John Bilson (architect)

John Bilson (1856–1943) was an English architect trained under William Botterill, later working as a partner in Botterill and Bilson. Bilson is best known for his architectural research on the medieval period.

John Bilson
Born1856
Died1943
OccupationArchitect
Known forMedieval architectural research

Biography

John Bilson was born on 23 September 1856 in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire[1] and educated at Wesley College, Sheffield.[2] He trained in architecture under William Botterill from 1873 to 1877, and joined the practice as a partner in 1881.[3]

After Botterill's son's early death in 1879 Bilson became the main partner in the practice, and took over the business completely when Botterill retired in 1899.[3]

Bilson received a D.Litt. from Durham University in 1925 for his work on dating the architecture of Durham Cathedral. he was also honoured by the Société française d'archéologie (French) in 1926.[3]

John had two children, John Seymour Craven Bilson (born 1903) and Joan Bilson (born 1906).

He died 15 December 1943.[3]

Legacy

Bilson is well regarded for his historical work on medieval architecture;[4][5] on his work at Durham it has been written "The chronology of the works [..] of construction have been established by John Bilson on such solid bases that there is nothing significant to be added."[6] John Bilson also wrote an article for the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica on Romanesque and Gothic Architecture in England.[7][8][9] Photographs attributed to Bilson are held by The Courtauld in the Conway Library of art and architecture, and are currently being digitised.[10]

References

  1. "Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006".
  2. Neave, David. "Bilson, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/109617. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. "John Bilson", www.scottisharchitects.org.uk, retrieved 21 June 2014
  4. Rudolph, Conrad (ed.), "27. Cistercian Architecture", A Companion to Medieval Art: Romanesque and Gothic in Northern Europe
  5. Wilson, Christopher (1991), Coss, P.R.; Lloyd, S.D. (eds.), "The Early Thirteenth-Century Architecture of Beverley Minster: Cathedral Splendours and Cistercian Austerities", Proceedings of the Newcastle Upon Tyne Conference 1989 : Thirteenth Century England III, pp. 181–
  6. Bony, Jean (1990), Fernie, Eric; Crossley, Paul (eds.), "The Stonework Planning of the First Durham Master", Medieval Architecture and Its Intellectual Context, The Hambledon Press, pp. 19–
  7. "Contributors" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 29 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 948–974.
  8. Author:John Bilson  via Wikisource.
  9. "Architecture" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 02 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 401–404.
  10. "Who made the Conway Library?". Digital Media. 30 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.

Further reading

  • Buchanan, A.C. (2013), "John Bilson and Anglo-Norman Architectural Studies", Proceedings of the Battle Conference for 2012
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