William Wilkins (31 August 1778 – 31 August 1839) was an English architect,

classical scholar Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...

and

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

. He designed the

National Gallery The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current Director o ...

and

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

, and buildings for several Cambridge colleges.

Life

Wilkins was born in the parish of St Giles,

Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...

, the son of William Wilkins (1751–1815), a successful builder who also managed the

Norwich Theatre Circuit The Norwich Theatre Circuit was a prominent network of theatrical venues in East Anglia established in the eighteenth century. It remained one of the foremost institutions of provincial theatre in England until the mid nineteenth century. Aside fr ...

, a chain of theatres. His younger brother

George Wilkins George Wilkins (died 1618) was an English dramatist and pamphleteer best known for his probable collaboration with William Shakespeare on the play ''Pericles, Prince of Tyre''. By profession he was an inn-keeper, but he was also apparently invol ...

became Archdeacon of Nottingham. He was educated at

Norwich School Norwich School (formally King Edward VI Grammar School, Norwich) is a selective English independent day school in the close of Norwich Cathedral, Norwich. Among the oldest schools in the United Kingdom, it has a traceable history to 1096 as a ...

and then won a scholarship to

Gonville and Caius College Gonville and Caius College, often referred to simply as Caius ( ), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1348, it is the fourth-oldest of the University of Cambridge's 31 colleges and one of th ...

, Cambridge. He graduated as 6th wrangler in 1800. With the award of the Worts Travelling Bachelorship in 1801, worth £100 for three years, he was able to visit the classical antiquities Greece,

Asia Minor Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

, and

Magna Græcia Magna Graecia (, ; , , grc, Μεγάλη Ἑλλάς, ', it, Magna Grecia) was the name given by the Romans to the coastal areas of Southern Italy in the present-day Italian regions of Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania and Sicily; the ...

in Italy between 1801 and 1804. On his tour he was accompanied by the Italian landscape painter Agostino Aglio, whom Wilkins had commissioned as a draughtsman on the expedition. Aglio supplied the drawings for the

aquatint Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variant of etching that produces areas of tone rather than lines. For this reason it has mostly been used in conjunction with etching, to give both lines and shaded tone. It has also been used h ...

plates of monuments illustrating Wilkins' volumes from the expedition, such as ''The Antiquities of Magna Graecia'' (1807). Wilkins was a member of the

Society of Dilettanti The Society of Dilettanti (founded 1734) is a British society of noblemen and scholars that sponsors the study of ancient Greek and Roman art, and the creation of new work in the style. History Though the exact date is unknown, the Society is b ...

from 1817. He published researches into both Classical and

Gothic architecture Gothic architecture (or pointed architecture) is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It e ...

, becoming one of the leading figures in the English

Greek Revival The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...

of the early 19th century. NorthingtonGrangeFullFront

His architectural career began in 1804 with his Greek-revival designs for the newly established

Downing College, Cambridge Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge and currently has around 650 students. Founded in 1800, it was the only college to be added to Cambridge University between 1596 and 1869, and is often described as the olde ...

. The commission came after earlier plans in a

Palladian Palladian architecture is a European architectural style derived from the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). What is today recognised as Palladian architecture evolved from his concepts of symmetry, perspective and ...

style by James Wyatt had been rejected as insufficiently classical. Wilkins arranged the college buildings around a single large courtyard. Construction began in 1807 and proceeded slowly, coming to a halt in 1821 with Wilkins' scheme still incomplete. In 1806, Wilkins designed a college near Hertford for the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

. It became

Haileybury College Haileybury may refer to: Australia * Haileybury (Melbourne), a school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ** Haileybury Rendall School, an offshoot in Berrimah, North Territory, Australia China * Haileybury International School, an internatio ...

following the dissolution of the company. He built or added to Osberton House, near Worksop. These works were followed in 1808 by the Doric entrance to the Lower Assembly Rooms at Bath, and a villa at North Berwick for Sir H. D. Hamilton. At Grange Park,

Northington Northington is a village and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It lies half a mile from the neighbouring village, Swarraton. Its nearest railway station is at New Alresford, on the Mid-Hants railway line. Re ...

