William Watkins (architect)

William Watkins
Christ’s Hospital Girl's School, LIncoln
Born	1834 Rushock, nr. Droitwich, Worcestershire
Died	1926 Lincoln
Nationality	English
Alma mater	Articled to Henry Day of Worcester 1854-59
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Christ’s Hospital Girls School, Lincoln

William Watkins 1834-1926 was an architect who worked in Lincoln, England, and is particularly noted for his Terracotta Revival Architecture.

Career

Watkins was articled to the Worcester architect Henry Day between 1854 and 1859 and he then worked as Principal Assistant to the Lincoln architect Henry Goddard between 1860 and 1864. He set up his own practice in Lincoln in 1864 and was living at Leyland House Lincoln in 1881. Two of his sons Henry Garnons Watkins and William Gregory Watkins also became architects in Lincoln and worked from St Edmond’s Chambers, Silver Street, Lincoln. He was elected FRIBA in 1881.^[1] Watkins retired from the practice in 1918 and it was continued by his son W. G. Watkins until 1934 when Bob Coombes became a partner.

Works include

Public Buildings

It is suggested by Antram that the Lincoln Drill Hall was by Watkins^[2] The attribution is incorrect- the architect was Henry Goddard.

Royal Albert Ophanage, Worcester

Grantham Town hall 1867-9

• Royal Albert Ophanage, Henwick , Worcester. 1868. The building cost £5,000 and the contract was won by Watkins in open competition.^[3] Fundswere raised for the construction of permanent premises for the institution, with a donation of £4,000 being received from local MP Alderman Richard Padmore, and legacy of £1,000 in 1866 from Mr Edward Wheeler. A site was obtained on Henwick Road, Worcester, and a competition held for designs for the new building. The plans put forward by William Watkins and S. Dutton Walker were chosen.
• Grantham Town Hall, Grantham. 1867-9. This is an early work by Watkins in an Italianate/ Jacobethan revival style with stone dressing and florid Corinthian columns surmounted by a clock tower giving a heavy and ungainly appearance.^[4] The Guildhall as originally designed was made up of three separate buildings – the main building which housed a ballroom and courtroom (or session’s hall), a governor’s residence and a jail for up to 18 men and women on two floors. The work was carried out Mr Wartnaby, of Little Gonerby, for £7,260. In 1991 it was redesigned by Sleaford architect Tim Benton and re-opened as the council owned Guildhall Arts Centre at a cost of £1.2 million.^[5]
• The Market Hall, Corn Exchange and Fish Market, Doncaster. The Market Hall of 1847-8 was by H. J. Butterfield. Watkins. The Corn Market was added at right angles to the building by Watkins in 1870.^[6] Corn exchange has advanced central and side bays with projecting stonework to corners, acting as plinths for clasping) corner pilasters and adjacent engaged red sandstone columns to first floor. The balustrade to front has a plinth inscribed 'Wm Cotterill Clark Mayor 1873' ^[7]
• General Dispensary, Silver Street, Lincoln. 1879. By Watkins and Scorer. (This was on the south side of Silver Street and may have been demolished c.1970.)^[8]

County Assembly Rooms. Bailgate, Lincoln. Facade by Watkins 1914.

Lincoln Constitutional Club-Silver Street/Broadgate

• Outpatients at Lincoln County Hospital, Sewell Road, Lincoln. 1891.^[9]
• Masonic Hall and Concert Room, Newland, Lincoln (1871 or 187). Gothic revival style. Later Palace Threatre and then Plaza Cinema. It was demolished as a result of a fire in the 2nd World War.^[10]
• Constitutional Club, on corner of Broadgate with Silver Street, Lincoln 1895. With a domed circular vestibule at the corner and enriched with terracotta work presumably from Ruabon.^[11]
• County Assembly Rooms, Bailgate, Lincoln. 1914. Watkins added a new facade to this building with a Venetian window set in the gable above the entrance. The building contains a fine interior dating from 1745 ^[12]

Banks

Doulton Terracotta detailing on the former Peacock & Willsons Bank, High Street, Lincoln

