George Skipper

George Skipper

Surrey House, Surrey Street, Norwich
Born George John Skipper
1856
Dereham, England
Died 1948
Nationality English
Occupation Architect
Practice 7 London Street, Norwich
Projects Jarrolds departmental store
Royal Arcade
Norwich Union headquarters

George John Skipper (18561948) was a leading Norwich based architect of the late Victorian and Edwardian period.[1] Writer and poet, John Betjeman said of him "he is altogether remarkable and original. He was to Norwich what Gaudi was to Barcelona"[2]

Life

Skipper was born in the Norfolk market town of East Dereham, the son of Robert Skipper a Carpenter & Builder. Skipper was educated at the Bracondale School, Norwich and later went on to attend the Norwich School of Art for one year. He trained as an architect in London and returned to work in his father's firm of builders in Norwich. After setting up his own business in 1879 he was commissioned to design the town hall at Cromer and, subsequently, several seaside hotels in the town.[3]

Much of his best work, dating from around the beginning of the twentieth century, is in Norwich. At this time Skipper, along with his rival Edward Boardman dominated building in the city. His own office in London Street, now part of the Jarrolds departmental store, has a red brick facade, with a frieze featuring scenes of architects and builders. It is faced with a locally-made type of terracotta called Cosseyware, made at Costessey (pronounced "Cossey") near Norwich by the firm of Guntons.[4] In 1899 he designed the Arts and Crafts style Royal Arcade in the city.[5] His design for the Norwich Union headquarters in Surrey Street was completed in 19034. The building features the noted Marble Hall.[6]

Personal life

His first two wives died and he married again in 1913. His son, Edward (1917–2005) (by his 3rd wife Elizabeth Alice Charter, née Roberts), himself an important local architect, worked with him while studying architecture. Skipper died in 1948 and is buried in the Earlham Road Cemetery, Norwich.[7]

Works

The Royal Arcade, Norwich
Norwich
Cromer
Cliftonville Hotel, Cromer
Guist
Hunstanton
Lowestoft
Somerset

References

  1. George Skipper Retrieved 08 March, 2010
  2. Sir John Betjeman Retrieved 10 March 2010
  3. Evening News article Retrieved 12 December 2013
  4. "Cosseyware" (PDF). Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  5. Royal Arcade 08 March, 2010
  6. "Surrey House". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  7. George Skipper information Retrieved 14 December 2015
  8. St Giles House hotel Retrieved 27 December 2010
  9. Sennowe Hall Retrieved 16 March 2010
  10. Hunstanton Town Hall Retrieved 13 March 2010
  11. Royal Norfolk and Suffolk yacht club Retrieved 22 March 2010

Further reading

External links

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