John Carr of York ~ Architect 1723 -1807 by FRANCIS F

THE GEORGIAN SOCIETY FOR EAST YORKSHIRE PRESIDENT: Sir Richard Sykes Bt., D.L., J.P. Hon. Sec. Colonel R. A. Alec-Smith, D.L.,J.P. ISSUE No. 1 Edited by Captain A. J. C. Hildyard. John Carr of York ~ Architect 1723 -1807 by FRANCIS F. JOHNSON F.S.A. The recent exhibition in the ing illustrated with a number of to Lairgate Hall, Beverley; Ferens Art Gallery devoted to Carr's other major works in the Grimston Garth and the Stables John Carr has not only done Vitruvius Brittanicus. In York at Winestead. Fangfoss Hall is timely honour, but focused at- itself his own house in probably his, and so are the tention on his important and Skelder-gate (1765) was rebuilding of Boynton Church fascinating career. Unlike many destroyed a number of years ago and alterations to the Hall there. figures of the past, Carr's reputa- but several others of importance His interiors and other features tion has never fallen into com- remain, and such public at Kilnwick were destroyed when plete oblivion; however, although buildings as the Assize Courts, that house was sacrificed. He may many have written about him, female prison (now Castle have supplied the plans for the we still await a definitive bio- Museum and Bootham Park fascinating pied-a-terre by the graphy. Hospital. All these buildings are sea known once as Hilderthorpe Born in 1723 at Horbury near robust in character and display Hall (Flat Top Farm) at Bridling- Wakefield, the son of a modest Carr's uncluttered straightforward ton. This was recently bull-dozed stone mason and quarry owner, classicism. Like most architects, to the ground and nothing saved he had a somewhat meagre educa- Carr borrowed from various so far as is known. tion, but his basic training in sources, but his synthesis is his Unlike Wood, who moved to Bust of John Carr by Nollekens building skills was thorough go- own. In a number of details he Bath, or William Kent and (By kind permission of City Art ing and excellent. His ability, in- worked out what was virtually a Thomas Ripley who both went to Gallery. York and the Courtauld telligence and agreeable character formula, seen prominently in London, John Carr remained Institute of Art). ensured the rest. door-steads and certain interior firmly in the old Northern metro- Carr's grasp of the Neo-classic In 1748 he had the good for- features. polis of York, which was not idiom reaches its ultimate in the tune to be employed by Stephen Despite this there is a goodly only strategic, but also provided wonderfully elegant and refined Thompson the Banker, as over- measure of variety in his work. him with a reserve of superb interiors. seer for the building of his new When given his head, Carr was a craftsmen whom he employed John Carr was highly com- house, Kirby Hall, Great sensible and functional planner. consistently. Despite this pro- petent, industrious, fearless in his Ouseburn. Here, the greater part His staircases are good, and those vincial setting, his fame spread dealings, and forthright with his of the designing was done by made of stone or marble show far from his native county, and advice. No shadows on his Lord Burlington, aided by Roger considerable variety in shape, and possibly through his character have come down to us. Morris, both of them figures of their finely detailed iron balus- Thompson-Croft connections We know little about his married paramount importance in the trades. They are usually lighted (pointed out by Captain Hildyard) life, and one would imagine that world of Architecture at that from the top by an eye or he was invited to design a in such a busy orbit as his, there time. Burlington who took his clerestory windows. His wooden hospital in Oporto, which still could be little time for the arts title from Bridlington was a per- staircases mostly follow a rectan- stands. In Ireland he was of home. He was a Magistrate, sonality of European significance gular formula based on masonry responsible for Milton House for and twice Lord Mayor of York, widely known and appreciated forms, and are notable for their Lord Fitz-william, and at When the Architects' club was in France and elsewhere. Their daring carpentry. Touches of real Basildon in Berkshire, a new formed in London, he was the influence on John Carr can be genius appear in such things as mansion for Sir Francis Sykes. only provincial architect who was seen right through his working the grand staircase at Wentworth There are a number of houses invited to join. Many of his life. His classical buildings, lucid Woodhouse, the Saloon at west of the Pennines including commissions were princely, and and clean, are always basically Ribston, the hexagonal Dining the splendid