, who completed St Mark, Eastern Road, Brighton was probably a builder rather than an architect, though he does not appear in Brighton directories covering the period.
Completed: Brighton, - St Mark (1849)
B Shelley
Blanche Henrietta Johnes Shelley (1835/36-98) was the daughter of Sir John Shelley Bart of Maresfield Park. She painted a window at Maresfield church in memory of her father (d1867). In 1874 she married Hervey Pechell (1840-98) and although she was not her father's heiress, they resided at Maresfield Park, as well as Upper Brook Street in London. Later Baronets lived near Crediton in Devon, although the family is an old Sussex one. It is not known how Blanche acquired her artistic skills, though an unmarried woman in her position (already aged over 30 at her father's death) would have had plenty of opportunity.
Glass: Maresfield
C Sheridan
Clare Consuelo Sheridan (1885-1970) was a member of the Frewen family and first cousin on the maternal side of Winston Churchill. She studied under Sir W R Dick and others. Initially she worked in clay, particularly busts, and was quickly successful, helped by her good connections. Her husband was killed in World War I and she supported herself thereafter by her artistic efforts, as well as writing novels and travel books. She visited Russia soon after the Revolution and her enthusiatic support for it aroused considerable suspicion. Subsequently, she lived in North Africa and then became interested in North American native art – much of her collection is in the Hastings museum. This led to her taking up woodcarving. Her family home was at Brede but in later life she moved to Hastings. She converted to Catholicism and was buried at Brede.
Lit: B Taylor: Clare Sheridan 1885-1970, Hastings, 1984
Sculptures: Brede, wooden sculpture; West Dean (E), bust
A Sherwin
Anthony Sherwin is a member of the RIBA who specialises in work on ancient buildings. Most of his work is located in East Sussex.
Alterations: Heathfield, - All Saints (2010)
H Sherwood
Harry Sherwood (1897-after 1959) studied architecture privately and went into independent practice in 1925. His main office was at St Martin's Square, Chichester, but he also practised at East Ashling nearby, where he lived. From 1930 he was in partnership with S Roth at West Pallant in the town. This lasted until the 1950s, though it became known as Roth and Partners, suggesting that Sherwood had withdrawn - there are several indications that he was working on his own even before the change of name. M Gill was among the proposers on Sherwood's FRIBA application and his most prominent early work was at Wellington College, Berkshire. He did much restoration work on old houses, mainly in Sussex and in Chichester he was surveyor of the cathedral until 1959.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: East Wittering, - St Anne (1958-59)
Altered/restored: Chichester, - St Olave (1956); Cocking (1948-49); East Preston (1938); Felpham (1938); Kirdford (1954-55); Stopham (1952); Yapton (1954)
B C G Shore
Bertram Charles Glossop Shore (1890-1967) was an architect in London, who last appears in directories there in 1966, a year before his death in Exeter. Between 1936 and 1943 he also had an address in Northiam. Before World War II he is referred to as Major Shore and as Lieutenant Colonel after it, so he may be presumed to have served in both world wars. He was active as a member of SPAB and wrote at least two works on the conservation of ancient buildings, though some of his views on the use of chemical agents to stabilise stonework were controversial (Cornerstone vol 32/3 (2011) p33).
Repaired: Catsfield (1956-57); Ewhurst Green (1962); Hastings, - All Saints (1954-58)
B Shout R Shout
Benjamin Shout (d1811) was in partnership in Holborn with his nephew, Robert Shout (c1760-1843) as sculptors and masons from 1785 at the latest. Until Benjamin's death, their work appears to have been done jointly, though it is possible that Robert was primarily responsible for the design. The firm was largely taken up with the production for the popular market of busts in plaster, together with casts of famous works of art by Canova and others. Details of their origin and training are unknown.
Memorials: Arundel; Fittleworth; Hartfield; Goring; Slaugham
Shrigley and Hunt
Based in Lancaster, the firm emerged out of the established church decorators, Hudson, Shrigley and Co, who were acquired in 1874 by Arthur William Hunt (1849-1917). Hunt, who came from Hertfordshire and went north in search of his fortune after training with Heaton, Butler and Bayne, had been manager since 1871 and had accepted commissions in glass, which was made by T Baillie and Mayer and Co. The firm soon developed its own facilities in Lancaster and opened a London branch in 1879 in John Street, Bedford Row. This lasted until 1930, but in 1936 it re-opened in Bloomsbury Square (KD/L). At an earlier date, the chief designer C Almquist (CA) had preferred to work in London. Glass by the company, which also made art tiles, is to be found in profusion in Lancashire and unsurprisingly in view of its its location, it worked closely with Paley and Austin. E J Prest was a draughtsman from 1883 to 1892 and H Holiday, J C Bewsey and Joseph Tipping (b1861) (JT) were among other designers. Tipping’s father William (b1832) also produced designs, but Hunt’s dislike for these led to their departure; by 1901 they had moved to Acton, Middlesex and in 1911 Joseph was living in Birmingham where he had been born. After Hunt died the firm did little work outside the North West and though later designers included K New and R Baldwin, its success was limited. Its Lancaster premises were destroyed by fire, including its archives, and closure came in 1982.