, Hampshire, in 1809, Wilkins encased and remodelled an existing seventeenth-century house, giving it something of the form of a Greek temple, with a large Doric portico at one end. In 1815, Wilkins inherited his father's chain of six theatres. He continued to manage them for the rest of his life, and rebuilt or remodelled several of them, occasionally also designing scenery. In 1822–26, he collaborated with

John Peter Gandy John Peter Gandy (1787 – 2 March 1850 in Hanover Square, London), later John Peter Deering, was a British architect. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1847 to 1848. Family Gandy was the youngest of the ten children of Thomas Gandy ...

on the Clubhouse for the new

United University Club The United University Club was a London gentlemen's club, founded in 1821. It occupied the purpose-built University Club House, at 1, Suffolk Street, London, England, from 1826 until 1971. Formation and membership The Club was founded at a meetin ...

, in

Pall Mall, London Pall Mall is a street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster, Central London. It connects St James's Street to Trafalgar Square and is a section of the regional A4 road. The street's name is derived from pall-mall, a ...

. He was made an associate of the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

in 1824 and given full membership in 1826. Wilkins was influential in the development of London's

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson commemo ...

, which had been opened up as part of a scheme by John Nash. He campaigned to have the new building for the

sited on the north side of the square, initially suggesting that the existing building,

William Kent William Kent (c. 1685 – 12 April 1748) was an English architect, landscape architect, painter and furniture designer of the early 18th century. He began his career as a painter, and became Principal Painter in Ordinary or court painter, but ...

's Great Mews should be converted for the purpose. The government accepted the idea, but opted for a wholly new building, and a Neoclassical design by Wilkins was accepted over alternative schemes by Nash and CR Cockerell. Wilkins also drew up plans for the laying out of the square itself. They were not put into effect, although the scheme eventually carried out by

Charles Barry Sir Charles Barry (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860) was a British architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsi ...

after Wilkins' death replicated many of his ideas. The appearance of the National Gallery (1832–38), which was originally shared with the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

, attracted adverse criticism from the beginning.

John Summerson Sir John Newenham Summerson (25 November 1904 – 10 November 1992) was one of the leading British architectural historians of the 20th century. Early life John Summerson was born at Barnstead, Coniscliffe Road, Darlington. His grandfather wo ...

concluded in 1962 that although Wilkins' frontage has many virtues "considered critically as a façade commanding a great square, its weakness is apparent". Wilkins carried out two other major London buildings in a severe Classical style both designed in 1827–28:

University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies ...

on Gower Street, and

St George's Hospital St George's Hospital is a large teaching hospital in Tooting, London. Founded in 1733, it is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is run by the St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundatio ...

(now

The Lanesborough The Lanesborough is a 5-star hotel on Hyde Park Corner in Knightsbridge, central London, England. The hotel is operated by the Oetker Collection. It is in neoclassical style and is listed Grade II*. Opposite are Hyde Park and Apsley House, th ...

hotel on Hyde Park Corner). His other Greek Revival works include the

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds The Theatre Royal, formerly the New Theatre, is a restored Regency architecture, Regency theatre in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. The building is one of eight Listed building#England and Wales, Grade I listed theatres in the United Kingd ...

1819, St. Paul's Church, George Street, Nottingham 1822 and the

Yorkshire Museum The Yorkshire Museum is a museum in York, England. It was opened in 1830, and has five permanent collections, covering biology, geology, archaeology, numismatics and astronomy. History The museum was founded by the Yorkshire Philosophical Soc ...

(1830). He was responsible for two columns commemorating

Admiral Nelson Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought abo ...

, one in Dublin and the

Britannia Monument The Nelson's Monument is a commemorative column or tower built in memorial to Admiral Horatio Nelson, situated on the Denes, Great Yarmouth in the county of Norfolk, England. It was designated as a Grade I listed structure in 1953. History ...

in Great Yarmouth. Both predate

William Railton William Railton (1800–77) was an English architect, best known as the designer of Nelson's Column. He was based in London, with offices at 12 Regent Street for much of his career. Life He was born in Clapham (then in Surrey) on 14 May 1800, ...

's design for Trafalgar Square. He also produced buildings in the

Gothic style Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

, such as

Dalmeny House Dalmeny House (pronounced ) is a Gothic revival mansion located in an estate close to Dalmeny on the Firth of Forth, to the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was designed by William Wilkins, and completed in 1817. Dalmeny House is the ...

for Lord Rosebery in 1814–17 and

Tregothnan Tregothnan is a country house and estate near the village of St Michael Penkivel, southeast of Truro, Cornwall, England, which has for many centuries been a possession of the Boscawens. Geography Location Tregothnan is located on a hill overl ...

for Lord Falmouth in 1816. He used the style at several Cambridge colleges: in 1823 he won the competition to design a set of new buildings for

King's College, Cambridge King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, the college lies beside the River Cam and faces out onto King's Parade in the centre of the city ...

