John Belcher (1841–1913) was an
English architect.Belcher was born in
Southwark on 10 July 1841,
London. His father (1816–1890) of the same name was an established architect. The son was articled with his father, spending two years in
France from 1862 where he studied contemporary architecture. In 1865, he was made a partner with his father, who retired in 1875.
His first work to be built was in the
City of London, the 1865
Royal Insurance building in a
French Renaissance style (razed 1913). Also in London, he designed the 1870
Mappin & Webb building in
Gothic style on the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Poultry (controversially razed in 1994 and replaced with the
No 1 Poultry Building), and was joint architect, with his partner
John James Joass, of
Whiteleys department store.
In 1890, he designed the hall of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants, which was one of the first
Neo-baroque buildings in London. It featured extensive sculptural work by Sir
Hamo Thornycroft,
Harry Bates and others, consisting of several
high-relief panels as well as stand-alone statues. In 1900, again with Joass, he designed Electra House, in the City.
Belcher's major commissions outside London include
Colchester Town Hall 1898-1902 and the
Ashton Memorial, designed and...
Read More