The Master Builder: William Butterfield and His Times

William Butterfield was a daring, rigorous, and brilliant architect of the Victorian era who responded to and advanced the transformation of society with his 60-year practice. This book explores his architectural contributions to the revival, rebuilding, and reform of the country parish, the role of the church and social health in the burgeoning town and city, the revolution in secondary education and college life, and sites of refuge, sanctuary, repose, and remembrance. It also characterizes his patrons and associates and shows how Butterfield created new typologies of buildings, from hospitals and care homes to seaside resorts, urban schools, and working men's colleges.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2024
Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd

William Butterfield, a remarkable architect of the Victorian era, left an indelible mark on the world with his 60-year practice. This book delves into the transformation of society during this period, with the emergence of new institutions and a changing moral code. Butterfield's work encompassed various aspects of this transformation, including the revival, rebuilding, and reform of country parishes, the role of the church and social health in urban areas, the revolution in secondary education and college life, and the creation of sites of refuge, sanctuary, repose, and remembrance. Drawing extensively on the literature of the time, each chapter explores a societal shift and highlights Butterfield's most significant architectural contributions. The book also features characterizations of the colorful patrons and associates who supported Butterfield's work, providing in-depth analyses of seminal projects such as All Saints Margaret Street, Keble College, and Rugby School, as well as lesser-known but equally influential works. Through his diverse range of projects, Butterfield created new typologies of buildings, from hospitals and care homes to seaside resorts, urban schools, and working men's colleges, to the Coleridges' great country house in Devon and the village parsonages, cottages, and schools that showcased the characteristics of the Arts and Craft movement.

Dimension: 280 x 240 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781848223714