, comprising the hall, provost's lodge, library, and a stone screen towards Trumpington Street, and in the same year started work on the King's court of

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

, and new buildings, including the chapel, at Corpus Christi College. CorpusNewCourt

In 1827, Wilkins was appointed architect to the

, and the next year made alterations to its building in Leadenhall Street. He entered the competition to design the Duke of York's Column, and in 1836 that for the rebuilding of the

Houses of Parliament The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace lies on the north bank ...

. After failing to win the latter he attacked the plans of his rivals and the decision of the committee in a pamphlet signed "Phil-archimedes". He was appointed professor of architecture at the Royal Academy following the death of

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

in 1837, but gave no lectures before he himself died at his house in Cambridge on 31 August 1839. He was buried in the crypt under the chapel of Corpus Christi College.

List of publications

* ''Some Account of the Prior's Chapel at Ely'' in pages 105–12 ''Archaeologia XIV'' (1801) * ''Antiquities of Magna Graecia'' (1807). * ''Observations on the Porta Honoris of Caius College, Cambridge'' in ''

Vetusta Monumenta ''Vetusta Monumenta'' is the title of a published series of illustrated antiquarian papers on ancient buildings, sites and artefacts, mostly those of Britain, published at irregular intervals between 1718 and 1906 by the Society of Antiquaries o ...

, iv'' (1809) * ''The Civil Architecture of

Vitruvius Vitruvius (; c. 80–70 BC – after c. 15 BC) was a Roman architect and engineer during the 1st century BC, known for his multi-volume work entitled ''De architectura''. He originated the idea that all buildings should have three attribute ...

: Comprising those Books of the Author which Relate to the Public and Private Edifices off the Ancients'' (1813 and 1817). * ''Atheniensia, or Remarks of the Topography and Buildings in Athens'' (1816). * ''Remarks on the Architectural Inscription Brought from Athens, and now Preserved in the British Museum'' in pages 580–603, ''Memoirs relating to European & Asiatic Turkey'' edited by

Robert Walpole Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, (26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745; known between 1725 and 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole) was a British statesman and Whig politician who, as First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Leader ...

(1817). * ''On the Sculptures of the Parthenon'' in ''Travels in Various Countries'' edited by Walpole (1820). * ''Report on the State of Sherborne Church'' (1828). * ''Prolusiones Architectonicae or Essays on Subjects Connected with Grecian and Roman Architecture'' (1837). * ''The Lydo-Phrygian Inscription'' in pages 155–60 of ''Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom, III'' (1839).

List of architectural work

, designed (1805), west range built (1807–13), east range built (1818–22); the remainder of the design remained unexecuted. *

East India College The East India Company College, or East India College, was an educational establishment situated at Hailey, Hertfordshire, nineteen miles north of London, founded in 1806 to train "writers" (administrators) for the Honourable East India Company ( ...

(now

), Hertfordshire (1805–09). *

Norwich Cathedral Norwich Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. It is the cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich and is one of the Norwich 12 heritage sites. The cathedral ...

, restoration work with his father (1806). *Lower Assembly Rooms,

Bath, Somerset Bath () is a city in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary area in the county of Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. At the 2021 Census, the population was 101,557. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, ...

, later the Bath Royal Literary Institution, (1808); demolished (1933). *

Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar (also known as the Nelson Pillar or simply the Pillar) was a large granite column capped by a statue of Horatio Nelson, built in the centre of what was then Sackville Street (later renamed O'Connell Street) in Dublin, Ireland. ...

, Dublin, altered in execution by Francis Johnston. *

The Grange, Northington The Grange is a 19th-century country house-mansion and English landscape park near Northington in Hampshire, England. It is currently owned by the Baring family, Barons Ashburton. English Heritage have a guardianship deed on the scheduled monu ...

, remodelling based on a Greek temple (1809). *Argyll House, Argyll Street, London, alterations to the interior (1809); demolished. *

Pentillie Castle Pentillie Castle is a grade II* listed country house and estate on the bank of the River Tamar in Paynters Cross, near to St Mellion, in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. The secular parts of the nearby village of St Dominick once belo ...

