Basil Champneys

Basil Champneys (1842-1935) was the architect for Newnham College, Cambridge, Manchester's John Rylands Library and Oriel College, Oxford's Rhodes Building.

Related Topics:
1842 - 1935 - Newnham College, Cambridge - Manchester - John Rylands Library - Oriel College, Oxford's

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Champneys was born into a family with a modest income. His father was an Evangelical Vicar of Whitechapel, with the problems of London?s poor to worry about. One of eight children, he attended Charterhouse School, showing a talent for mathematics and lacking in drawing skills. In 1861 he studied classics at Trinity College, Cambridge, where Henry Sidgwick was a fellow. In 1864 he failed to get the 'first class' degree he had hoped for and he took articles to tudy as an architect with John Prichard, the Surveyor of Llandaff Cathedral. Champneys set up his practice as an architect in 1867 in Queen?s Square, London, close to the office of William Morris & Co.

Related Topics:
Whitechapel - Charterhouse School - Mathematics - Drawing - 1861 - Classics - Trinity College, Cambridge - Henry Sidgwick - Fellow - 1864 - Llandaff Cathedral - Architect - 1867 - William Morris

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Believing that architecture was 'an art not a science' he joined the Art Workers Guild instead of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Although Champneys was able to work in the Gothic style that John Prichard preferred and taught, he later became one of the pioneers of the Queen Anne style, working on at least 100 buildings throughout England. The John Rylands Library in Manchester took ten years to build before opening on January 1, 1900), it is one of Champneys' finest designs. His other notable buildings include Mansfield College, Oxford, the Old Divinity School and the original Museum of Archeology (now Peterhouse Theatre), Cambridge. In his Newnham College, Cambridge works, he is credited for bringing a 'touch of lightness' to the college and is acknowledged for his attention to both construction details, and to cost. The Rhodes Building in Oriel College, Oxford, is a Grade II listed building, it was designed and built in 1909-1911 and incorporates a statue of Cecil Rhodes, the benefactor of the work, over the main entrance, with Edward VII and George V of the United Kingdom beneath. There is a prominent inscription that reads: "e Larga MUnIfICentIa CaeCILII rhoDes", which is both a chronogram giving the date of construction, MDCCCLLVIIIIII, and a statement about Cecil Rhodes' donation.

Related Topics:
Royal Institute of British Architects - Gothic - Queen Anne style - January 1 - 1900 - Mansfield College, Oxford - Cambridge - Oriel College, Oxford - Listed building - 1909 - 1911 - Cecil Rhodes - Edward VII - George V of the United Kingdom - Chronogram

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Champneys' correspondence has been preserved in the General Collection of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

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