Person    | Male  Born 1/3/1812  Died 14/9/1852

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin

Categories: Architecture

Born Bloomsbury. A treasured only child he had minimal education, never learning to spell. Indoctrinated by his father into the architecture of the Middle Ages, he became a religious fanatic who dreamed of turning Victorian Britain into a Roman Catholic kingdom and reinstating Medieval political and social arrangements. Church and theatre both inspired him: some of his interiors are more like stage sets, some of his own outfits more like stage costume and some of the flowing gowns that he designed for priests were too theatrical for the liking of church seniors. Believed that God had a particular fondness for pointed arches and so, with his adherence to the Gothic style was a prime cause of the end of Georgian architecture. Immensely prolific, in the space of two years (1838 - 40 he built or designed 18 churches, two cathedrals, three convents, two monasteries and several schools. He designed all the interior work for the new Houses of Parliament and also designed the tower of Big Ben. Married three times. Father of the architect Edward Pugin.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin

Commemorated ati

Pugin family

Historic England has ""Kupron bronze plaque on 1st floor designed in 1908 by ...

Read More

Other Subjects

John Dando Sedding

John Dando Sedding

Architect.  Born Eton. Specialised in churches and worked in an Arts and Crafts style of Gothic.  His major work is Holy Trinity, Sloane Square but this dedicated website lists 6 other churches in ...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Sir Basil Spence

Sir Basil Spence

Architect. Born Basil Urwin Spence in Bombay. He studied at the Edinburgh College of Art, where he won many prizes. His most famous work is probably the new Coventry cathedral which was completed i...

Person, Architecture, India

1 memorial
Lewis Vulliamy

Lewis Vulliamy

Architect, also sometimes named as Louis Vulliamy. Born Pall Mall, into a family of clockmakers. Uncle to architect George John Vulliamy. Designed a good number of churches and other buildings, man...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Clapham Odeon

Clapham Odeon

Cinema. Designed by George Coles. The use of neon lights on its exterior gave it a distinctive look at night. It closed in 1972, but permission to demolish it was refused. It reopened as 'The Liber...

Building, Architecture, Cinema

1 memorial