Lit: W Waters: Stained Glass from Shrigley and Hunt, Lancaster, 2003
Glass: Chichester, - St Paul; East Hoathly (CA and JT); Eastbourne, - All Saints, - St Saviour; Ewhurst Green; Hastings, - All Souls; Staplecross
W B Simpson and Sons
William Butler Simpson (1793/94-1882) founded a firm of suppliers at 100 St Martin’s Lane in 1833, mainly of ceramics. They fitted out pubs, especially between 1875 and 1895, and supplied tiles for the Tube. In 1873 the firm appears as glass stainers at 456 Strand (KD/L). It still exists at Banstead, Surrey and concentrates on commercial work. Most church fittings involved tiles, but they also sold stained glass, some designed by L F Day or W Glasby (WG).
Fittings: Brighton, - St Martin, war memorial tiling; Clapham, painted tile panels; Compton, reredos; Eastbourne, - All Souls, tiling; Steyning, tiled panels on reredos
Glass: Compton; Herstmonceux (WG)
F W Skeat
Francis Walter Skeat (b1909) was a follower of Sir J N Comper and pupil of C Webb, with a studio in St Albans and is to be found until 1972 at Harpenden, which is not far away; after that date he disappears from the records. He worked for A R Mowbray and J Wippell and Co and wrote on stained glass. He also designed glass for Barton, Kinder and Alderson. His wife was Swedish and he lived for a time in Sweden.
Glass: Crawley, - St Peter; Donnington; Fishbourne; Hadlow Down; Lurgashall; West Itchenor
J Skelton
John Skelton (1923-99) was born in Edinburgh and was briefly apprenticed to E Gill, his uncle, from whom he started to learn letter-carving. However, Gill died shortly afterwards and Skelton joined Gill's first apprentice J Cribb at Ditchling as his assistant. Following war service, he took up sculpture - some of his work, notably the font, is in Chichester cathedral - He was a member of the Art Workers Guild and lived at Streat. After his death his workshop there was run by his daughter, Helen.
Obit: The Times 22 Dec 1999
Fittings etc: Bexhill, - St Augustine, sculpture; East Wittering, - St Anne, crucifix; Folkington, carved relief; Southease, pews; West Thorney, pulpit
Memorials: Mayfield; Withyham, - St Michael
W Skiller
William Skiller (1838-1901), though born at Rochester, was an architect in Hastings, where he was briefly partner of G Voysey and then of A W Jeffery, with whom he was lodging in 1871. Jeffery and Skiller designed a number of public buildings in the south. It is unclear what happened after Skiller died, for there is a reference of 1912 (B 102 p284) to Messrs Skiller and Son of Hastings - Jeffery was then still alive and thus it appears that the partnership had ended, possibly after the father's death.
Designed: Hastings, - Emmanuel (1873-74)
Restored/extended: Guestling (1886 and 1890 - attr); Hastings, - Christ Church, Blacklands (1886-90); - St Clement, Halton (1888 - probably, dem)
A H Skipworth
Arthur Henry Skipworth (1861-1907) was a Yorkshireman by birth and became a pupil of Bodley and Garner. He was in practice by 1889 at 5 Staple Inn (KD/L) though much of his church work was unbuilt. At the time of his early death, he had been in poor health for some time and his obituarist in The Builder considered that because of a retiring and modest disposition, he had not been sufficiently recognised. Nevertheless, the extensive coverage given to his death indicates the genuinely high esteem in which he was held, despite the small quantity of work he had actually completed.
Obits: The Builder 92 pp469, 483-84, 515 and 731
Restored: Nuthurst (1906-07); Udimore (1897 onwards)
W Slater
William Slater (1819-72) was a Northamptonshire man of modest origin. He came to London aged 16 and was articled to R C Carpenter, in whose family he lived. Therafter he became his assistant; among the designs on which he worked was St Paul, Brighton and he also assisted Carpenter in his district surveyorship. He went into independent practice with a fellow-pupil, William Smith (ie W Bassett-Smith, shortly before Carpenter’s early death, but was prevailed upon by Carpenter’s friends and associates to take over both his practice and responsibility for his family. This was only one sign of his kind nature in personal relationships, as well as towards the workforce under his control, for which he was famed. At around this time he joined the RIBA. In the practice he trained Carpenter’s son R H Carpenter, who become his partner from 1863 and for the next ten years they were well known church builders and restorers. He continued the restoration of Chichester cathedral that R C Carpenter had started (his reputation suffered after the tower fell in 1861, not altogether fairly) and worked on Lancing College, where he was probably chiefly responsible for the design of the chapel, though it was not completed until the 1970s. In later years he travelled widely in Europe.
