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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Edward Blore
Designation: Architect
Born: 1787
Died: 4 September 1879
Bio Notes: Edward Blore was born in Stamford in 1787, the eldest son of Thomas Blore, a lawyer who was also a prominent antiquary. He began his career as an artist with the illustrations for his father's 'History of Rutland' published in 1811. This resulted in commissions for other topographical volumes and from John Britton for drawings for both 'The Cathedral Antiquities' and 'The Architectural Antiquities'. In Scotland he was engaged by Sir John Hall to illustrate his 'Essay on the Origins, History and Principles of Gothic Architecture', published in 1813. In 1816 he was illustrated to Sir Walter Scott as illustrator and manager of 'The Provincial Antiquities and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland', published in 1819-22. In parallel he provided Scott and his architect William Atkinson with details 'in the old fashioned Scotch stile' for Abbotsford, and it is not improbable that the knowledge of English gothic detail he had acquired while working for Britton was extensively applied to its neo-Tudor interior work as well.

Blore never served any formal articles and probably learned the business of building from Atkinson and the Smiths of Darnick. The building of Abbotsford also drew Scott's neighbours, the Heitons of Darnick, into architecture: William Heiton joined Blore, while Andrew presumably joined Atkinson, as he was based at Inchture on the Rossie estate when his son Andrew Heiton II was born in 1823.

In 1824-27 Blore built Corehouse, Lanarkshire, for Scott's friend George Cranstoun, Lord Corehouse, and in 1825-26 he and Burn jointly reconstructed Freeland, Perthshire for Lord Ruthven. Although their relationship seems to have gone sour, the pioneer Cotswold Tudor of Corehouse formed the starting point for Burn's smaller-scaled cottage houses beginning with the similarly-styled Snaigow designed in 1824. A common interest in collecting brought Sir Samuel Meyrick into Scott's circle and resulted in the commission for Goodrich Court, Herefordshire where William Heiton was in charge from 1829 until his death in 1833. A third Heiton brother, Francis, was put in charge of the building of Blore's Alupka Palace in the Crimea in 1832, and died there in or before June of the following year. Although never attached to the Office of Works, Blore was engaged to complete Buckingham Palace in 1832 and was consulting architect on the Glasgow Cathedral works of 1846 to 1849 which were carried out by William Nixon and Robert Matheson. In parallel Blore was consulted on John Baird's scheme for the proposed college of the University of Glasgow at Woodlands Hill in 1846 and at the suggestion of the Treasury he provided revised elevations to cut costs in 1849, the year of his retirement from practice. A knighthood was offered at that time but declined.

Blore died at his house in Manchester Square, London, on 4 September 1879.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 262, Welbeck Street, London, EnglandBusiness   
Item 2 of 2Manchester Square, London, EnglandPrivate 1878 

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2William Masonc. 1825(?)c. 1830(?)Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2Philip Charles Hardwickc. 18381843Apprentice 

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 14 MounteviotRoxburgh RoxburghshireScotlandDate not known.
Item 2 of 141816AbbotsfordMelrose RoxburghshireScotlandFirst phase - adapted designs of William Atkinson
Item 3 of 141821AbbotsfordMelrose RoxburghshireScotlandSecond phase - drawing room, library, study, great hall, and clearance of original farmhouse
Item 4 of 141824CorehouseLesmahagow LanarkshireScotland 
Item 5 of 141825Freeland House  PerthshireScotlandRadical reconstruction of existing house, apparently largely designed by Blore and executed by Burn
Item 6 of 141830Monteviot House  RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 7 of 14c. 1830KirklandsAncrum RoxburghshireScotlandOriginal house
Item 8 of 14After 1832Hundalee  RoxburghshireScotlandRebuilding - plans prepared by 'Mr Tomes', clerk to Blore
Item 9 of 141836Castle Upton  Co. AntrimNorthern IrelandAlterations to house
Item 10 of 141837Harlaxton Manor  LincolnshireEnglandActed as consultant
Item 11 of 141837McLean Museum and Watt InstitutionGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandLibrary
Item 12 of 141843Crackaig FarmhouseLoth SutherlandScotlandAlterations
Item 13 of 141848Glasgow Cathedral  GlasgowScotlandWest front (including tracery added to original west window), embellishment of transept windows, Parapets around crypt descents
Item 14 of 141849University of Glasgow, proposed new college at WoodlandsWoodlands GlasgowScotlandCommissioned by the Treasury to draw up for plans for less costly elevations following rejection of J Baird I's; fees to be met by the railway company; abandoned when railway company client withdrew

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6Brett, C E B Towers of Crim Tartary: English and Scottish Architects in the Crimea, 1762-1853   
Item 2 of 6Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 3 of 6DNB Dictionary of National Biography   
Item 4 of 6Grove Dictionary of Art Grove Dictionary of Art   
Item 5 of 6Lowe, Rosalind Sir Samuel Meyrick and Goodrich Court   
Item 6 of 6Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p130

Images

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