, Cornwall, addition of a new wing (1810). *Theatre,

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...

, Essex, renovations (1811); demolished. *Lensfield House, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, remodelled, including portico (1811); Wilkins' own house, demolished (1955) and now replaced by the Chemistry Department of

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. * Theatre Royal, Newmarket Road, Cambridge (1814), later remodelled. *

, West Lothian (1814–19). * Nelson Column,

Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth (), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside town and unparished area in, and the main administrative centre of, the Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. A pop ...

(1815–17). *

, Cornwall (1815–18). *Theatre Royal, Great Yarmouth (1816); demolished. *

The Perse School (He who does things for others does them for himself) , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day school , religion = Nondenominational Christian , president = , head_label = Head , he ...

, Cambridge, remodelling of interiors (1816); demolished. *Former Freemason's Hall, Bath, Somerset (1817). *Keswick Hall, Norfolk, remodelling and additions (1817–19). * King's College Bridge,

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...

(1818). *Theatre Royal,

Bury St Edmunds Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as Bury, is a historic market town, market, cathedral town and civil parish in Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St.Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – ...

(1818). * Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge, alterations to the interior including a new west gallery (1819). * Dunmore Park, Stirlingshire, (1820–2); now derelict/ ruinous. * New Norfolk Gaol and Shire House, Norwich, built as part of the Norwich Castle complex (1820–24); partly demolished. * St. Paul's Church,

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...

(1821–22); demolished (1926). *New Court,

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

(1821–1827). *

, Pall Mall East, London (1821–26); rebuilt 1902. *New Court,

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Corpus Christi College (full name: "The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary", often shortened to "Corpus"), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. From the late 14th century through to the early 19th century ...

(1821–27). *Entrance Screen with Gatehouse and South Range with Great Hall and Library.

(1823–28). *

East India Company Military Seminary The East India Company Military Seminary was a British military academy at Addiscombe, Surrey, in what is now the London Borough of Croydon. It opened in 1809 and closed in 1861. Its purpose was to train young officers to serve in the East India ...

, Addiscombe, Surrey, added dining room, barracks and office block (1825–27); demolished 1861. *Theatre Royal, Norwich, reconstruction, including a Greek doric colonnade (1825–26); burnt down 1934. *Former

, (now

Hotel), Hyde Park Corner, London (1826–28). *County Gaol,

Huntingdon Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cromwell was born there ...

(1826). *

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

(1826–1830), later completed to amended designs by 1869. *

Yorkshire Philosophical Society The Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) is a charitable learned society (charity reg. 529709) which aims to promote the public understanding of the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the archaeology and history of York and Yorkshire. ...

Museum (now

) (1827–30). *Brooke Hall, Norfolk, additions (1827). *House,

Kingsweston Kingsweston was a ward of the city of Bristol. The three districts in the ward wer Coombe Dingle, Lawrence Weston and Sea Mills. The ward takes its name from the old district of Kings Weston (usually spelt in two words), now generally considere ...

, Bristol, addition of a Doric portico (1828). *

, London (1831–1838); originally only one room deep, and also housing the

; since much extended and remodelled.

Gallery of architectural work

File:National Gallery from atop Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, London - geograph.org.uk - 287253.jpg, File:University_College_London_-quadrant-11Sept2006_(1).jpg, File:Downing College Bird's Eye.jpg, File:Haileybury College.jpg, File:Cambridge King's.JPG, File:King's_College_gatehouse_from_the_Backs.jpg, File:Kings dining hall.JPG, File:Northington Grange - Hampshire.jpg, File:Tregothnan House.jpg, File:Tregothnan Cornwall morris edited.jpg, File:Dalmeny House 02.JPG, File:New Court, Trinity College, Cambridge.jpg, File:Broyal01.JPG, File:The Norfolk Naval Pillar or Nelson Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 166469.jpg, File:Yorkshire Museum.jpg, File:Bath Royal Literary Institution.jpg, File:Lanesborough Hotel.jpg,

References

Sources

* * Second edition published as * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkins, William 1778 births 1839 deaths Architects from Norwich 19th-century English architects Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Greek Revival architects English archaeologists English classical scholars Fellows of the Royal Society People educated at Norwich School Royal Academicians