Lit: BAL Biog file; Obits: The Builder 30 p1002 and 31 p83; lecture by Dr John Elliott to the Victorian Society on R C Carpenter and Slater, 9 February 2011
Designed: Burwash Weald (1866 -67 – as S and Carpenter)
Restored/extended: Beddingham (1857-58); Burwash (1855-56); Chalvington (1872-73 – as S and Carpenter); Cocking (1863); Crowborough, - St John (1869-70 – as S and Carpenter); Ditchling (1863 – as S and Carpenter); Etchingham (1856-57); Flimwell (1872-73 - as S and Carpenter); Henfield (1870-71 – as S and Carpenter); Hollington (1866 – as S and Carpenter but doubtful); Mayfield (1867-69 – as S and Carpenter); New Shoreham (1866 – not executed); Ripe (1864 – as S and Carpenter); Rustington (1861); Sompting (1855); Ticehurst (1855-57); Wadhurst (1858); West Hoathly (1870 – as S and Carpenter); Westmeston (1862); Withyham (Crowborough), - St John (1869-70 – as S and Carpenter); Wivelsfield (1869-70 – as S and Carpenter)
Fitting: Singleton, reredos
J Small
John Small has lived in Hove since 1937 and until his retirement was an architect in London for many years, though much of his work is to be found in West Africa. He remains active in various local organisations concerned with heritage matters.
Re-ordered: Brighton and Hove, - St John the Baptist, Palmeira Square (1994)
D Smart
Diana Smart designed a window for New Shoreham in 1955, which was made by Goddard and Gibbs.
Glass: New Shoreham
Sir R Smirke
Sir Robert Smirke (1781-1867) was briefly a pupil of Sir John Soane, but left his office, making an enemy of him in the process, and thereafter studied with a number of architects, including George Dance, and at the RA Schools. He toured Europe and reached Athens, where his study of Greek architecture was to affect his career decisively. On return he went into practice in 1806 and using his skills in Grecian architecture, soon built up a large practice, becoming a full RA in 1811. He designed country houses and from 1813, as architect to the Office of Works, produced many public buildings in London in a variety of styles, including the British Museum. He also designed quite a few churches built under the Act of 1818.
Lit: BAL Biog file; DNB
Designed: Brightling (Fuller pyramid) (1810 – attr)
S Smirke
Sydney Smirke (1798-1877) was a younger brother of Sir R Smirke (see immediately above) and was his pupil before travelling to Italy. On return he held a post in the Office of Works until it was abolished, after which he developed a practice like his brother’s, though that was larger. Formally separate, the two frequently worked together and Sydney in due course took over many of his brother’s official positions and undoubtedly benefited from his excellent connections, though he developed his own, chiefly in the Tory party. Sydney completed his brother’s British Museum, adding the circular reading room in the centre and won numerous other official commissions, though he used the Italianate style more than his brother. He designed some churches as well as country houses and was an early restorer of churches – in 1842 he did the Temple Church, London. He also adapted Burlington House as the new seat of the RA and other learned societies and became RA in 1859. He retired to Tunbridge Wells, where he died.
Lit: J M Crook: Sydney Smirke - the Architect of Compromise in J Fawcett (ed): Seven Victorian Architects; BAL Biog file; DNB
Extended: Northiam (1833-47)
A Smith
Albert Smith (1817/19-99) was a builder and also an architect of Rye, where he was District Surveyor from 1868 until at least 1890 (KD). In 1881 his son Charles (b1850/51), an architect, was living at the same address and is likely to have helped with his later restorations – notably he is probably the person of the name who worked at Northiam (B 52 p455) and by himself at Peasmarsh. Albert built at least one church (St Michael, Tenterden, Kent (1863)) and in 1885 described himself simply as 'Architect' (ESDBB). Despite the common name, other builders and masons in Rye called Smith are probably linked, notably J--- (active 1815-52) and another Charles (1818/19-after 1891), who in 1854 designed new cemetery chapels in the town (B 12 p666); he could be the Charles Smith, stonemason of Ropewalk, Rye in Robson’s Directory of 1839. Melville’s Directory (1858) shows Charles and Albert as partners, so they were probably brothers and is more certainly the Charles Smith of East Cliff, who was a builder in 1885 (ESDBB). Yet another Charles (1812/13-79), an architect born in Rye and living at 7 Havelock Road, Hastings, is presumably the Charles Smith who was a member of the SAS from 1852 to 1861. Sydney and Archibald Smith, architects of the same address in 1881 (Deacon's Guide), were presumably related. In 1890 only Sydney is listed and he is probably the architect of the same name in 1905 who is listed at Station Street, Bexhill in KD.
Restored: Iden (1875-76); Northiam (1878-79 and 1887); Playden (1861); Rye (1863); Winchelsea (1850s - possibly)
Memorial: Rye (as 'Smith')
C Smith
There is more than one Charles Smith working in the Rye area during the C19 and most if not all were connected with Albert Smith (for further details, see immediately above). The most likely one to have restored Peasmarsh church is probably the same one who worked with A Smith on Northiam church in 1887. From the date of the work, the surveyor who worked on Rye church could be either the one who lived in Hastings or, less probably, the one born in 1818/19.
Restored: Northiam (1887); Peasmarsh (1893); Rye (1839); Winchelsea (1850s - possibly)
C D Smith
C Dorian Smith was described as an architect of Felpham when he worked on Middleton church in 1949. However, his work there has also been given to D H S Prince, who shares the same unusual name of Dorian and some confusion over names seems likely, though no fuller record can be found of either.