• Peacock and Willson’s Bank, 190-1, High Street Lincoln. 1897. (Now Jack Wills). This building is an important example of FlemishGothic revival style and is probably Watkins finest work. Watkins provided the drawings used to fashion the elaborate terracotta mouldings which were provided by Doulton and Company, probably from their production plant at Rowley Regis in the West Midlands. It was restored to its original appearances at street level in 1992.^[13][14][15]
• HSBC, High Street Lincoln, 1893. Formerly the Lincoln and Lindsey Bank, later Midland Bank, The earlier building was occupied by Hepworths the clothiers. Watkins left the upper part of the building untouched, but the exterior walls and the ground and first floors were removed and the stone facade and and strongroooms were inserted. The new banking hall has an impressive ceiling with Elizabethan style strap-work decoration and the coats of arms of the Lincolnshire Boroughs. The building was extended between 1923 and 1926.^[16]

HSBC Bank, Market Place, Sleaford, 1903

• Sleaford. The Midland Bank (now HSBC) was built in 1903, designed by William Watkins and Son, in a stone faced Jacobethan/Renaissance Revival style with shaped gables and oriel windows. The ground floor entrance at the corner of Westgate with Southgate Street has a heavily moulded entrance with a corner tower above and the ground floor windows are set between columns.^[17]
• Lloyd's Bank, Northgate, Sleaford 1905. Baroque revival.^[18] Formerly Peacock Willson & Co Bank which was established in 1792 in a house built in 1702 for Robert Alvey. Watkins and Son extended this building in a matching architectural style in the gap between the original building and the Sleaford Sessions house.The new building was technically advanced, heated with low pressure hot water with electric lighting throughout. The 9 foot diameter glass dome in the centre of the banking chamber was fitted with a patent air extractor.^[19]

Shops

Hathern Terracotta by Watkins for Hewitt Brown and Co, High Street, Lincoln

• 305/6 High Street, Lincoln. 1900, designed for Hewitt Brown & Co. (Now Fat Face). Brick with terracotta dressings-terracotta dressings were made by the Hathern Station Brick Co. of Loughborough. Flemish Renaissance Revival style. Giant pilasters, those at the angles with domed finials, enriched moulded cornice and coped gable. 4 storeys plus attics, 3 bays. Windows have terracotta mullions and transoms. Fascia with a full width glazed panel above it.
  

  High Bridge, High Street, Lincoln
  Above, window flanked by single bow windows, and above that an gable has a 4-light ogee headed window with a blind arcade and a latticed round headed opening in the gable peak,flanked by pilasters with domed finials.
• 216 High Street Lincoln. 1902. Shop for C. J. Fox and Co. This has been demolished and is now the site of Primark.

Restoration Work

• Greyfriars, Free School Lane (formerly the City and County Museum). Watkins converted the undercroft of the Franciscan Friary into a museum in 1909.^[20]
• The High Bridge, Lincoln. The 16th century jettied timber framed shops on the bridge were partly dismantled and re-erected by Watkins in 1900-01.^[21]

Churches

The Monson Mausoleum at South Carlton Church, 1897-98

• St. Mark, High Street Lincoln 1871-2. Large church in 13th. century style without aisles and with lancet windows and tracery. Slender north tower with spire.^[22]
• St Botolph, High Street, Lincoln. Nave and north aisle 1861, by Henry Goddard. The chancel was rebuilt in 1878, and the south aisle and south chapel added 1884 by William Watkins. Dressed stone and ashlar with slate roof.^[23]
• South Carlton, Lincolnshire, The Monson Mausoleum was added to the north transept or chapel of South Carlton Church by Watkins in 1897-98.^[24]

Schools

Decorative entrance arch to the Spring Hill Council School, Hungate, Lincoln. 1910.

• Christ’s Hospital School for Girls, Lincoln. 1893 and extended in 1911. After 1974 the building became part of Lincoln School of Art. It is built in red brick with Ruabon terracotta ornamentation.^[25]

Old Lincoln Grammar School Buildings by William Watkins, 1884

Datestone on Monk's Road Primary School, Lincoln. 1905/1911

• Grammar School, Lindum Terrace, Lincoln (now Lincoln Minster School) 1884. The school was designed by Watkins in 1883-4 and was moved from this site to Wragby Road in 1906. It became the St Joseph Convent School and is now part of the Lincoln Minster School. Lincoln Minster School was formed in 1996 through a merger of the Cathedral School for Boys, St Joseph's School for Girls and Stonefield House School.^[26]
• St Peter in Eastgate Primary School, Eastgate, Lincoln. A further school was built on this site by Watkins in 1881 which was later combined with the earlier school of 1851 by William Adams Nicholson ^[27]
• Spring Hill National School, Hungate, Lincoln. 1910. School buildings now converted into the Ropery housing development.^[28]
• Monk's Road Primary School, Lincoln. 1903/4 and later extended. A similar datestone to the Spring Hill School is above the gable window on this school.^[29]
• Sincil Bank School, Lincoln. 1912.^[30]

