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William Bidlake

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William Henry Bidlake MA, FRIBA (12 May 1861 – 6 April 1938) was a British architect, a leading figure of the Arts and Crafts movement in Birmingham and Director of the School of Architecture at Birmingham School of Art from 1919 until 1924.

William Henry Bidlake
MA, FRIBA
Garth House in Edgbaston, Birmingham, designed by the architect
Born(1861-05-12)12 May 1861
Wolverhampton, England
Died6 April 1938(1938-04-06) (aged 76)
Wadhurst, Sussex, England
EducationTettenhall College
Alma mater
Occupations
StyleArts and Crafts
AwardsRIBA Pugin Travelling Fellowship
Design by Bidlake for St Agatha's Church, Sparkbrook, 1899

Several of Bidlake's houses in the Birmingham area were featured in Hermann Muthesius's book Das englische Haus (The English House), which was to prove influential on the early Modern Movement in Germany.

Life and career

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Bidlake was born in Wolverhampton, the son of local architect George Bidlake (1830–1892) from whom he received his earliest architectural training. He attended Tettenhall College and Christ's College, Cambridge.[1] In 1882 he moved to London where he studied at the Royal Academy Schools and worked for Gothic Revival architects Bodley and Garner. In 1885 he won the RIBA Pugin Travelling Fellowship for his draughtsmanship, which enabled him to spend 1886 travelling in Italy.

On returning to England in 1887 Bidlake settled in Birmingham where he set up in independent practice and, from 1893, pioneered the teaching of architecture at the Birmingham School of Art. Famously ambidextrous, his party trick was to sketch with both hands simultaneously.

Bidlake designed many Arts and Crafts-influenced houses in upmarket Birmingham districts such as Edgbaston, Moseley, and Four Oaks (the latter then in Warwickshire and absorbed into Birmingham in 1974), along with a series of more Gothic-influenced churches such as St Agatha's, Sparkbrook – generally considered his masterpiece.

He was an associate, member, treasurer and then, from 1902–38, Professor of Architecture of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.[2]

In 1924, Bidlake married a woman over twenty years younger than himself and moved to Wadhurst in East Sussex, where he continued to practise until his death[2]

Bidlake died in 1938 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Handsworth Cemetery, Birmingham. In 1909 he had designed the cemetery's chapel, which became a Grade I listed building in 1982.[3]

Major built works

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The Hurst, in Amesbury Road, Moseley, Birmingham
 
St Mary, Wythall (redundant). Roof and tower by Bidlake.

References

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  1. ^ "Bidlake, William Henry (BDLK878WH)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. ^ a b "William Henry Bidlake MA, FRIBA". Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951. University of Glasgow. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  3. ^ Historic England. "MORTUARY CHAPEL AT HANDSWORTH CEMETERY (1076218)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 p268
  5. ^ Historic England. "The Dene, 2 Bracebridge Road (1067109)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. ^ Historic England. "17 Barker Road, Sutton Coldfield (1075817)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Oswald (1343113)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. ^ Historic England. "18 Dora Road, B10 (1210542)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  9. ^ Historic England. "School of Art (1343102)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  10. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Patrick (1342833)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  11. ^ Historic England. "Woodgate (1075828)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  12. ^ Historic England. "Garth House (1075616)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  13. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Agatha (1210221)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  14. ^ Historic England. "100, Sampson Road, B11 (1076179)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  15. ^ Historic England. "22, Ladywood Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B74 2QN (1075796)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  16. ^ Historic England. "The Knoll (1073690)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  17. ^ Historic England. "Stables at the Knoll Stables (1073647)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  18. ^ Historic England. "Parish Church of St Andrew (1076219)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  19. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Matthew (1262206)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  20. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 p338
  21. ^ Historic England. "Emmanuel Church (1075819)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  22. ^ Historic England. "Gates and four sets of gate piers to Handsworth Cemetery Immediately South of East Lodge (1343119)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  23. ^ Historic England. "Lodge to Handsworth Cemetery (1219873)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  24. ^ Historic England. "St Clears (1210750)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  25. ^ Historic England. "Sparkhill United Church Including Church Rooms to Rear (1096067)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2021.

Sources

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