Extended: Middleton (1949)
C R Smith
Charles Raymond Smith (1801/02-88) was the son of James Smith, also a sculptor, and trained mostly at the RA Schools, as did his elder brother T Smith (see below). He worked from a number of addresses in or near the New Road, including in 1820 what must have been his first in Norton Street. He produced garden and ornamental statues for several big houses and produced monuments as well. Some of these were more ambitious than usual with life-sized figures.
Memorial: Berwick; Worth
G E R Smith
Gerald Edward Roberts Smith (1883-1959) was first an apprentice to E Frampton senior and joined A K Nicholson in 1916. After Nicholson’s death he took over and replaced much glass in bombed city churches after World War II.
Obit: JBSMGP 13/1 pp367-68
See under A K Nicholson for works
J Smith
John Smith is found in Rye between c1822 and 1845, during which time he signs a number of tablets in churches in the area which in Gunnis's view were derived from those by J Bacon junior (works by whom are in Rye and Peasmarsh churches). Though the precise relationship has still to be established, it is likely that John Smith was related to Charles and Albert Smith of Rye (see above), especially as he was also a builder - he built Battle station with his son in 1851.
Memorials: Peasmarsh; Udimore (3)
N Smith
Nathaniel Smith (c1741-1800 or later) was a contemporary of J Nollekens and like him a pupil of Roubiliac. He worked mostly for other, better known sculptors, including Wilton and Nollekens, and produced little in his own name. He first trained as a miniature painter.
Memorial: West Grinstead
R Smith
(Julia Mary) Rona Smith (b1934) was born Burrell and lives in the parish of Balcombe. She is the mother of D Verulam and for some years collaborated with her daughter. They specialised in stencilling, including their joint work at Balcombe church.
Painting: Balcombe
S R J Smith
Sidney Robert James Smith (1858-1913) was born in Southampton, where he was articled to an architect called Bedborough and worked in his office for four years. He then joined H E Coe and Robinson and after Robinson died became Coe’s partner in 1879. Coe died in turn and after completing their outstanding projects, Smith with Arthur Catt took over the practice in Furnival’s Inn, London. Smith specialised in libraries and met Sir Henry Tate, the sugar magnate, for whom he built several in South London. This in turn led to his most important commission, the Tate Gallery on Millbank. Other public buildings, jointly with Catt, included workhouses and hospitals.
Lit: BAL Biog file; Obits: The Builder 114 p411; RIBAJ 20 p412
Designed: Worthing, - Holy Trinity (1882)
T Smith
Thomas Smith (b1800) was the elder brother of C R Smith (see above) and after attending the RA Schools, he started a business in Savoy Street in 1829. He was at this time a wax modeller, but produced also monuments of some ambition, with portrait medallions and busts. No date for his death has been found, but he last exhibited at the RA in either 1872 or 1877.
Memorial: Worth
H W Smithers
Harry Welsford Smithers signed some wall-paintings in St Nicholas, Brighton in 1894 and is said to have been a former churchwarden. The only person of the precise name in the town lived from 1834/35 to 1931 and was a brewer. In 1867 and 1871 he was living at 89 North Street and thereafter at various adresses, some in Hove. There is nothing to suggest that he had artistic leanings, but he was for at least the earlier part of his life living in the parish, so he cannot be excluded.
Painted: Brighton and Hove, -St Nicholas, wall-paintings
J Smithers
James George Smithers (1832/33-1911) was initially an architect in London, but by 1868 he was in Colombo, Ceylon, where in 1880 he became architect to the Government of Ceylon. Earlier, he had worked on housing schemes in Wimbledon. He retired to England and died at Camberwell.
Designed: Slinfold (1857 – not carried out)
Restored: Nuthurst (1856-57)
J Snelling
James Snelling was a surveyor, who worked on St John, the Baptist, Crawley in 1827-28. The only other reference to him is in Pigot's Directory (1832), in which he is described as a carpenter in Crawley.
Altered: Crawley, - St John the Baptist (1827-28)
A Sorrell
Alan Sorrell (1904-74) was born in Southend-on-Sea and studied at the Royal College of Art, where he afterwards taught. He was best known for his archaeological reconstructions of ancient monuments, which were a feature of most ruins in the guardianship of the former Department of the Environment (now English Heritage). He illustrated books on similar subjects and was a conventional painter in several media. In the 1950s he also taught at Brighton College of Art and this link with Sussex was no doubt the reason for him being named a Chichester Diocesan Artist Craftsman, though he continued to live in Essex.
Paintings: Bexhill, - St Peter
P Sparks
Peter C J Sparks ARIBA first appears in the records in 1959. He was involved with the practice known as Lyster, Grillet and Harding from 1985. Originally in London, it is now at Cambridge and has undertaken much work for the university. They have also planned major housing projects and schools. Sparks has also had links to the university Department of Architecture and from 1979 to 1994 was a full-time lecturer. Though retired, he has played a prominent part in current efforts to save the department from closure.
