Basic Biographical Details
| Name: | Jeffry Wyatville (Sir) |
| Designation: | |
| Born: | 3 August 1766 |
| Died: | 18 February 1840 |
| Bio Notes: | Jeffry Wyatville was born Jeffry Wyatt on 3 August 1766 in Burton-on-Trent, the son of Joseph Wyatt, one of the less distinguished members of the Wyatt dynasty of architects, builders, surveyors etc. and his wife Myrtilla Wyatt. His mother died shortly after his birth and his father soon remarried. He had an unhappy childhood and tried to run away to sea. He was educated at the local grammar school. He was articled to his uncle Samuel Wyatt and worked in his office from about 1784 to 1792. He showed early promise in architectural composition evidenced by the drawings he exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1786 onwards. He moved to the office of his more famous uncle, James Wyatt, in 1792 and remained there until 1799. That same year he formed a partnership with the successful carpenter and building contractor, John Armstrong. This gave him a steady income while he developed the architectural side to the practice. He soon became known as a country house architect. The bulk of his clients were the Whig aristocracy. He was a good businessman and ran an efficient practice. He inherited some of James Wyatt’s clients after the latter’s death in 1813. About 1800 he married Sophia Powell by whom he had two daughters and a son. Wyatt became one of the handful of leading architects in England by the 1820s. He could boast the patronage of several dukes, one marquess, several earls and a number of large landowners. Much of the work undertaken for them was alterations and improvements with the installation of new technology in which he was well-versed rather than new buildings. In 1824 King George IV employed him to transform Windsor Castle which had become unfit for use by this date. Wyatt was invited to submit proposals in a limited competition along with three Office of Works architects, Soane, Smirke and Nash. His inclusion in this competition indicates the esteem in which he was held. The first stone was laid on 12 August 1824 and on the same day Wyatt was authorised by the king to call himself ‘Wyatville’ and to adopt the word ‘Windsor’ in his motto. He was knighted on the completion of the royal apartments in 1828. Although the original budget overran seriously, a committee appointed to investigate this exonerated him. State apartment on the north side were reconstructed around a central staircase (subsequently replaced) and new royal apartments created on the east side overlooking the garden. Externally the appearance became more picturesque with the Round Tower was raised as a central feature with the other battlemented and machicolated towers grouped around. A description of the work ‘Illustrations of Windsor Castle by the late Sir Jeffry Wyatville, RA’ was published posthumously in 1841. Other important commissions included: Longleat where he remodelled the interiors and designed various ancillary buildings in an Elizabethan classical style (1800); remodelling of Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire (1801); picturesque villas for example, Hillfield Lodge, Hertfordshire and Woolley Park, Berkshire (both c.1799) ; Chatsworth (1818) where he improved circulation, remodelled the facades to add a uniformity to their designs and added the north wing with the Theatre Tower crowned by an open belvedere. Wyatville was a competent architect who designed country houses mainly in the Tudor Gothic or ‘Elizabethan style’. He made occasional forays in the Greek Revival style but did not contribute anything original to its development. His work at Windsor largely followed the brief drawn up by Sir Charles Long, the King’s principal artistic adviser. His only work in Scotland was a design for a keeper’s lodge at Yester. Wyatville was elected ARA in 1822 and RA in 1824. He had sought admission as an associate in 1800 but because of his business as a builder, his membership was delayed for over twenty years. He was FRS and FSA and a member of the Saxon Ernestine Order, the Grand Cross of which was conferred on him by Queen Adelaide’s brother to whom he had given advice on his castle at Landsberg and planned a ducal residence at Meiningen which was not executed. Wyatville died on 18 February 1840 at the age of 73. There is a portrait and a bust at Windsor Castle. |
Private and Business Addresses
| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | |||||
| Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | |
 | 49 (now 39), Lower Brook Street, London, England | Private | 1839 | ||
Employment and Training
Employers
| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | |||||
| Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | |
| Samuel Wyatt | c. 1784 | c. 1792 | Apprentice | |
| James Wyatt | 1792 | 1799 | Assistant | |
Buildings and Designs
| This 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 | |
| 1824 | Yester House, keeper's lodge | East Lothian | Scotland | |||
References
Bibliographic References
| The following books contain references to this : | ||||||
| Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | |
| APSD | The Dictionary of Architecture | ed Wyatt Papworth | The Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) | ||
| Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | London: YUP. 4th edition | ||
| Linstrum, Derek | 1972 | Sir Jeffry Wyatville: architect to the king | |||
| Linstrum, Derek | 1974 | Catalogue of the drawings collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects: the Wyatt family | |||
| New DNB | New Dictionary of National Biography | ||||
| Robinson, J M | 1979 | The Wyatts | Chapeter 5 and pp271-4 | ||
Periodical References
| The following periodicals contain references to this : | |||||
| Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | |
| Gentleman's Magazine | 1840 | i | pp545-9 | |