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
Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England
Died1943
OccupationArchitect
Known forMedieval architectural research

Biography
See also: Botterill and Bilson

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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