Fitting: Southbourne, gates
F H Spear
Francis Howard Spear (1902-79) was a pupil of M Travers at the Royal College of Art and his early glass was made at the Glass House (see under Lowndes and Drury), which he gave as his address on first appearing in KD/L between 1938 and 1941. He also lived and worked in Edgware and after World War II in and around Reigate, Surrey. His work is largely in that county, in Guildford cathedral among others. He was one of those who taught J Piper stained glass techniques and design.
Glass: Bexhill, - St Barnabas; Wivelsfield
W Spencer and Co
Little is known of this company, which had an address in Aldgate in the City, beyond the reference to the supply of a pulpit to Hellingly church in 1907.
Fittings: Hellingly, pulpit
Rev J H Sperling
Rev John Hanson Sperling (1825-94) was the son of an engineer officer in the Napoleonic Wars and was keenly interested in mediaeval architecture. He was incumbent of Wicken Bonhunt, Essex, where the church was rebuilt during his incumbency, and Westbourne. He went over to Rome in 1888, but showed sympathies much earlier, for in 1871 his son Alfred, aged 14, was a pupil at The Monastery, Ramsgate, built by A W N Pugin; he later became a Roman Catholic priest. It is uncertain how far the father restored or rebuilt the churches he was associated with and how far he used architects. He was an expert on church organs and wrote about various aspects of fittings and heraldry.
Designed: Forestside (1852-56 – attr, wrongly)
Restored: Westbourne (1863-64 – oversaw)
Glass: Westbourne
C S Spooner
Charles Sidney Spooner (1862-1938) was a pupil and then assistant of Sir A W Blomfield and in 1890 won the RIBA’s Soane Medallion (Proc RIBA). He specialised in smaller churches and houses. Margaret Richardson notes the influence of contemporary American architects such as H H Richardson on the latter. He lived at Burwash in a house he had designed and, as a member of SPAB and the Art Workers Guild, worked in the tradition of W Morris, teaching the making of furniture as well as designing it and also stained glass. These activities took up an increasing amount of his time in later life.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Completed: Rye Harbour (1911-12)
J Spray
All that is known of James Spray is that he is described as a surveyor in ICBS records in connection with Ninfield church, where he is associated with P Carey, who also appears in ICBS records as a surveyor, though he seems in fact to have been mainly a builder.
Altered: Ninfield (1833-35)
R Sprey
Rosalyn Sprey (now Mina) is a painter and an artist in stained glass who teaches in Horsham and works with Opus Stained Glass at Poynings.
Glass: Easebourne
H Spurrell
Herbert Spurrell (1847-1918) was born at Bexley, Kent, the son of a physician. He became a pupil of Alfred Waterhouse and subsequently practised first in Belvedere, Kent, where his father had moved. In 1875 he went to Eastbourne, where he built many houses with R K Blessley, who was his partner by 1878 (KD), and with ---- Field (see under Blessley), who was a further partner in 1882-83. He is listed on his own in 1890 (KD) and W H Murray was his partner from 1897 (BN 85 p722) to 1902, when according to an announcement in the London Gazette the partnership was dissolved. However, in 1905 (KD) the partnership was still called Spurrell and Murray and since Spurrell was certainly with W H Murray's son C H Murray at 24 Gildredge Road in 1911 (KD), the int3erruption may have been brief. It may have lasted in name at least until Spurrell died in 1918 (KD), though this occurred in London. His nominators for FRIBA included H Currey and A M Mowbray, both active in Eastbourne.
Designed: Polegate (1876 – with Blessley)
Altered: Eastbourne, - St Anne (1883 (with Blessley and Field) and 1893 – dem 1955); - St Saviour (1888 and 1896)
S S Stallwood
Spencer Slingsby Stallwood (1844-1922) was a High Churchman who initially worked in Folkestone, Kent. He met J Morris, probably through a mutual acquaintance who was a clergyman, and in 1865 they set up a practice in Morris’s home town of Reading. Their work covered both churches and secular work, but the partnership ended in 1886. Stallwood stayed in Reading in independent practice and in 1898 became Diocesan Surveyor for Oxford. In that county his work included an extension to Cuddesdon Theological College. He was a devoted freemason.
Lit: H G Arnold and S M Gold: Morris of Reading: a Family of Architects 1836-1958, TAMS 33 (1989) pp45-96
Restored: Horsted Keynes (1885)
E Stanton
Edward Stanton (1681-1734) was apprenticed to his father, William (see below), also a sculptor, who had himself continued the family business that lasted for over 100 years. In 1705 Edward took it over. He was a great nephew of Thomas (see immediately below) and produced over 150 memorials, some influenced by the baroque. He was also a mason and was mason to the City of London and, with C Horsnaile, mason to Westminster Abbey; they also collaborated as carvers.
Lit: DNB
Memorial: Warminghurst
T Stanton
Thomas Stanton (1609/10-1674) was a sculptor, who lived in the parish of St Andrew, Holborn in the City and was a leading member of the Masons Company. His workshop continued under his nephew, William (see immediately below) and great nephew, E Stanton (see immediately above).
