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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
William Bonython Moffatt
Designation :
Architect
Date of Birth:
Year Only
Exact DOB:
04/04/1926
Year of Birth :
1812
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Year Only
Exact DOD:
04/04/1926
Year of Death:
1887
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
William Bonython Moffatt was born in Cornwall in 1812 and began his training as a joiner. By 1829 he had come to London as an articled pupil of James Edmeston (1781-1867), where George Gilbert Scott was also serving his apprenticeship. Both took classes with George Maddox. Scott left in 1831 to spend a year with the contractors Grissell & Peto, subsequently working with Henry Roberts and then, in 1834, taking an office in Carlton Chambers, Regent Street to help an architect friend Sampson Kempthorne with workhouses. Early in 1835 Scott's father died and he set up practice on his own, initially specialising in workhouses, assisted by Moffat. He took Moffatt into formal partnership in 1838, and married Caroline Oldrid in the same year.
Scott built his first church in 1838. His reputation was established when he won the competition for the Martyrs' Monument at Oxford in 1840, and still more when he designed the large St Giles Camberwell in best Camden Society Gothic in 1842-44. In 1844 Scott made his first continental tour, and in the following year, 1845, he won the competition for the Nikolaikirche in Hamburg. In that same year Caroline Scott broke off the partnership with Moffat, who had become extravagant and unreliable, Scott thereafter largely abandoning the workhouse side of the practice to concentrate on church building.
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
2 Adelaide Place London Bridge London England
Business
1856
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Employment and Training
The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):
Employers2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
(Sir) George Gilbert Scott
200042
In year 1835
In year 1838
Assistant
George Gilbert Scott and William Bonython Moffatt
203691
In year 1838
In year 1845
Partner
James Edmeston
203690
c. 1829
Before 1835
Apprentice
row(s) 1 - 3 of 3
Employees or Pupils
The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):
Employees or Pupils2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
John Johnstone
202091
1840s
Clerk of Works
Edward Ingress Bell
201883
After 1852
Before 1860
Assistant
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
British Architectural Library, RIBA
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914
2001
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