Basic Biographical Details Name: | Pugin & Pugin | Designation: | | Born: | Early 1870s | Died: | | Bio Notes: | The founder of the Pugin & Pugin practice was Edward Welby Pugin, born in London on 11 March 1834, eldest son of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and his second wife Louisa Burton. Brought up in his father's office, Edward was 'his right hand man' by the age of sixteen, keeping the practice going through his father's periodic fits of madness from February 1852 onwards. When his father died on 14 September of that year, Edward was eighteen. The sole beneficiary of his father's will was his third wife, Jane Knill, and on the advice of the stained glass manufacturer John Hardman Powell who had married Pugin's eldest daughter Anne, Jane Pugin moved both household and practice to Birmingham partly to be near their main patron the 17th Earl of Shrewsbury. For the Earl, Edward revised his father's designs very much in his style, but in 1856 the Earl died. The Pugin family resettled in Gordon Square, London, in the same year becoming sufficiently prosperous to resume full occupation of the Grange at Ramsgate by 1861.
In 1856 Edward succeeded in having himself appointed an additional assessor in the Lille Cathedral competition. Thereafter he began working in an individualistic French and Flemish gothic, often with strong polychromatic effects. His practice expanded rapidly and to cope with it he set up an additional office in Liverpool and formed a partnership with the Irishman James Murray in 1857. In 1860 he formed a second partnership with his brother-in-law George Coppinger Ashlin and opened a Dublin office for Irish work. The Murray partnership was, however, dissolved in 1860, Murray thereafter practising on his own account until his early death, and in 1862 Edward merged his practice with that of the older and well-established Joseph Aloysius Hansom. That partnership closed acrimoniously in the following year.
Edward Pugin was admitted FRIBA on 16 June 1862. Two years earlier in 1860 he had founded the South East Furniture Company to manufacture his designs, the management of it being largely in the hands of his brother Cuthbert. The break-up of his partnership with Ashlin in 1869 may have been related to a much more high-risk business venture, the Granville Hotel at Ramsgate, a vast hotel and hydropathic complex. This failed in 1873 leaving Pugin bankrupt with liabilities of £187,000. He left for the United States where he quickly obtained commissions for some thirty churches and a monastery in Cuba. The English and Scottish work in hand was continued by his brothers Cuthbert Welby Pugin, born to Louisa in 1840, and Peter Paul Pugin, born in 1851 to his father's third wife Jane Knill, both of whom had been assisting him since the 1860s and had recently been taken into partnership, the practice becoming Pugin & Pugin.
Edward Pugin died suddenly on 5 June 1875 as a result of overwork and 'injudicious use of chloral hydrate'. He was unmarried and the main responsibility for the practice passed to Peter Paul, Cuthbert being principally concerned with the furniture making and furnishing side of the family business. Although Peter Paul's offices remained in London and Liverpool his practice was largely Scottish through Charles Eyre. Eyre came of a landed Northumbrian family and had been a parish priest at Pugin's church at Newcastle; Stephen Eyre, one of Edward Pugin's clerk of works, was probably a relative. Charles Eyre was appointed administrator of the Catholic church in the Glasgow area from 1869 and Archbishop of Glasgow when the Catholic hierarchy was re-created in 1878. Although Peter Paul's earlier churches were strongly influenced by his father and brother, by the 1880s he had developed a very recognisable curvilinear Gothic style, usually in red sandstone with elaborate altarpieces in coloured marbles.
Peter Paul Pugin married the third daughter of the Catholic builder John Bird of Hammersmith in 1886. They had five children, but none entered the practice. Peter Paul died in March 1904, the firm being continued by his nephew Sebastian Pugin Powell, born in 1866, the son of John Hardman Powell and Anne Pugin, Peter Paul's eldest sister. Sebastian became a member of the firm in 1884, Cuthbert having withdrawn in 1860 to run the family's furniture workshops. It is not clear at what date Sebastian became a partner.