Memorial: Rotherfield
W Stanton
William Stanton (1639-1705) inherited the long running and successful business of his uncle, Thomas (see immediately above) and in due course passed it to his son, Edward (see also above). During this time the business continued in the parish of St Andrew, Holborn, which, in his capacity as mason, he was largely responsible for rebuilding to Wren's design after the Great Fire. He produced far fewer but mostly more elaborate monuments than his son.
Memorial: Warminghurst
F Stephens
Francis William Stephens (1921-2002) was a pupil of M Travers at the Royal College of Art, but his varied career started with SOE in World War II. After further study with Travers, in 1950 he became chief designer and managing director of Faith Craft, where J Hayward was one of those with whom he worked. Other designers of glass who used the studio-facilities at Faith Craft were L Lee and T Randall. Stephens became best known for his work in this field, though he also designed other fittings. Faith Craft closed in 1974 by which time, in 1970, Stephens had been ordained. He became a freelance designer, whilst serving as a curate at St Mary, Primrose Hill, where he was able to continue his interest in liturgy.
Glass: Wilmington
Stevens Partnership
This Hastings practice first appears in 1974-75, when its partner J F Woodward (JFW) worked on St Helen, Ore. Another partner, D M Hollis (DMH) also worked on churches. The practice is still in existence.
Repaired: Hastings, - St Helen, Ore (1974-75 - JFW); Westfield (1979 - DMH)
N Stone the Elder
Nicholas Stone the elder (1585/88(?)-1647) was born near Exeter and ws apprenticed in Southwark to I James. He then spent six years in Amsterdam, working for its leading architect, Henrik de Keyser (1565-1621), whose daughter he married. This stay introduced him to the French and Italianate styles that influenced his work. After returning to London, his large workshop produced many monuments, which also reflect the growing interest in classical sculpture on the part of courtiers such as the Earl of Arundel. From 1616 he worked extensively for the King (James I and then Charles I) and was also active as a mason. He worked on the Banqueting House in Whitehall and almost certainly designed several buildings. His career is unusually well documented, but even allowing for the possibility that his importance has thus been exaggerated, there is little doubt that he was the leading sculptor of his time. Three sons were also sculptors, including the younger Nicholas.
Lit: W L Spiers: The Notebook and Account Book of Nicholas Stone, WS 7 (1919); DNB
Memorial: Arundel, memorial (attr)
R Stone
(Alan) Reynolds Stone (1909-1979) was the son of an Eton housemaster, who named him after Sir Joshua, with whom there was a family connection; he was educated there and at Cambridge. He trained as a printer at the Cambridge University Press before working briefly with E Gill and then for a printer in Taunton. During this period, in his spare time, he studied engraving and woodcutting and after he became a freelance, undertook much commercial work, including the Bank of England notes in the 1960s. He designed lettering and taught himself to carve it in stone and wood. He designed and made many memorial tablets.
Lit: Victoria and Albert Museum: Reynolds Stone 1909-1979, 1982
Memorials: Newtimber; Withyham, - St Michael
P D Stonham
Peter Dulvey Stonham (1877-1942) was born in Ashford, Kent, and was an architect’s assistant in Eastbourne in 1901, in the office of F G Cooke (see under F C Cook for a possible link), a leading architect in the town. He started his own practice in 1906 and was later associated with A R G Fenning - according to some sources they became partners, though there is some doubt as to whether this was ever formalised. Stonham had an extensive practice, which extended over much of Sussex and beyond, and by 1911 (KD) also had a branch in Rye. His work included houses of various types and commercial premises. He designed a number of cinemas and, perhaps unexpectedly, some of his churches show the influence of this. They also reveal a talent for massing.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: Eastbourne, - St Elisabeth (1935-38 – with S J Tatchell and G C Wilson)
Altered/extended: Eastbourne, - All Saints (1927-29 – as P D S and Fenning); - St Michael (1937)
[My thanks are due to Tim Cookson, who provided new information about Stonham and clarified a number of points, not least his date of birth]
---- Storey
A signature in this form is to be found on a memorial at Hamsey (dated 1828), together with 'London'. It is connected with William Storey of Mount Street, Grosvenor Square (d1825), who probably succeeded his father of the same name at the same address; at least one other instance of work after his death is known. In that case it is given to one of his son Charles Henry or William Clayton.
Memorial: Hamsey
A J Stothard
Alfred Joseph Stothard (1793-1864) was the son of a painter and produced mainly medals and portrait medallions, which were widely admired. He became medal engraver to Queen Victoria in 1839, but in his final years produced little. He also designed a small number of monuments, some also with portraits in the form of medallions.
Memorial: Arundel
A Strachan D Strachan
(Robert) Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) was born and trained in Aberdeen and Edinburgh as a graphic artist, particularly in lithography, which may explain his heavy, even expressionist style. He subsequently attended the RA Schools in London and was also a painter, initially a newspaper illustrator and briefly a cartoonist in Manchester. He worked closely with his brother Alexander (AS - 1878-1954) and both had links to C Whall, though there is some doubt in Douglas’s case whether these amounted to anything formal, though Whall’s influence was strong. So, at a later date, was William Blake, from whom he derived his liking for symbolism. He was the best known of the Scottish stained glass artists and became internationally known when he designed the glass that was the British contribution to the Palace of Peace in The Hague in 1913, though the greater part of his British commissions are in Scotland. The interest in Celtic art of such artists marked them off from their English contemporaries.