Tabley Hall, Platt in those days there was little to Palladian. Room at Grimston Garth or the Hall and Lytham. Important prevent the architect, or his The competition in 1754 for Hall at Raby. (The last two are work was carried out in family, from contracting for parts the Grand Stand on the Gothic). The Ribston interior Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire of the building. His short retire- Knaves-mire at York also marks a displays in its splendour the and County Durham, and nearer ment was spent on tours, visiting further stage in his career. He was result of Carr's contact with home there were such houses as his former works with his nieces, fortunate again in winning this, Robert Adam, who did the in- Heath, Harewood and Burton who benefited greatly after his and the fame it brought in its train terior decoration at Harewood Constable. The full list is a very death, as he had become, de- launched him on his fashionable where Carr himself designed both long one. servedly, very wealthy. His body practice. the house and the beautiful Towards the close of his pro- was laid to rest in the beautiful The list of his public works village. fessional life came Farnley Hall church which he designed and includes the Town Halls of In the East Riding, we have near Leeds, with its severely built, at his own expense, in his Chesterfield and Newark, the not many of John Carr's im- simple exterior, the main feature native Horbury; a fitting mauso- latter a very distinguished build- portant works, but the best are of which is one of Carr's favourite leum for a great man. Everingham Park; the wing added octangular bays. Inside this house The Restoration of tion was the solution of the iment meanwhile being tempor- stability of the north facing wall. arily shored up. These columns BLAYDES HOUSE Formerly Blaydes House had a have been carefully repaired and and it’s Particular Problems By ALAN K. BRAY R.l.B.A. neighbour building, built up are at present being made ready shoulder to shoulder on its north for refitting into the repaired side. Possibly, over the years, it portico, thus restoring former had had other neighbours, de- glory. molished and rebuilt but event- A man may consider that if he ually events conspired that the owns a building, he is entitled to property to the north was pulled alter it according to his wishes. down and was not to be rebuilt, Certainly this happened in the and Blaydes House was left with case of Blaydes House. On the an open wound. Some of the ground and first floor the graceful brickwork from the adjoining Georgian box frames and sashes property was temporarily left to were removed and new round provide the support which headed openings to Victorian Blaydes House had had so long taste made. The results seem that it had become used to it and eccentric to the onlooker today relied on it — the more so as its but were no doubt pleasing to the own gable wall was a pitiful 4'/1" then owner. Little did he know thick from ground to apex. With that one day his building would great care the temporary supports be acquired by the Georgian were removed, a new foundation Society, and these follies made and the old wall thickened removed. Already the windows on out and knitted in to the old one side of the frontage have been with metal anchors and ties, and so restored and a start made on using a supply of bricks which those on the other side. had been acquired from demoli- There remains much more to BEFORE RESTORA TION tion of a building further down do. Facing the Staithe to the the High Street, that of the old south are areas of decayed brick- Many buildings, during their lifetime, sometimes extending through Weights & Measures Office south work to be rebuilt and decayed hundreds of years, survive a variety of changes. These might be of Alfred Gelder Street. joinery to renew. In improving changes of use, structural alterations and additions, improvements Acquisition of these bricks had weather the whole roof is to be (or so considered by their owners) repair works resulting in some thoroughly overhauled, layers of change in appearance, changes in the external environment by been no light matter. Careful development of the area around, repercussions of social events, strikes, wars and fires, alteration in social customs, growth of trees, repercussions from traffic growth, and dilapidation, wear and tear. A great many men and events have influenced Blaydes House over the years, some dealing it not mortal blows but certainly deep injury. Some influences have persisted. Blaydes House has always been a town house, and in particular a house concerned with the sea trade of the port of Hull.

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