Cuthbert lived on in retirement at Ramsgate until March 1928. Sebastian Pugin Powell died in 1949, but the practice was continued by his cousin Charles Henry Cuthbert Purcell, born 1874, until his death in 1958.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 25, Savile Row, London, England | Business | 1868 * | | | | Victoria Street, London, England | Business | c. 1870(?) | c. 1879(?) | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | | St Patrick's School | | | Dundee | Scotland | Original building - date unknown | | 1873 | St Mary and St Finnan RC Church | Glenfinnan | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1877 | St Mary RC Church | Cleland | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Franciscan Church and Friary | Hutchesontown | | Glasgow | Scotland | Church built | | 1878 | St Benedict's Abbey | Fort Augustus | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Completed conversion by Hansom including Abbey Church - also tower in east block, great staircase, chapter house etc added | | 1880 | Benedictine Convent of the Perpetual Adoration, Corbelly Hill | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Main buildings and chapel (and reredos) | | 1880 | School Chapel Crosshill | Crosshill | | Glasgow | Scotland | proposed scheme | | After 1880 | SS John Cantius and Nicholas RC Church | Broxburn | | West Lothian | Scotland | Reredos and niche for sacraments - date not known | | 1881 | Smyllum Orphanage Chapel | Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1881 | Smyllum Orphanage Institute | Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1881 | St Francis Xavier RC Church | Carfin | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1881 | St Mary's RC Church | Eskadale | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Chancel extended and stone altar added | | 1881 | St Mary's RC Presbytery | Cleland | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1882 | Our Lady and St Margaret RC Church and Presbytery | Kinning Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1882 | St Aloysius RC Church and Presbytery | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | Presbytery | | 1883 | Holy Family RC Church | Bellshill | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1883 | St Margaret RC Church | Johnstone | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Enlargement and reconstruction. Addition of transepts and sanctuary and new nave proposed, but not built | | 1883 | St Mary's RC Church | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Date in HS List | | 1884 | RC Church | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Design only | | 1885 | St John's RC Presbytery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1885 | St Mary's RC Church | Fochabers | | Morayshire | Scotland | Reredos | | 1887 | RC School, Portland Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1887 | St Michael's RC Church and presbytery | Linlithgow | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1888 | RC School, Sandyfaulds Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1889 | Convent of Faithful Companions of Jesus | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1889 | St Andrew's RC Cathedral | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Renovation for use as Cathedral and church furnishings | | 1889 | St Mary RC Church | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1889 | St Peter's College | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1890 | Sacred Heart RC Presbytery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1890 | Saltcoats RC Chapel | Saltcoats | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Altar and other fittings | | Before 1890 | RC Presbytery | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Before 1890 | RC Presbytery | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1890 | RC Schools | Crosshill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1890 | St Francis RC School | Gorbals | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1890 | St John's RC Schools | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1890 | St Margaret's RC Presbytery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1890 | St Patrick RC Schools | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1891 | Holy Family and St Ninian RC Church | Kirkintilloch | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1891 | St Bridget RC Church | Baillieston | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1892 | Holy Redeemer Chapel School and Presbytery | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | | Peter Paul Pugin designed Presbytery | | 1892 | St Andrew's RC Cathedral | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Main altar and side altars | | 1893 | St Agnes RC Church | Lambhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1894 | St Aloysius RC Church | Chapelhall | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1895 | St Joseph RC Church | Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1895 | St Mary's RC Church and presbytery | Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Lady chapel altar | | 1896 | St Augustine's RC Church and presbytery, Langloan | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1896 | St Gregory RC Church | Preshome | | Banffshire | Scotland | New sanctuary with reredos | | 1896 | St Mary RC Church and presbytery, Barrowfield | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1896 | St Patrick's RC Church | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Before 1896 | St Patrick's RC Church, Presbytery and halls | | | Dundee | Scotland | Design - not executed | | c. 1896 | St Aloysius RC Church and Presbytery | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | High altar | | 1897 | St John RC Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1898 | St Patrick RC Church and Presbytery | Anderston | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1898 | St Patrick RC Church and presbytery, Shieldmuir | Wishaw | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1899 | St Laurence's RC Church | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1900 | Our Lady of Good Aid RC Church | Motherwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Built original church | | 1900 | St Joseph's RC Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Reredos and baldacchino | | 1900 | St Mary Immaculate RC Church and Presbytery | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | North aisle extended | | 1900 | St Mary Star of the Sea RC Church | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations - North aisle | | c. 1900(?) | St Joseph's RC Church | Wemyss Bay | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Date uncertain | | c. 1900 | St Patrick RC Church | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Design only - superseded by Dunn & Hansom | | 1901 | Holy Redeemer RC Church and Presbytery | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1901 | St Mary's RC Church and presbytery | Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Reredos and high altar | | 1902 | St Peter's College | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Chapel constructed | | 1903 | St Joseph RC Church | Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Dated 1905 | | 1903 | St Peter RC Church and Presbytery | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1904 | St Andrew's RC Cathedral | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Removal of galleries and insertion of sanctuary screens | | 1904 | St Mary RC Church | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Addition - plans dated | | 1904 | St Mary's RC Church | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Date in 'Buildings of Scotland' and Anson. However the 'Builder's Journal' suggests it had not been begun by late 1905. | | 1904 | St Patrick RC Church | Shotts | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1905 | All Saints' RC Church | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1905 | St Alphonsus RC Church and presbytery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1909 | Holy Cross RC Church and presbytery | Crosshill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1909 | Notre Dame Training College | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | In conjunction with Bruce and Hay | | 1909 | St Peter RC Church and Presbytery | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1911 | St Agnes RC Church | Lambhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Interiors | | 1911 | St Mary Star of the Sea RC Church | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations - chancel, sacristy, chapels | | 1926 | St Patrick RC Church | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Addition of belfry tower and mortuary chapel; also organ case 1927 | | 1935 | St Patrick RC Church | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | New sanctuary | | 1955 | St Robert Bellarmine RC Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1956 | St Ninian's RC Church | Knightswood | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Anson, Peter | 1965 | Fashions in church furnishings | 2nd | London | | | Atterbury, Paul, et al. | 1996 | A W N Pugin Master of the Gothic Revival | | | | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | O'Donnell, Roderick | | The later Pugins | Chapter 20 | Pugin: a Gothic passion ed. Paul Attenbury and Clive Wainwright | | | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p30 | | Wedgwood, Alexandra | 1985 | A W N Pugin and the Pugin family | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 25 February 1955 | | | p356 |
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