JAMES WYATT: ARCHITECT TO GEORGE III

A lecture by John Martin Robinson - Thursday 1 November

Abbey Leix House, Co. Leix

The London Chapter is pleased to welcome fellow Chapter member, John Martin Robinson, who will give a lecture on the Irish work of James Wyatt (1746 - 1813), the subject of his most recent publication “James Wyatt: Architect to George III”. The most definitive account of Wyatt’s work to date, copies will be available on the evening for purchase and signing.

James Wyatt was one of the most outstanding, prolific, and successful architects of his time. He spent six years in Italy from 1762 before returning to England where he worked for the family firm, mostly with his brother Samuel. He evolved an elegant Neo-Classicism, possibly derived not only from his time in Italy, but from studies of the work of Adam at Kedleston, Derbyshire. Indeed his first architecturally significant house was Heaton Hall, Lancashire (c.1772–8), loosely based on a simplified and refined version of Paine's designs for Kedleston, complete with a central bow. He made his name however, with The Pantheon, , London (1769–72), a Neo-Classical domed assembly room and given the imprimatur of the great arbiter of taste, , who declared it the ‘most beautiful edifice in England’.

At aged 26 Wyatt had arrived. He became Surveyor to (1776), Architect to the (1782), and Surveyor-General and Comptroller of the Office of Works (1796), designed or altered several royal residences and carried out many other commissions, including well over 100 country houses. His Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford (1776–94), drew on the Tower of the Winds in Athens (c.50 BC) for its inspiration, and he completed the interior of Sir Robert Taylor's Heveningham Hall, Suffolk (c.1780–4), in an elegant Neo-Classical style (damaged in the 1980s). His finest houses are Heaton Hall, , Co. Fermanagh and the severe Dodington Park, (1798–1813). Two of his best designs were for mausolea: that for the 4th at Cobham, Kent (c.1783–4) was a noble and severe Neo-Classical work, while that for the 1st Earl of Yarborough at Park, (1786–94) is a refined interpretation of the Antique Roman Temples of Vesta at Tivoli and .

Of Wyatt’s Irish commissions, the Dartrey Mausoleum in Co. Monaghan (c. 1770) will be most familiar to members, as the Chapter has helped finance its now near complete restoration after several years of neglect. Other Irish commissions of Wyatt’s include Abbey Leix, Co. Leix (1772 – 1778), library ceiling for Castle, Co. Meath (1773), design of central block for House, Co Meath (1773 - 1776) and alterations to , Co. Waterford (1778 – 1780) among many others which will be discussed.

After completing an architectural history thesis at Oxford in 1974 John Martin Robinson joined the Historic Buildings Division of the GLC and later worked for the London Division of English Heritage. As senior casework officer for the Westminster area he oversaw the restoration of many important buildings, including Crewe House in Mayfair and Spencer House. As archivist and librarian to the Duke of Norfolk he has been closely involved in the restoration of Carlton Towers and Arundel Castle and has also written guidebooks to these houses, as well as to and Buckingham Palace. His other published work includes numerous books on architecture and related subjects, including the much-acclaimed The Wyatts: An Architectural Dynasty (1979), The Latest Country Houses (1984), The Country House at War (1989), The Regency Country House: From the Archives of Country Life (2008) and Felling the Ancient Oaks: How England Lost its Great Country Estates (2012). He is Vice-Chairman of the Georgian Group.

Our lecture is at Lettson House and commences at 7pm with wine served from 6.30pm and costs £15 per person. Guests are welcome. If you would like to attend, please complete the attached application form and send with your cheque and an email address or SAE to Colm Owens, Apartment 50, Kilner House, Clayton Street, London SE11 5SE. Confirmation will be sent to those attending closer to the event.

JAMES WYATT: ARCHITECT TO GEORGE III

A lecture by John Martin Robinson - Thursday 1 November

Please reserve place(s) at £15 each.

Name of member(s)

Name of guest(s)

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I enclose a cheque payable to the IGS London Chapter Ltd. for £

Please return with your cheque and an email address or SAE to Colm Owens, Apartment 50, Kilner House, Clayton Street, London SE11 5SE