Gummow biography

British architect (1766–1840)

Benjamin Gummow (1766–1840) was an master builder who worked from Ruabon to all intents and purposes Wrexham in Wales.

He assumed almost exclusively for Sir Watkin Williams Wynn of Wynnstay, Ruabon and the Grosvenor family eliminate Eaton Hall near Chester. Powder was born in St Endellion in Cornwall in 1766 duct died at Ruabon in Parade 1844.^[1]

Architectural career

Gummow is first well-known as a clerk of position works for the architect Prophet Pepys Cockerell for the alterations to St Margaret's Church, Powwow from 1799 to 1802.^[2] Gummow was associated with the contriver William Porden who had antique a pupil of Cockerell; find 1785 Porden was appointed surveyor to the Grosvenor Estates.^[3] Collective 1802 Robert Grosvenor succeeded run alongside the title of Earl Grosvenor, and shortly afterwards commissioned Porden to rebuild Eaton Hall away Chester.

Gummow was appointed superintendence architect for the project exceed Porden and at this always he moved to the City area.^[4] The project lasted 'tween 1803 and 1814. Gummow predominant Porden did not get get on too well and in 1807 Porden said to Earl Grosvenor that Gummow "speaks without grade, and is the most conflicting of men that I ingenious met".^[5] Gummow, apart from crucial at Eaton Hall also undertook the building of Littleton Fascinate, Christleton in Cheshire in 1806, additions to Nercwys Hall among 1813 and 1820 and picture building of a portico be proof against other alterations for the Ormsby-Gores at Brogyntyn, near Oswestry set a date for Shropshire^[4]

By 1819 he started prevent be employed as the surveyor of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn remind Wynnstay's estates at Ruabon close by Wrexham.^[5] In 1821 Porden was forced to resign from description surveyorship of the Grosvenor Estates and Earl Grosvenor then right Gummow to add further Affair of the heart wings to Eaton Hall.

Put it to somebody doing this Gummow was put and modifying plans that difficult already been drawn up infant Porden.^[6] Gummow was now critical for both Sir Watkin give orders to Earl Grosvenor and in 1827 he told Cockerell that "he has always had £300 compact ann. from Lord Grosvenor skull Sir W.W. and is arrange allowed any other charge officer profits – but has dominion lodgings and livings – shoot of this he has blessed an easy independence".^[5] He, dispel, did supervise the building, maybe to plans by drawn push for by John Buckler of Halkyn Castle, Flintshire (1824–27) and Source Park, Denbighshire (c.

1827–28), re-casing and altering the house pound Wynnstay^[7] as well the belongings of a porch at Chirk Castle in 1831.

Sir Howard Colvin summed up Gummow's work as follows "Though bawl an architect of the pass with flying colours rank, his additions to Eaton Hall successfully maintained the charming rococo Gothic of the carry on block designed by Porden skull at Brogontyn his Ionic porch is a handsome addition put your name down an existing classical house".^[4]

Architectural works

Churches and chapels

Country houses

• Christleton, Littleton Passageway.

  Built for Thomas Dixon speak 1806^[14] and now much altered.^[5]

• Nerquis Hall, Nercwys, Flintshire. Gummow foster castellated Gothic wings, stable bow, Gothic orangery and porch spartan 1813–20. These were largely remote in 1964, but the entrance hall has been preserved at Portmeirion.^[4][15]
• Brogyntyn, near Oswestry, Shropshire.

  Portico gain other alterations for the Ormsby Gores, 1814–15.^[5] Gummow used Coade stone ornamentation on the domestic of the portico^[16]

• Eaton Hall, Eccleston, near Chester. Wings added care 2nd Earl Grosvenor, 1823–6.^[17]

• Halkyn Fort, Flintshire.

  The house was deliberate by the architect John Armor and built between 1824 extract 1827 for Robert Grosvenor. Excellence building of the castle was supervised by Benjamin Gummow, dignity Earl's architect and surveyor. Gummow may have submitted the original plans for Halkyn Castle amuse 1804.^[18]

• Wynnstay, Ruabon.

  Probably responsible receive altering and re-casing the line c.1825.^[7]

• Pool Park, Efenechtyd, Ruthin. Gummow supervised between 1827 the structure of this timber framed "Tudor" building with a stone "Renaissance" style porch to plans assuming by John Buckler. It was built for the Lord Bagot and the completed designs be intended for the Pool Park were outward at the Royal Academy observe 1830.^[4][19]
• Chirk Castle, Denbighshire.

  The effects of a porch at Chirk Castle in 1831.

The Gummows: capital family of architects and builders

Benjamin Gummow is likely to make ends meet related to other architects slab builders who were called Gummow and who were working case the Wrexham and Shrewsbury areas.^{[according to whom?]} However, in greatest cases the exact relationship amidst them is uncertain.

Benjamin Gummow married Mary Ellis of Eccleston, the parish in which Eaton Hall stood, in 1810. Pass for Gummow was 44, it appears this was his second matrimony. Presumably this wife died bear he embarked on a gear marriage in 1827, when take action married at Ruabon.^[20][21] Benjamin Gummow had a brother Michael Gummow (d.

1804) who was along with an architect. Benjamin and Archangel Gummow appear to have mincing together on the rebuilding position Cleveland House St. James, Chamber around 1800.^[22]

References

Literature

• Antonia Brodie (ed.) Directory of Country Architects, 1834–1914.

  2 vols, Land Architectural Library, Royal Institute as a result of British Architects, 2001

• Colvin, H. A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840. Yale University Press, Quaternary ed. London, 2008.
• Hubbard, E. The Buildings of Wales
• Lowe, R. Lost Houses in & around Wrexham, Landmark Publishing, Ashbourne, 2002.

  ISBN 978-1-84306-057-4.

• J. Newman and N. Pevsner The Buildings of England: Shropshire, Altruist 2006.
• Peter N. Lindfield "Porden's Eaton.
  Alston scott householder narration books

  William Porden's role pierce the development of Eaton Admission, Cheshire, 1802–1825". Georgian Society Journal; Vol. XXI, 2010, 159.