John and Benjamin Green

John and Benjamin Green

John and Benjamin Green were a father and son who worked in partnership as architects in North East England during the early nineteenth century. John, the father was a civil engineer as well as an architect. Although they did carry out some commissions separately, they were given joint credit for many of their projects, and it is difficult to attribute much of their work to a single individual. In general, John Green worked on civil engineering projects, such as road and rail bridges, whereas Benjamin worked on projects that were more purely architectural.

Early life

John Green was born on 29 June 1787 at Newton Fell House, Nafferton, two miles north of Ovington, in Northumberland. He was the son of Benjamin Green, a carpenter and maker of agricultural implements. After finishing school, he worked in his father’s business. The firm moved to the market town of Corbridge and began general building work with young John concentrating on architectural work. About 1820, John set up business as an architect and civil engineer in nearby Newcastle.

John Green married Jane Stobart in 1805, and they had two sons, John (c1807-68) and Benjamin (c1811-58), both of whom became architects. Unfortunately little is known about the career of John, but Benjamin worked in partnership with his father on many projects.

John Green’s career

In 1822 John Green designed a new building for the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society. The building, which houses the society’s substantial library, is still in use today. He also designed a number of farmhouses, being employed on the Beaufront estate near Hexham and also on the Duke of Northumberland’s estates. John Green was principally a civil engineer, and built several road and rail bridges. In 1829-31 he built two wrought-iron suspension bridges crossing the Tyne (at Scotswood) and the Tees (at Whorlton). The bridge at Scotswood was demolished in 1967 but the one at Whorlton still survives. When the High Level Bridge at Newcastle was proposed ten years later, John Green submitted plans, but those of Robert Stephenson were accepted by the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway. Green also built two masonry bridges for the Newcastle and North Shields Railway, at the Ouseburn and at Willington Quay. He also built a number of bridges using an innovative system of laminated timber arches. In 1840 he was elected to the Institution of Civil Engineers, and in 1841 he was awarded the institution’s Telford Medal for his work on laminated arch design.

Benjamin Green’s career

Benjamin Green was a pupil of Augustus Charles Pugin, father of the more famous Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. In the mid-1830s he became a partner of his father and remained so until the latter’s death in 1852. The two partners differed somewhat. John has been described as a ‘plain, practical, shrewd man of business’ with a ‘plain, severe and economical’ style, whereas Benjamin was ‘an artistic, dashing sort of fellow’, with a style that was ‘ornamental, florid and costly’.

The Greens worked as railway architects and it is believed that the mail line stations between Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed were designed by Benjamin. They also designed a number of Northumbrian churches, the best examples being at Earsdon and Cambo.

The Green’s most important commissions in Newcastle were the Theatre Royal (1836-7) and the column for Grey's Monument (1837-8). Both of these structures were part of the re-development of Newcastle city centre in neo-classical style by Richard Grainger, and both exist today. Although both of the partners were credited with their design, it is believed that Benjamin was the person responsible.

Another well-known structure designed by the Greens is Penshaw Monument (1844). This is a folly standing on Penshaw Hill in County Durham. It was built as a half-sized replica of the renowned Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, and was dedicated to John George Lambton, first Earl of Durham and the first Governor of the Province of Canada. The monument, being built on a hill is visible for miles around and is a famous local landmark. It is now owned by the National Trust.

Deaths

John Green died in Newcastle on 30 September 1852.

Benjamin Green , survived his father by only six years, and died in a mental home at Dinsdale Park, County Durham on 14 November 1858.

Drawings by John and Benjamin Green are held by the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne.

References

* H.G.Dobson (2006), "Men of Merit", ISBN 0-9531840-7-2

* Oxford DNB article on John Green - http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/37484?docPos=6

* Oxford DNB article on Benjamin Green - http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/37482/?back=,37484


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • John Green — may refer to:*John Green (author) (b.1977), American award winning writer *John Green (botanist) (b.1930), Australian botanist *John Green (composer) (1908 1989), American composer and Inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame *John Green… …   Wikipedia

  • John Dobson (architect) — John Dobson (1787 ndash; 1865) was a 19th century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall …   Wikipedia

  • John Brown (abolitionist) — John Brown Daguerreotype of Brown, ca.1856. Born May 9, 1800(1800 05 09) Torrington, Connecticut Died …   Wikipedia

  • John Proctor — (1632–1692) was a farmer and tavern keeper in 17th century Massachusetts. During the Salem witch trials he was accused of witchcraft, convicted and hanged.alem Witch TrialsBackground to John Proctor s involvementJohn Proctor was in his 60s when… …   Wikipedia

  • John Sadler (1820-1910) — John Sadler (1st February 1820 22nd December 1910) was an industrialist and public figure associated with the town of Oldbury, Worcestershire (now Oldbury, West Midlands), United Kingdom. As a result of his lifetime of service, Sadler became… …   Wikipedia

  • John McIntire — est un acteur américain né le 27 juin 1907 à Spokane, Washington (États Unis), décédé le 30 janvier 1991 à Pasadena (Californie). Biographie De 1935 jusqu à sa mort en 1991, il est marié à l actrice Jeanette Nolan. De leur union, sont nés deux… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • John L. Helm — Infobox Governor name = John L. Helm order = 24th office = Governor of Kentucky term start = September 3, 1867cite web |url=http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=7827c895ddf56010VgnVCM1000001a01010… …   Wikipedia

  • Benjamin Disraeli — Disraeli redirects here. For other uses, see Disraeli (disambiguation). The Right Honourable The Earl of Beaconsfield KG PC FRS …   Wikipedia

  • John Adams — This article is about the politician and second president of the United States. For his son, the 6th president of the United States, see John Quincy Adams. For other uses, see John Adams (disambiguation). John Adams …   Wikipedia

  • John Adams — Este artículo trata sobre 2º presidente de los EE.UU.. Para otros usos de este término, véase John Adams (desambiguación). John Adams Jr …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”