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Architectural journalism and the profession: the early years of George Godwin
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 April 2016
Extract
In the emergence of the architectural profession in Britain two phases can be identified. The first, from the end of the eighteenth century to the successful establishment of the Institute of British Architects in 1835, saw the development of various ‘para-professional’ societies and an increasing demand for the clarification of the architect's role. In these years the occupations of architect, engineer, surveyor and draughtsman were increasingly differentiated, each developing its own body of specialized knowledge. In the second period, the half century following 1835, the Institute of British Architects (‘Royal’ from 1837) consolidated its position as the main professional association governing the practice of architecture; it became the model for provincial societies and the legitimate body competent to pronounce on professional conduct and negotiate on behalf of architects with both government and the public. The agreement, in 1890, on a body of examinable knowledge appropriate for associateship of the Institute may be seen as closing this period of consolidation.
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- Copyright © Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain 1976
References
Notes
I am grateful to Alan Crawford for his comments on an earlier draft of this paper, which is based on research undertaken in 1961-63.
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24 Godwin's will. Calendar of Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration, 1888, F & G, Somerset House; Brompton Cemetery, Record of Burials.
25 See plaque in Holy Trinity church, Brompton. As the church was consecrated only in 1829 there is no record of marriages before this date.
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54 On Britton see Mordaunt Crook, J., ‘John Britton and the Genesis of the Gothic Revival’, in Summerson, J. (ed.), Concerning Architecture (1969), pp. 98–119.Google Scholar Godwin seems to have had a close relationship with Britton until the latter's death in 1857. Britton served on the committee of the Art Union of London, collaborated with Godwin on the production of The Churches of London, shared his interest in railway promotion and the development of an ‘art magazine’. Through Britton's connection with the church of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Godwin, in all probability, got the commission for restoring it. Godwin was secretary responsible for a subscription raised in honour of Britton in his old age and when he died designed his tombstone (in the manner of Stonehenge) in Norwood cemetery, South London.
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56 ‘I think I picked up a little credit by it’, he wrote to Edwards after reading the paper at the IBA (Ed. Corr. L.459). This was later published in Architectural Magazine, iii (1836), p. 193.
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92 Royal Society, Proceedings, cxxxi (1841).Google Scholar
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94 Ed. Corr. L.769 (no date).
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97 Ed. Corr. L.445.
98 Ed. Corr. L.445. L.700.
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109 E.g. J. C. Loudon, W. Bridges Adams, Sydney Smirke and Henry Roberts. See Pevsner, N., ‘Model Houses for the Labouring Classes’, Architectural Review, xciii (May 1943)Google Scholar; also J. Tarn, op. cit.
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