Lit: P Cormack: In Praise of Douglas Strachan, JSG 30 (2006) pp116-28; A C Russell: Stained Glass windows of Douglas Strachan, (2nd ed), Aberdeen, 1994
Glass: Eastbourne, - St Mary; Fernhurst (AS); West Hoathly; Winchelsea
G E S Streatfeild
Granville Edward Stewart Streatfeild (1869-1947) was born in Howick, Northumberland, before his father, who was related to T E C Streatfeild (see immediately below), became Rector of Frant. His brother, W C Streatfeild, was vicar of Eastbourne and briefly Bishop of Lewes. The spelling of the name seems to be correct as it appears thus in KD/L and Dolman's Dictionary, for both of which he would have provided the entry, though it also occurs, e g in the 1901 census, as ‘Streatfield’. In that year, already an established architect, he was present in Frant with his parents. He was a pupil of Sir T G Jackson and articled to W O Milne and J C Hall – Milne had worked with T E C Streatfeild – and afterwards worked for Sir R Blomfield before practising in London from an address in Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn (KD/L). His partner from 1921 was called Atwell. Apart from the churches he restored or built, he designed mainly houses.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: Bexhill, - All Saints, Sidley (1909, completed 1927-29); Brighton and Hove, - St Augustine (1896-1913); Eastbourne, - St Michael (1901-11); Ewhurst, – mission church at ‘Staplehurst’ (presumably St Mark, Staplecross) (1894); Heathfield, - St Richard (1912-15); Stonegate (1904)
Extended: Felpham (1899)
T E C Streatfeild
Thomas Edward Champion Streatfeild (1848-82) had his office at 44 Great Marlborough Street, London, where W O Milne also worked. He won an RIBA prize for drawing in 1871 (Proc RIBA) and exhibited at the RA in 1874. He died young and there is a memorial to him at Ferryside church, Carmarthenshire, which he designed. Some uncertainty exists about who designed some of the churches ascribed to T E C Streatfeild, particularly as compared with G E S Streatfeild (see immediately above) who was related. Thus, T E C Streatfeild cannot be the ‘Streatfield’ who designed All Saints, Sidley; this must be G E S Streatfeild, who certainly worked there later. J (sic) E C Streatfield (sic) (1847-1910), otherwise unrecorded, is also said to have designed All Saints, Eastbourne (RIBAJ 13 (1912) p654), but this much later reference can hardly be correct.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: Eastbourne, - All Saints (1877-83)
A E Street
Arthur Edmund Street (1855-1938) was the son of G E Street (see immediately below), in whose office he trained after Eton and Oxford. After his father died, he completed many of his commissions, as well as writing what, despite faults, remains the only substantial work on his life and work.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Restored: Rye (1882-83); Graffham (1886-87)
G E Street
George Edmund Street (1824-81) was born in Woodford, Essex, the son of a solicitor, but spent most of his youth in Devon, where he studied the local churches in the company of his brother, also a solicitor, and acquired a profound knowledge of the style. He commenced articles in his brother's office, but soon turned to architecture and was articled to Owen Carter of Winchester (1806-59). Subsequently he became an assistant in Sir George G Scott (see this section above) and Moffat's office from 1844-49. Deeply religious and with an attention to detail that was already legendary, he started to design churches on his own account during this period, though his own practice dated only from 1849. Although a member of the Ecclesiological Society, his early work showed a moving away from the preferred 'early pointed' gothic. From 1850 he travelled on the continent, writing about what he found (his work on Spanish gothic aroused especial interest); the major immediate influence on his own work was however the Italian gothic, especially the use of brick and polychromy. Subsequently early French gothic became the dominant influence on his work. One particular consequence of this was Street's liking for apsidal east ends, rare among mediaeval English churches. His undoctrinaire approach was to have a strong effect on many of his pupils, who included R N Shaw (see above). From an early stage in his independent career, Street was associated with Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, who appointed him Diocesan Architect - the Wilberforces had estates in West Sussex. His practice was based first in Wantage, Berkshire and later Oxford, before he moved to London in 1856. Already one of the leading church architects of the age, Street won the competition for the new Law Courts in 1866 and this dominated the rest of his life, though he did not give up work on churches. There is still no modern full scale study of him, though Brownlee's work contains a valuable introductory chapter and N Jackson looks at his churches.
