The Pugins in Warwickshire CR2120/1 and CR4615/9

The Pugins in Warwickshire CR2120/1 and CR4615/9 The Pugins A.W.N. (Augustus Welby Northmore) Pugin (1812-1852) was a famous English architect, most recognised for his signature Gothic style. In 1834, Pugin converted to Roman Catholicism, and this was reflected in many of his commissions. This also influenced his eldest son Edward Welby Pugin (1834–1875) who at the age of 18, after his father’s death, found himself partly in charge of the practice, which he developed with his brother Peter. Edward himself designed more than one hundred Catholic churches. The Pugins’ signature designs can be seen around Warwickshire, and the record office holds an interesting variety of original documents that chart their time in the county. This month’s document of the month highlights two of these. All Saint’s Church, Sherbourne All Saint’s Church was built by Louisa Anne Ryland between 1862-1864 and designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott at a cost of £20,000. Louisa, a member of a wealthy Birmingham family, commissioned Augustus Pugin in 1844 to design a family memorial, which was later placed in the south chapel of the church. The memorial takes the form of a tomb table, decorated with quatrefoils, brass plates and a cross. The letter, post-dated May 10th 1844 from Pugin to Louisa Ryland, discusses the first design of the tomb. CR2120/1 Letter from Augustus Pugin to Louisa Ryland, 1844 Transcription My Dear Madam I enclose you a slight sketch of the tomb to stand in the centre of the chapel. I should propose the pillars be made of marble & the quatrefoils filled with brass plates engraved. I could make a very handsome thing of it. I hope you will not wish me to dispense with the crossflory at top for it is the best part of it. I expect to return from Paris in about 2 weeks & shall remain in London for two or three days before I go to Staffordshire. I remain with respect in haste your devoted Sert AWelby Pugin The Priory of St Scholastica The Priory of St Scholastica, Atherstone belonged to the rule of St Benedict. In 1835 the order purchased a house at Colwich in Staffordshire, which became St Mary's Abbey, Colwich. Sometime around 1854, owing to burgeoning numbers, 19 nuns of Colwich took up residence at St Scholastica's. By 1966 the community had shrunk to such small numbers a decision was made to return to St Mary's in Colwich. The estate at Atherstone was sold in 1967, and the priory building demolished in 1968. CR4615/9 Receipt for payment for work designed by Edward Pugin, 1861 Pugin’s work in the Priory This receipt for payment dated 1861 was received by the Prioress Mrs Clifford, for work to the high altar and reredos at the Priory by the sculptor William Farmer. It states that payment was made ‘for finding material, executing & fixing Alter and Rederos […] from designs by EW Pugin Esq’. The document is signed at the bottom as ‘certified by me, Jan 21st, E Welby Pugin’. In 1878, after Edward’s death, the Priory also received a receipt for architect’s commission, signed by Peter Pugin (CR4615/15/2). The Pugins in Warwickshire The Pugins made their mark elsewhere in Warwickshire, and the following were designed or feature designs by them. St Augustine’s RC Church, Kenilworth (designed by A.W.N. Pugin in 1840). St. Mary Immaculate RC Church, Warwick (built 1859-1860, and designed by E.W. Pugin) St Peter’s RC Church, Leamington Spa (includes work by A.W.N Pugin). Harrington House, Leamington Spa (designed by E.W. Pugin in 1869, demolished in 1967 to make way for the Royal Spa Centre). Bilton Grange (now Preparatory School, staircase and library designed by A.W.N. Pugin, 1840s) References Sammons, A. T., St. Scholastica’s Priory, (Atherstone Warwickshire) and the conversion of England, 1935. Pugin, A. W. N., The Collected Letters of A. W. N. Pugin: Volume 2, 1843-1845, edited by Margaret Belcher, 2003. .

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