Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Nicholson | Designation: | | Born: | 1830(?) | Died: | | Bio Notes: | William Nicholson was born in County Derry, Ireland in 1830 or 1831 and had emigrated to Manchester by the age of twenty. Although he initially appeared in the directories as a civil engineer, by 1853 he had added the professions of architect and surveyor and obtained his first known commission, a teacher’s house for St Chad’s School, in the Cheetham district of Manchester. All known subsequent works were for the Roman Catholic Church, including churches, schools presbyteries etc. Most such commissions were in Manchester or south Lancashire, although he also designed Roman Catholic churches at Stranorlar, County Donegal (1856) and Pollokshaws, Glasgow (1865).
Nothing is yet known of the exact nature of William Nicholson’s relationships, both business and personal, with the older Edward Nicholson. The latter seems to have arrived in Manchester about 1844 and also practised as architect, surveyor and civil engineer for most of the same period. There is no evidence of any form of partnership between the two men, both being listed separately in the various directories, yet both shared the same office addresses for long periods.
About 1870, William Nicholson entered into partnership with John Mottram of Ashton-under-Lyne. Their only known joint commission was a club and bowling green, at Openshaw for Fairfield and Openshaw Club Limited (1877), probably obtained by John Mottram who lived in the area. In these later years William Nicholson took an increasing interest in local politics, an interest which continued until at least 1884.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 18, Princess Street, Manchester, England | | | | William Nicholson architect surveyor and civil engineer. | | 30, Brown Street, Manchester, England | Business | 1850 | | William Nicholson civil engineer, patent agent, agent for the English Widows Assurance Company. | | 7, Cecil Terrace, Greenheys, Manchester, England | Private | 1850 | | | | 59, King Street, Manchester, England | Business | 1853 | | William Nicholson, architect and surveyor, | | 19, Nightingale Street, Strangeways, Manchester, England | Private | 1853 | 1863 | | | 4 Clarence Buildings, Booth Street, Manchester, England | Business | 1856 | | REMOVALS. MR WILLIAM NICHOLSON, architect and surveyor, has REMOVED from 59 King- street to No. 4, CLARENCE BUILDINGS, Booth-street Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 26 April 1856 page 6. Column 3] | | 28, Princess Street, Manchester, England | Business | 1863 | 1865 | | | 88, Mosley Street, Manchester, England | Business | 1870 | 1874 | | | 51, King Street, Manchester, England | Business | 1876 | 1883 | | | 35, Portland Crescent, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, England | Private | 1879 | 1881 | |
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 Mary Immaculate RC Church and Presbytery | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Slater | | Directories of Manchester and area | | | |
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