Basic Biographical Details

Name: Joseph Aloysius Hansom
Designation:  
Born: 26 October 1803
Died: 29 June 1882
Bio Notes: Joseph Aloysius Hansom was born in York on 26 October 1803 of a Roman Catholic family. He was articled to his father as a joiner in York but having shown some ability in draughtsmanship was allowed to let his articles lapse with new ones taken out with 'Mr Philips', remaining as clerk of works. About 1825 he settled in Halifax and took a post as assistant to John Oates and there befriended Edward Welch, with whom he formed a partnership in 1828. He invented and patented the Hansom safety cab in 1834 but was bankrupted by the contract for Birmingham Town Hall in the same year, an event which may have contributed to his becoming a radical socialist. Welch then withdrew from the partnership, re-commencing practice in Liverpool in 1837.

In 1842 Hansom founded 'The Builder' and from 1847 to 1852 he practised in Preston, Lancashire, working briefly in association with Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin at the end of the latter's life. After the practice moved to London he took his brother Charles Francis Hansom into partnership in 1854 but this was dissolved in 1859 when Charles established an independent practice in Bath with his son Edward Joseph Hansom as apprentice.

In 1862 Joseph formed a partnership with Edward Welby Pugin which broke up acrimoniously in 1863, Joseph thereafter (1869) taking his son Joseph Stanislaus into partnership. Hansom retired on 31 December 1879 and died at 399 Fulham Road, London, on 29 June 1882.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4York, Yorkshire, EnglandBusiness1803Before 1825Place of birth and early training
Item 2 of 4Halifax, Yorkshire, EnglandBusinessc. 1825After 1834 
Item 3 of 4Preston, Lancashire, EnglandBusinessBefore 1847  
Item 4 of 4399, Fulham Road, London, EnglandPrivate(?)1882  

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 4Hansom & Welch18281834 or 1835Partner 
Item 2 of 4Joseph Aloysius Hansom & Charles Francis Hansom18541859Partner 
Item 3 of 4Joseph Aloysius Hansom & Edward Welby Pugin18621863Partner 
Item 4 of 4Joseph Aloysius Hansom & Joseph Stanislaus Hansom1869 Partner 

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 1Edward Ingress BellAfter 1852Before 1860Assistant 

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 91845St Edward's RC ChurchClifford YorkshireScotlandExecuted building based on the 'ideal church' design of _____ Ramsay
Item 2 of 91852St Mary Star of the Sea RC ChurchLeith EdinburghScotlandTo A W N Pugin's design in collaboration with him.
Item 3 of 91853St David's RC ChurchDalkeith MidlothianScotland 
Item 4 of 91864St Mary's RC ChurchBeauly Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 5 of 91864St Mary's RC Church and PresbyteryLochee DundeeScotland 
Item 6 of 91866RC Church of Our Lady and St Bean with presbytery and schoolMarydale, Cannich Inverness-shireScotlandOriginal church. Also school?
Item 7 of 91871St Duthac's ChurchDornie Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 8 of 91876St Benedict's AbbeyFort Augustus Inverness-shireScotlandConverted from barracks. Also gatelodge
Item 9 of 91889Our Lady and St Cumin RC ChurchMorar Inverness-shireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 5DNB Dictionary of National Biography   
Item 3 of 5Gillow, J1885Bibliogrpahical Dictionary of English Catholics  v3 p115-120
Item 4 of 5Grove Dictionary of Art Grove Dictionary of Art   
Item 5 of 5Salmon, Frank2000Building on Ruins: The Rediscovery of Rome and English Architecture Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Ltd 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder8 July 1882  Obituary