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 Ukraine, and Government House 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.
Works NameLocationPhotographDateNotesGradeGreen MeadowGreat Brington, Northamptonshirec. 1822Designed as a rectory.IIStable and coach house,Weston HouseLong Compton, Warwickshire1826–33To serve the former Weston House; for Sir George Philips.IIAlmhousesCharterhouse Square, Islington, Greater London1826–40Part of Sutton's Hospital.IIMagdalene HospitalWilton, Wiltshire1828–32Designed as almshouses for Lady Pembroke.IITown HallWoburn, Bedfordshire1830Built for John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford.IIFir Tree CottageAspley Heath, Bedfordshirec. 1830Estate cottage for the 6th Duke of Bedford.IIClock HouseKeele Hall, Staffordshirec. 1830Built as a stable block and coach house for Ralph Sneyd (1793–1870). Now part of the campus of Keele University.IILodge, Stowe HouseStowe, Buckinghamshirec. 1830Small lodge to the northwest of the mansion house.IILower SchoolWoburn, Bedfordshirec. 1830Reworking of a school built in 1582.IIPitt BuildingCambridge1831A building for the Cambridge University Press.IIBedford Modern SchoolBedford1831–34Designed as a school; later the façade of a shopping centre.II*Holy Trinity HospitalRetford, Nottinghamshire1832–34Built as almshouses.IIWest Lodge and GatewayChillingham Castle, Northumberland1835For the 5th Earl of Tankerville.IILibrarySt Edmund Hall, Oxford1835Former church, later converted into a college library. Restored by Blore.I9–12 The SquareChillingham, Northumberland1836Estate houses for the 5th Earl of Tankerville.IIMerton CollegeOxford1836–41Blore re-faced parts of the north range of the front quadrangle in Bath stone.I1–3 Bank TopChillingham, Northumberland1837Built as estate houses for the 5th Earl of Tankerville.IIStable blockCombermere Park, Cheshire1837IIOld VicarageMilton Abbot, Devon1837Built as a vicarage, later divided into two properties.IITown HallWarminster, Wiltshirec. 1837IIStable and coach house,Ramsey AbbeyRamsey, Cambridgeshire1837–39For Edward Fellowes. Later converted for residential use.II4–8 Bank TopChillingham, Northumberland1838Built as estate houses for the 5th Earl of Tankerville.IILiterary and Scientific InstituteWarminster, Wiltshire1838IIBank Top CottageChillingham, Northumberland1839Built as an estate cottage for the 5th Earl of Tankerville.IIRiding School,Royal MewsWindsor Castle, Berkshire1839–48IIGreenstreet LodgeBushley, Worcestershirec. 1840Originated as a pair of cottages in the Pull Court estate.IIStables,Haveringland HallHaveringland, Norfolkc. 1840For Edward Fellowes; partly converted into houses.IIArchwayWindsor Castle, Berkshirec. 1840IIIcehouse Tower,Great Moreton HallMoreton cum Alcumlow, Cheshire1841–43IIWest Lodge,Great Moreton HallMoreton cum Alcumlow, Cheshirec. 1841–43IIRange of buildings,Royal MewsWindsor Castle, Berkshirec. 1842IIRoyal Stables House,Royal MewsWindsor Castle, Berkshirec. 1842IISouthwest gate and lodge, Royal MewsWindsor Castle, Berkshirec. 1842IIPavilion,Kingston HallKingston on Soar, Nottinghamshire1842–46For Lord Belper.IIStable block,Kingston HallKingston on Soar, Nottinghamshire1842–46For Lord Belper, later converted into houses.IIStable block,Castle Hill HouseFilleigh, Devon1843Stable block to the west of the house, later estate offices.II*North Lodge, Capesthorne HallSiddington, Cheshirec.1843Gate lodge.IIGarden CottageThorganby, North Yorkshirec. 1844House for Revd Joseph Donnington Jefferson.IILodge, Thicket PrioryThorganby, North Yorkshire1844–47IIA House,Marlborough CollegeMarlborough, Wiltshire1845–50IIB House,Marlborough CollegeMarlborough, Wiltshire1845–50IIMaster's House,Marlborough CollegeMarlborough, Wiltshire1845–50IIGroup of ten houses and washhousesChapel Brampton, Northamptonshire1846IIMerton Hall ShellhouseMerton, Norfolk1846A garden house in the grounds of Merton Hall.IINorth Lodge,Crewe HallCrewe Green, Cheshire1847An estate lodge.IIGroup of ten houses and a washhouseChurch Brampton, Northamptonshire1848Listed as three groups of houses and a washhouse.IIHouses and a washhouseLittle Brington, Northamptonshire1848Part of a planned development.IISchoolRamsey, Cambridgeshire1848Elementary school.IIGroup of ten houses and washhousesLower Harlestone, Northamptonshire1851IITomb of General Forster WalkerKensal Green Cemetery, Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London1866Designed by Blore, carved by J. Forsyth.II
See also List of ecclesiastical works by Edward Blore List of works by Edward Blore on palaces and large houses
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