Basic Biographical Details Name: | Frederick Thomas Pilkington | Designation: | | Born: | 1832 | Died: | 18 September 1898 | Bio Notes: | Frederick Thomas Pilkington was born in 1832, probably in Stamford. He was born into a family with long-standing building connections. His grandfather, Jonathan Pilkington, a Stamford parson (d.1844) came of building and carpenter stock. His father Thomas, born c.1799, married Jane Butterworth in 1830. She belonged to an ardent Methodist family. Thomas set up architectural practice in Stamford but was burnt out in 1838 and moved elsewhere in the town by 1842; by 1849 he was in Bourne with his own brickworks. Frederick Thomas first trained with his father and was then articled in London for one year and returned to his father's firm thereafter.
The family moved to Edinburgh in 1854, apparently because of a lawsuit. Thomas opened an office at 10 Dundas Street and set up house at 9 South-East Circus Place. The firm exhibited designs at the RSA in that year under the name of T Pilkington & Son but Frederick's younger brother, James, returned to Stamford c.1857 after two years at the University of Edinburgh. Frederick studied mathematics under Professor Kelland, passed his exams in 1858 and was Hamilton prizewinner in Logic, but did not bother to graduate. He signed the University Matriculation Register 1856/7 as of Stamford. In 1858 he married with a house at Mary Cottage, Trinity and in 1859 he built Inchglas, Broich Terrace, Crieff (as a weekend house?). He never lived there but his father was living there in 1860. About 1859-60 the practice was based at 6 North Charlotte Street which was his father's house and office, but in the latter year house and office were moved to 24 George Street. In or about the same year, Frederick became friendly with John Cowan, the paper-maker of Penicuik, whose diary records a continental tour undertaken with Pilkington in the early 1860s.
On 10 March 1861 Pilkington's first wife died in childbirth, and he married Elizabeth Cropley from Ely five months later, first with a house at 27 St Bernard Crescent and then at 14 Cumin Place later in the same year.
By that date Pilkington had progressed from exhibiting at the RSA to actually building a series of ambitious geometrically planned churches, mostly with tall lucarned spires, boldly scaled naturalistic sculpture, and sometimes polychrome masonry, all of Ruskinian inspiration; in Venetian Romanesque form the style extended into his domestic practice in a series of large houses in Edinburgh, Port Glasgow, Penicuik and Walkerburn.
In 1863 Pilkington's parents moved to Kelso, Frederick transferring his office to 2 Hill Street. Frederick and his family moved to 6 Eton Terrace at the turn of 1864/5, but by that date they were already building Egremont in Dick Place for their own occupation, remaining there until 1873 when they moved to 17 Carlton Terrace. Frederick's partner John Murray Bell (1839-77) began practice as a surveyor in the same office building at 2 Hill Street in 1863, their practice being merged as Pilkington & Bell in 1867; Bell had previously acted as surveyor for the Pilkingtons at the Kelso Church in 1864. Thomas gave up the Kelso practice in 1874, moving first to 2 Abercorn Villas, Joppa and then in 1878 to Bourne, Lincolnshire. By that date the younger son James was postmaster in Assam.
In the earlier 1870s Pilkington began to experiment with a remarkably bold Second Empire style, but after Bell died on 31 May 1877, Frederick's interest in the Scottish business declined and with the commission for the Army and Navy Hotel, London (completed 1882), the family and the practice were moved to Russell Square, London, his sons already being educated at Westminster. He died at Orchardleigh, Pinner, on 18 September 1898, leaving £6609 (Probate November 1899).
Pilkington is said to have worked as inspiration came to him, often getting up in the middle of the night to sketch ideas. He had a taste for music and fine furniture. His family comprised Ernest born 1864, architect, died during the First World War, Maud Elizabeth; Ethel Mary; Mabel Jane; and Frederick Percy, born 1874. Maud Elizabeth was a miniaturist. A granddaughter, Miss Doris Fraser, lived at Ash Tree, Leiston, Suffolk until the 1970s.
Edward Calvert was a pupil. There is a reference to a Calvert in the Cowan diaries 23 June 1861. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 9, South-East Circus Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1854 * | | | | 10, Dundas Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1855 | | | | Mary Cottage, Trinity, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1858 | 1861 | | | 6, North Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1860 * | | | | 24, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1860 | 1864 | | | 27, St Bernard Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1861 | 1861 | | | 14, Cumin Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1861 | Late 1864 or early 1865 | Later in the year | | 2, Hill Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1864 | After 1882 | | | 6, Eton Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Late 1864 or early 1865 | 1869(?) | | | Egremont/38, Dick Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1869(?) | 1873 | | | 17, Carlton Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1873 | | | | 24, Russell Square, London, England | Private/business | After 1877 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees 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 | | | Hunter's Quay Hotel | Dunoon | | Argyll | Scotland | Tentative attribution | | 1854 | Cemetery Chapels | Spalding | | Lincolnshire | England | Won competition to secure job | | 1854 | Church design | | | | | | | 1854 | Houses for the working classes | | | | | | | 1854 | Mansion for Charles Hannah | Spalding | | Lincolnshire | England | | | 1856 | Crieff School | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | West end of front block | | 1858 | Four houses, Broomhill Road | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1859 | Inchglas | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1859 | Kirkhill School | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1860 | Halls Farmhouse | Spott | | East Lothian | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1860 | Parkend | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | c. 1860 | Valleyfield Mill School and schoolhouse | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | Alterations including fireplace | | 1861 | Monumental shrine for Beith | Beith | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1861 | Scottish National Institution for the Training of Imbecile Children | Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Original building (Skye Building and principal block) | | 1861 | Trinity Church | Irvine | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1862 | Barclay Church | Bruntsfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won commission and secured job. | | 1862 | Free Church | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1862 | Free Church, Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1862 | Woodslee | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1863 or 1864 | Free Church | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | With John Murray Bell as surveyor, prior to partnership | | 1864 | 36-46 Grove Street and 2-4 Upper