Basic Biographical Details

Name: Ignatius Bonomi
Designation:  
Born: 1787
Died: 1870
Bio Notes: Ignatius Bonomi was born in 1787, the second surviving son of the architect Joseph Bonomi. He trained in his father’s office. He would have gone on the Grand Tour had the Napoleonic Wars not intervened besides which his father died in 1808 and he had to start practice on his own account at the age of 21. He moved to the north of England perhaps because of his father’s work at Lambton Castle. His first job in independent practice was for John Wharton, brother-in-law of the owner of Lambton.

Bonomi’s practice flourished and was second only to John Dobson’s in the north of England. He attracted clients from the local aristocracy and clergy of various denominations and was appointed Surveyor of Bridges in Northumberland in 1813. This experience led to work for the Stockton & Darlington Railway Company.

John Loughborough Pearson was articled to Bonomi in 1831 and stayed on after their completion. He had hoped to be a partner in Bonomi’s practice but left when Bonomi formed a partnership with John Augustus Cory.

Bonomi retired in 1850 and left Durham to live near his brother in Wimbledon. Cory continued in Durham until 1856 and then formed a partnership with C J Ferguson in Carlisle.

Bonomi was a competent designer in the neo-classical and Gothic styles. ‘The Camels’, designed for himself and his Egyptologist brother Joseph is eccentric almost in the manor of Soane’s house. Some of his early churches are very fine but his later ones follow a standard pattern.

Bonomi died in 1870.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 16, North Bailey, Durham, Co. Durham, EnglandPrivate1851 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Joseph Bonomi Before 1808Apprentice 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John Loughborough Pearson September 1841Assistant 
Item 2 of 3John Loughborough Pearson1831 Apprentice 
Item 3 of 3Campbell Douglasc. 1847 AssistantDouglas probably sought experience here

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 51834Hutton Parish Church and ChurchyardHutton BerwickshireScotland 
Item 2 of 51837Whittingehame HouseWhittingehame East LothianScotlandGothic monument to the Hay family in old burial ground.
Item 3 of 51840St Helen's Parish ChurchCornhill BerwickshireScotland 
Item 4 of 51846St Cuthbert's Parish ChurchNorham NorthumberlandEnglandSouth porch and aisle
Item 5 of 51847Duns CastleDuns BerwickshireScotlandUnextecuted design for additions - with Cory

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 2 of 4Crosby, J H1878Ignatius Bonomi of Durham   
Item 3 of 4Meadows, Peter1986Ignatius Bonomi: an Architect in Cleveland50Cleveland and Teesside Local History Society's Bulletin 
Item 4 of 4Meadows, Peter1989Palatinate Patronage Country Life 14 December 1989 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Census records onlineCensuses