William Hollins

William Hollins (1763–1843) was an 18th/19th century English architect and sculptor. His work is largely in the Greek Revival and Gothic styles.

William Hollins

Life
Soho House, Handsworth, Birmingham
Alton Towers Gothic Tower
Handsworth Parish Church

He was born in Shifnal near Salop in Shropshire on 18 March 1763[1] the son of John and Mary Hollins. He was originally apprenticed as a stonemason then went to London to train as an architect, specifically studying Vitruvius. He is known to have assisted George Saunders on his Theatre Royal project on New Street in 1793. He then set up his own practice in Birmingham around 1795.[2]

By 1800 he was living at 17 Great Hampton Street in Birmingham. In 1806 he lost a prestigious commission for a memorial to Horatio Nelson in the centre of Birmingham which was instead won by Richard Westmacott.<>ODNB: William Hollins</ref>

He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1821 to 1825.[3]

He died at home in Great Hampton Street on 12 January 1843. He is buried in the churchyard of St Paul's Church, Birmingham. The grave is marked by a granite obelisk. An ornate memorial window inside the church holds a bust of William Hollins by his son Peter.[4]

Architectural Works
  • Soho House, Birmingham remodelling for Matthew Boulton (c.1795)
  • Library on Union Street, Birmingham (1798) demoilished
  • Remodelling of Saint Petersburg Mint in Russia (c.1800)
  • Christ Church, Birmingham (1805) excluding spire
  • Prison on Moor Street. Birmingham (1805) later called Moor street Lock Up[5]
  • General Dispensary on Union Street (1806) only his statue of Hygeia from the building survives
  • Egyptian Conduit, Bull Ring, Birmingham (1807) this was a private commission to hide an ugly water conduit and was also known as "Pratchett's Folly" it was widely unpopular
  • St. Austin's Church, Birmingham (1809)
  • Gothic Tower and other garden structures in gardens at Alton Towers (c.1810)
  • Union Mill on Grosvenor Street, Birmingham (1813)
  • Gothic remodelling of Handsworth Parish Church (1820)
  • Remodelling of St Paul's Church, Birmingham (c.1820)
  • Almshouses on Warner St, Bordesley (1831) demolished

Monuments and Sculptures

Publications

Hollins made a precise study of the principles of carving in relation to Roman lettering: this was published under the title of "The British Standard of the Capital Letters contained in the Roman Alphabet". This is one of the first uses of the term "British Standard".[6] It is one of the few books looking at the craft of letter carving.

Family

He was married to Catherine (d.1831). They had many children.

His eldest son William Hollins (1788-1831) was also a sculptor and worked in his father's studio. He was an organist at St Paul's Church.

He was father to the sculptor Peter Hollins and uncle to the artist John Hollins.

Thomas his son was also a stonemason.

His youngest daughter "Mrs Bown" cared for him in later life and died in 1891.[7]

References


  1. Grave of William Hollins, St Paul's Churchyard, Birmingham
  2. http://www.speel.me.uk/sculpt/hollinswm.htm
  3. http://www.speel.me.uk/sculpt/hollinswm.htm
  4. Dictionary of British Sculpors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis
  5. https://www.prisonhistory.org/prison/birmingham-town-gaol/
  6. ODNB: William Hollins
  7. ODNB: William Hollins
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