Grove Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1864 | Block of houses and shops | Fountainbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1864 | Craigmount | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1864 | Glassingal | Dunblane | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1864 | Office and tenement for James Gowans | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1864 | Office and tenement, Grove Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1864 | Semi-detached villas, Dick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1865 | Dr Simson Monument | | | | | | | 1865 | Egremont | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1865 | Innerleithen Parish Church | Innerleithen | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Original church | | 1865 | Mansion House, Grange Loan | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1865 | Morebattle UP Church | Morebattle | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Assisted his father, whilst in independent practice | | c. 1865 | Auchengray Church | Carnwath | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | West end enlarged | | c. 1865 | West Kilbride Cemetery, Monument to Robert Simson | West Kilbride | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1866 | Memorial Church | | | | | | | 1866 | Woodhall | Port Glasgow | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | c. 1866 or c. 1867 | Tenements, Grove Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1867 | Houses, Peddie Street | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1867 | Kirna | Walkerburn | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | c. 1867 | Free Church | Innerleithen | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | c. 1867 | New English Presbyterian Church | | | Cardiff | Wales | | | 1868 | Coltbridge Terrace | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1868 | Eastern Club | | | Dundee | Scotland | May have done earlier scheme in 1861 | | 1868 | McCheyne Memorial Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1868 | St Mark's Greenfield Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1868 | Stoneyhill, including lodge and stables | Walkerburn | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1868 | Sunnybrae House and Lodge | Walkerburn | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Lodge | | c. 1868 | Tweedvale House and lodge | Walkerburn | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Internal alterations and lodge | | 1869 | Craigend Park with stables and lodge | Liberton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1869 | UP Church | Dudhope | | Dundee | Scotland | | | c. 1870 | Viewforth | Inverkeithing | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1871 | Castle Garden villa | Crail | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1871 | Clock Tower | Gatehouse | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | | 1871 | Viewforth Free Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1871 | Lamlash and Kilbride Parish Church | Lamlash | Arran | Bute | Scotland | Designs - not executed | | 1872 | Chapelshade Free Manse | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1872 | Tenement and offices | Hilltown | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1872 | Tyne Lodge and Hill Bank | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1873 | Lady Flora's School | Newmilns | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1874 | Dean Park House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1874 | Johnstone School | Johnstone | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1874 | Mount Park Free Church | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | | | | 1874 | Terraced houses, Morningside Park | Morningside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Nos 8-14 | | c. 1874 | Wellington Reformatory | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | Date not known | | 1875 | 2, 2A Ravelston Park | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1875 | New Edinburgh Theatre | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Interior work for Gowans | | c. 1875 | 8 Spylaw Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1876 | Millknowe School | Campbeltown | | Argyll | Scotland | Original part of school | | 1876 | Moffat Hydropathic | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | | c. 1877 | 61-79 Morningside Park | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1880 | Barclay Church | Bruntsfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reseating etc. | | 1880 | Denham Green House | Trinity | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1880 | Tenement | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Designed and begun as a hotel - simplified as tenement after disagreement with Dean of Guild | | c. 1881 | Hydropathic Institution | North Berwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | Additions | | 1882 | Army and Navy Hotel | | | London | England | | | 1882 | Moffat Parish Church and hall | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Design not executed | | 1885 | Winchester House | | | London | England | | | 1886 | Brighton Palace Hotel | Brighton | | Sussex | England | | | 1887 | Auld Kirk, Moument to John Spiers | Beith | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1888 | 1-5 Mount Street, 3-7 Davies Street and Carpenter Street buildings | | | London | England | | | 1888 or before 1888 | Glencorse Barracks | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | May be architect of part of barracks. | | 1888 or before 1888 | Royal Clyde Yacht Club and Hotel | Dunoon | | Argyll | Scotland | Competition design (presumably mistaken by Builder for executed design) | | 1889 | Ridgemount Gardens | Bloomsbury | | London | England | | | 1889 | Shaftesbury Park Chambers | Battersea | | London | England | Additional floors and mansard attic added for conversion to flatted housing | | 1890 | Guiness Trust Estate | Tower Hamlets | | London | England | | | 1892 | 28-36 Rosebery Avenue | | | London | England | | | 1892 | Cedar Villas | Kensington | | London | England | | | 1896 | 20-22 Lees Place | | | London | England | | | 1896 | Campden Hill Court | Notting Hill | | London | England | | | 1896 | Houses in Mount Row | | | London | England | | | 1896 | York Mansions | Battersea | | London | England | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Dixon, Hugh | 1969 | The Architecture of Frederick Thomas Pilkington in Scotland | | Unpublished thesis for the Diploma in the History of Art, Edinburgh University, May 1969 | | | Grove Dictionary of Art | | Grove Dictionary of Art | | | | | Jeffery, T M | | The Life and Works of F T Pilkington | | Unpublished thesis, Newcastle School of Architecture | | | Johnston, Colin | 1976 | Article on Pilkington (title to be Checked) | | 1976, no 3 | | | Pilkington, R A | 1944 | The Pilkington Family Tree | | Privately Published | | | Pride, Glen L | 1999 | The Kingdom of Fife | 2nd Edition | The Rutland Press | p46 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 15 October 1898 | | | | | Prospect | 1989 | Autumn, Vol 9 | | 'Frederick Thomas Pilkington, 1832-1898: a wild romance' | | Scotsman | 4 March 1961 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information from Tom Davies, formerly of Bristol University | | Sir Lancelot Errington | Diary of John Cowan | | |
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