Houses

St.Nicholas Parsonage, Newport, Lincoln, 1879

• House for William Old. Lindum Terrace,Lincoln. 1864.^[31]
• House on the Strait, Lincoln, 1868. Opposite the Jews Court, built for himself.^[32]
• Burton Hall, Burton by Lincoln. Altertions and additions for Lord Monson in 1872, including the design of the gates.^[33]
• Leyland House, 2 The Grove, Nettleham Road, 1875. Watkins' family.home.
• Boultham Hall, Lincoln. 1872. Alterations and restoration work to the Hall for Major Ellison. Now demolished.^[34]
• Willoughby Hall, Ancaster, 1876. Badly damaged during 2nd World War and now largely demolished.^[35]
• St Nicholas Parsonage, Newport, Lincoln 1879. Early Arts and Crafts. Built for the Rev F.B.Blenkin for £1950 plus £100 architect's commission.^[36]
• Nettleham Hall, Nettleham. 1876. Destroyed by fire in 1937 and now in ruins.

Arts and Crafts Style 9/11 Lindum Terrace by William Watkins, 1896

• 1885 15-25 West Parade, Lincoln, for Charles Tomlinson, local chemist and property owner, most are in original condition, complete with boundary walls and railings. Built as town houses but all are now offices
• 1885 5 - 15 Beaumont Fee, Lincoln. For Charles Tomlinson. Built as town houses but all are now offices
• Canwick House, Canwick, Lincolnshire. 1889. Red brick, presumably Ruabon terracotta, with decorative panels and gables. Built as Canwick Rectory in a Queen Anne Revival, or Dutch Revival, style.^[37]
• 1896. 9/11 Lindum Terrace. Arts and Crafts with timbering and pargeting.^[38]

References

1. ”Brodie” Vol. II pg 925
2. “Antram”, (1989), 521.
3. "Scorer" (1990), 38.
4. “Antram”, (1989), 322.
5. Guildhall Arts Centre
6. Sheardown W (1979) The Marts and Markets at Doncaster, their rise, progress, sources and supply.
7. British Listed Buildings
8. "Scorer" (1990), 40.
9. “Antram”, (1989), 510.
10. Yeates-Langley A.(1997), Lincoln: A Pictorial History, Phillimore, Pl.111
11. “Antram”, (1989), 521.
12. “Antram”, (1989), 516.
13. “Stratton” (1993), 230
14. “Antram”, (1989), 524.
15. British Listed Buildings
16. "Scorer" (1990), 41.
17. “Antram”, (1989), 655.
18. “Antram”, (1989), 656.
19. "Scorer" (1990), 46
20. “Antram”, (1989), 508.
21. “Antram”, (1989), 523.
22. "Pevsner" & "Harris" (1964), 143-4.
23. British Listed BUildings
24. “Antram”, (1989),661-2.
25. “Antram”, (1989), 509.
26. “Antram”, (1989), 521.
27. “Antram”, (1989), 525. where incorrect information is given: see also
28. LARA - conversion 2003, Stamford Homes
29. "Scorer" (1990), 44.
30. "Scorer" (1990), 47.
31. "Scorer" (1990), 38.
32. "Scorer" (1990), 38.
33. "Scorer" (1990), 39.
34. "Scorer" (1990), 39.
35. "Scorer" (1990), 39.
36. "Scorer" (1990), 40.
37. “Antram”, (1989), 210.
38. "Scorer" (1990), 42.

Literature

• Antram N (revised), Pevsner N & Harris J, (1989), The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire’', Yale University Press.
• Brodie A. (ed), Directory of British Architects, 1834–1914: 2 Vols, British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects, 2001.
• Pevsner N & Harris J, (1964), The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire, Pengin, London.
• Scorer S.(introduction), (1990) The Victorian Facade: William Watkins and son, architects, Lincoln 1858-1918 Lincolnshire College of Art and Design. ISBN 0951634003. Booklet to accompany exhibition at the Usher Gallery, Lincoln.
• Stratton, M. (1993) The Terracotta Revival : Building Innovation and the Image of the Industrial City in Britain and North America. London : Gollancz.
• Welsh C. (1983), William Watkins (1834-1926): His Life and Work, Degree dissertation, Nottingham University Department of Architecture.

External links

• List of Lincoln architects