David Laing (1774–1856) was a British architect principally known as the

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

of the New Custom House in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, which was completed in 1817 and collapsed in 1825. Assisted by a young

William Tite Sir William Tite (7 February 179820 April 1873) was an English architect who twice served as President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He was particularly associated with various London buildings, with railway stations and cemetery ...

, he also rebuilt the church of St Dunstan-in-the-East between 1817 and 1821. Daniel Havell after David Laing CustomHouse1817 edited

Life

David Laing was born in London and baptised in the church of St Dunstan-in-the-East in March 1775. In 1790 he was articled to the architect

John Soane Sir John Soane (; né Soan; 10 September 1753 – 20 January 1837) was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. The son of a bricklayer, he rose to the top of his profession, becoming professor of architecture at the R ...

. He set up his own architectural practice in 1796, initially designing private houses. in 1801 he published a book of his designs, entitled ''Hints for Dwellings, Consisting of Original Designs for Cottages, Farm Houses, Villas, etc.'', which sold well enough to be reprinted several times. In 1810 he was appointed Surveyor to the Customs, and designed the new customs house at Plymouth. Two years later he was asked to produce plans for a new custom house in London, replacing the old building of 1718. His first suggestions were rejected, so he produced a simpler scheme, for a massive rectangular block. Laing estimated the cost at £209,000, but the contract was won by Miles and Peto, with a tender of only £165,000. During construction, costs escalated, and there were disputes between Laing and the contractors. In 1818 Laing published a book of plans and drawings which included details of the problems he had encountered in laying the foundations of the New Custom House. The foundations proved inadequate: in 1820, cracks appeared in the vault of the king's warehouse in the central section of the block, and four years later the facade of the long room above it collapsed, followed by the warehouse vaults themselves and the long room floor. Sir Robert Smirke, called in to investigate, reported that the work paid for had not been done to specification. The facade was rebuilt to Smirke's own design with new foundations. After the collapse of the New Custom House Laing was suspended from his post as Architect & Surveyor of the

Board of Customs HM Customs (His or Her Majesty's Customs) was the national Customs service of England (and then of Great Britain from 1707, the United Kingdom from 1801) until a merger with the Department of Excise in 1909. The phrase 'HM Customs', in use si ...

, and his practice was ruined. His other works included the rebuilding of St Dunstan-in-the-East, the Corn Market at Colchester and, after his dismissal from the post with the customs, Lexden Park, and the Royal Universal Infirmary for Children, Waterloo Road, London.

References

* H.M. Colvin, ''A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840'' (1997) * Oxford Dictionary of National Biography http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/15885 retrieved 24 May 2011.

External links

Laing, David. ''Hints for Dwellings: Consisting of Original Designs for Cottages, Farm-Houses, Villas, etc.'' London: J. Taylor, 1801.
1774 births 1856 deaths 19th-century English architects Architects from London {{UK-architect-stub