List of works by Edward Blore on palaces and large houses

Edward Blore (1787–1879) was an English antiquarian, artist, and architect. He was born in Derby, and was trained by his father, Thomas, who was an antiquarian and a topographer. Edward became skilled at drawing accurate and detailed architectural illustrations. His commissions included drawings of Peterborough, Durham, and Winchester Cathedrals. His drawings of Althorp brought him to the attention of Earl Spencer, who was influential in introducing him to other wealthy and influential patrons. After his father died in 1818, Blore started to prepare architectural designs for new buildings. The first of these was for the enlargement of Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford House. Although this was not accepted, it led to the acceptance of his design for Corehouse, a large country house in Lanarkshire, Scotland, for the judge George Cranstoun. More commissions for country houses followed. Blore then became involved with the Church Commissioners, designing, with others, a series of churches that have become to be known as Commissioners' churches, the first of these being St George's Church in Battersea, London. ()

Blore's connection with Earl Spencer helped him to gain the commission for rebuilding Lambeth Palace for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Following this he worked on some of the most important buildings in the country, including the completion of Buckingham Palace, on Windsor Castle and on Hampton Court Palace. He gained two commissions for major works abroad, the Vorontsov Palace in Russia, and Government House, Sydney in Sydney, Australia. The rest of his works are in Great Britain, and mainly in England. These range from palaces and country houses, cathedrals and churches, through schools, rectories, and lodges, to groups of estate houses with washhouses.

Blore received a DCL degree from Oxford University, and was a founder member of the British Archaeological Association and of the Institute of British Architects. He retired from active architectural practice in 1849, but continued to produce drawings. In total, these filled 48 volumes, which are held in the British Library. Blore died at his home in Manchester Square, Marylebone, London, in 1879, leaving an estate of £80,000 ().

Key

Grade CriteriaGrade I Buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.Grade II* Particularly important buildings of more than special interest.Grade II Buildings of national importance and special interest. "—" denotes a work that is not graded. Category (Scotland) CriteriaCategory A Buildings of special architectural or historical interest which are outstanding examples of a particular period, style or building type.Category B Buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are major examples of a particular period, style or building type.Category C(S) Buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are representative examples of a period, style or building type. "—" denotes a work that is not graded.

Works NameLocationPhotographDateNotesGradeCorehouseLanarkshire, Scotland1824–27For George Cranstoun.ACanford HouseCanford Magna, Dorset1825–36Originally a country house replacing an earlier house, later a school. Built for William Ponsonby, 1st Baron de Mauley.IWeston HouseLong Compton, Warwickshire1826-33 (demolished 1934)Built for Sir George Philips. Demolished 1934.Goodrich CourtGoodrich, Herefordshire1828–31For Samuel Rush Meyrick. Demolished 1950. The Monmouth Gatehouse, on the Monmouth to Ross-on-Wye road, is the only remaining element.Vorontsov PalaceAlupka, Crimea1828–48A place in the Crimea for Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov.Lambeth PalaceLambeth, Greater London1829–38Rebuilt the residential wing for Rt Revd William Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury.IHinchingbrooke HouseHuntingdon, Cambridgeshire1830–Restored and rebuilt after a fire.ICrom CastleCrom near Newtownbutler County Fermanagh1830-1838 1841Built 1830-1838 for John Creighton(subsequently Crichton), the future, from 1842, Third Earl of Erne. Fire on 11 January 1841 burning down all but West Wing. Rebuilt to same Edward Blore designs by George Sudden (who also added water tanks in a yard).Bishop's PalaceSaint Asaph, Denbighshire, Wales1830–31West front enlarged for the Rt Revd William Carey, Bishop of St Asaph.II*Buckingham PalaceCity of Westminster, Greater London1831–38;1847–50Completed the design of John Nash for William IV. Built the west front for Queen Victoria.IIsleworth HouseHounslow, Greater London1832Name later changed to Nazareth House, and used as a nursing home.IIVale Royal AbbeyWhitegate, Cheshire1833Added a southwest wing.II*Latimer HouseLatimer, Buckinghamshire1834–38A country house, later used as the National Defence College, and subsequently a conference centre.IIPull CourtBushley, Worcestershire1834–39A country house for Canon E. C. Dowdeswell.II*Capesthorne HallSiddington, Cheshire1837–39Alterations for Edward Davies Davenport.II*Crewe HallCrewe Green, Cheshire1837–43Restoration for Lord Crewe. Much damaged by fire in 1866. Blore also added a tower to the stable block.IGovernment HouseSydney,New South Wales, Australia1837–45Residence for the Governor of New South Wales.Merevale HallMerevale, Warwickshire1838–40Rebuilt for Sir W. Dugdale.II*Hampton Court PalaceRichmond upon Thames, Greater London1838–48Restoration.IRamsey AbbeyRamsey, Cambridgeshire1838–40Alterations for Edward Fellowes. Blore also designed the garden terrace wall.IHaveringland HallHaveringland, Norfolk1839–43For Edward Fellowes. Demolished in 1946.Shadwell CourtBrettenham, Norfolk1840–42Rebuilt for Sir R. J. Buxton.IWorsley HallWorsley,Greater Manchester1840–45For Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater. Demolished 1945–46.Windsor CastleWindsor, Berkshire1840–47Improved the royal apartments; reconstructed the Military Knight's lodgings.IGreat Moreton HallMoreton cum Alcumlow, Cheshire1841–46For G. H. Ackers, to replace an earlier building.II*Burford House,Royal MewsWindsor Castle, Berkshirec. 1842A house built in the late 17th century by the Duke of St Albans for Nell Gwynn; altered and re-cased by Blore.IICastle HillFilleigh, Devon1842–45Extended for Lord Fortescue.II*Kingston HallKingston on Soar, Nottinghamshire1843–45A new house for Lord Belper.IIThicket PrioryThorganby, North Yorkshire1844–47A country house for Revd J.Dunnington-Jefferson. Later converted into a monastery.IIThe FrytheWelwyn, Hertfordshire1845–46A country house for William Wilshere.Merton HallMerton, Norfolk1846A country house; only the northwest wing survives.IINorth Mymms House (or Place)North Mymms, Hertfordshire1846–47Alterations to a house dating from the late 16th century; for Fulke Greville.IThe GroveSarratt, Hertfordshirec. 1870–75Alterations and extensions to a country house dating from the late 16th century for the 4th Earl of Clarendon.II*Wiston HouseWiston, West SussexUndatedA country house dating from about 1576, rebuilt and greatly enlarged by Blore in the early 19th century.I

See also List of ecclesiastical works by Edward Blore List of miscellaneous works by Edward Blore

References

Bibliography