Richard Knill Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1840 |
| Died | 24 June 1904 Bolton, England |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Museum of Science and Art, Dublin 1882 competition |
| Buildings | Holy Trinity Church, Blackpool St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Moscow Derby Museum and Art Gallery |
Richard Knill Freeman (1840,Stepney,London – 24 June 1904[1]) was a Britisharchitect who began his career atDerby and moved toBolton,Lancashire in the late 1860s.[1] His work, in Victorian Gothic style and typically recalling theDecorated Period of later medieval architecture, can be seen in several cities and towns across the north ofEngland.[2] He worked in total on about 140 buildings, of which about half survive in some form.[3]
Freeman was a fellow of theManchester Society of Architects and president of that Society from 1890 to 1891.[3]
Freeman's work included new churches, restorations, vicarages, schools, homes, museums, municipal buildings and hospitals.[4] He designed additions toSouthport Pier and an "Indian Pavilion" forBlackpool's North Pier in 1874.[5] HisDerby Museum, Library and Art Gallery, a gift toDerby byMichael Thomas Bass, was completed in 1876.
In 1882 he won the first competition for theMuseum of Science and Art, Dublin with a design for "a building quadrangular in form, with mansard roofs" which made provision for the collection of theRoyal Irish Academy;[6] but because noIrish architect had been shortlisted there was controversy leading to a second competition in 1883, which was won byThomas Newenham Deane & Son.
In 1878 Freeman was selected to designSt. Andrew's Anglican Church inMoscow,Russia. Responding to the growth of the Moscow British community, church officials desired an English architect, and Freeman responded by submitting plans for a "typical English church in Victorian Gothic style". The church was completed in 1884.[4]
In 1887 Freeman worked as the architect on a home inBryerswood, Far Sawrey, delegating the job of supervising construction to his assistant,Dan Gibson. Britishgarden designerThomas Hayton Mawson was hired to work on the garden at the same time. On the strength of that commission, the trio went on to work in the same capacities at Graythwaite Hall,Newby Bridge, and Gibson and Mawson engaged in a brief partnership after that.[7]
Freeman'sHoly Trinity Church, Blackpool was completed in 1895, as was his church of St Lawrence inBarton, Preston.[8] He also built St Margaret's Church inHollingwood, did restoration work for theWorsley Church, and designed a hospital.[1]
His son, Frank Richard Freeman (1870–1934), was also an architect. He continued his father's practice as Freeman & Son and built several churches in a style similar to his father's.[3]
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