Lit: D B Brownlee: The Law Courts: the Architecture of G E Street, 1984; N Jackson: George Edmund Street (1824-81): an Architect on Holiday, in C Webster (ed) 2011, pp163-98; A E Street: Memoir of G E Street RA, 1888; DNB
Designed: Eastbourne, - St Saviour (1867-68)
Restored: Barlavington (1873-74 - attr); Bignor (1876-78); Graffham (1857 and 1874-75); Milland (nd – erroneous); Rye (1877-82); 'Woollavington’ (nd - though frequently identified with East Lavington, this is probably another reference to Graffham)
W C Street
William Charles Street (1835-1913) was a London architect, who was unconnected with the better known G E Street (see immediately above). He trained at the School of Design, Somerset House and from 1860 to 1876 worked as an engineer for Sir James Brunlees. Thereafter, his office was in the City, where he designed many buildings. A partnership with H G English is known between 1880 and 1882. W C Street had houses at Liss, Hampshire and Bognor.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: Littlehampton, - All Saints, Wick (1881); Milland (new) (1878-80)
A P Strong
Alfred Pope Strong (1834-93) had German connections, as his father was Bavarian Consul in Greece. After education in England, he was a pupil of Matthew (or Thomas Henry (Howell and Sutton p139)) Wyatt and of Marchand of Hamburg. He was in London by 1861, when he was elected ARIBA (Proc RIBA). The German links may explain the use of the Byzantine style for his only Sussex church, as the approach to style there was less doctrinaire than in Britain or France. His partner from 1867-88 was Samuel Parr (the practice was called Parr, Strong and Parr).
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: Eastbourne, - All Souls (1882)
A J Style
Arthur James Style (1847-1914) was born in Southborough, Kent, the son of a clergyman and teacher. A pupil of J Newton and then assistant to Sir George G Scott (see above), he started a practice in London, designing mostly schools and houses. In 1888 this was at 1 Westminster Chambers, SW1 (B 53 p416) and it continued under his name until at least 1917 (KD/L). In 1871 he was living in Thames Ditton, where his father was born, and in 1881, 1891 and 1901 continued to live there as an unmarried lodger.
Lit: BAL Biog file
Extended: Crawley Down (1888-89); Hastings, - All Saints (1894)
E R Suffling
Ernest Richard Suffling (1855-1911) was the son of a blind-maker in London, though the name is found mostly in Norfolk, where he died. He trained in glassmaking under A Gibbs and from 1879 to 1908 his address was 436 Edgware Road (KD/L), though in 1891 and 1901 he was living in Paddington and in 1908-09 had an address in Portsdown Road, after which he disappears from KD/L. For the most part he appears to have worked alone, though in both 1886 and 1891 his business was called Suffling and Co, suggesting he had an associate. He wrote on stained glass and brasses, particularly with regard to Norfolk, and also more generally about the county, showing a particular interest in the Broads.
Glass: Ashurst; Rusper (Suffling and Co)
R G Suter
Richard George Suter (1827-94) was the son of an architect, also Richard (1797-1883), and educated at St Paul’s and Cambridge. He became ARIBA in 1853, but already called himself an architect in 1851, when his address was 3 Upper Woburn Place, St Pancras. In 1858 and 1863 he was at 3 Prince’s Place, Brighton, which was probably his office – in 1861 he was living at 1 Lansdowne Terrace West (KD) and described himself as a surveyor, employing four clerks. At this time, he was engaged amongst other projects on laying out the mid-C19 parts of Hove. A year later he was also district surveyor. From 1864 to 1868 he was the partner of E E Scott (see this section above), an almost exact contemporary, at 46a Regency Square, Brighton. By 1869 he was back in London at 23 Fenchurch Street, previously his father’s address, and soon afterwards emigrated to Australia, where he practised in Queensland until about 1875, still an ARIBA. During this time he was diocesan architect in Brisbane and designed at least ten churches in the area, some of them of wood. He subsequently forsook both Queensland and architecture after some disputes with clients and moved to Melbourne, where by 1880 he was a minister of the Catholic Apostolic Church (or Irvingites). This was despite the fact that his brother, Andrew Burn Suter (1830-95), was Bishop of Nelson, New Zealand and a leading figure in the development of the Anglican church there (Dictionary of New Zealand Biography).
Lit: BAL Biog file
Designed: Portslade by Sea (1863-64 with E E Scott)
Reconstructed: Keymer (1866 with E E Scott)
Swaffield Brown
This maker or supplier of glass in London is known from a single reference covering the years 1886 to 1888. There no mention in KD/L, but there is a passing reference to a metalworker called T Swaffield Brown in The Studio for August 1896, who is said to have been Master of the Art Workers Guild and is probably connected if not identical.
Glass: Rye
C Swash
Caroline M Swash (b1941 nee Payne) is the third generation of her family to make and design stained glass, studying at Gloucestershire College of Art and London University. Some of her glass was made for Goddard and Gibbs, and she also writes about it. Much of her work is semi-abstract or symbolic and displays a marked preference for blue. She has produced glass for Gloucester cathedral and the rebuilt church of St Barnabas, Dulwich, as well as teaching at Central St Martin’s College, and is a member of the Art Workers Guild.
Glass: Rogate
H H C Sweatman
Hector Henry Cecil Sweatman (1909-86) was an architect in St Leonards, where there are records of him in directories between 1951 and 1984.
Designed: Hastings, - St Barnabas, Ore (1954)
Repaired: Whatlington (1955-56)
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