Architects

Discover the famous architects associated with the construction of Nottingham and the surrounding county.

Watson Fothergill

Watson Fothergill (1841-1928) is famous for having a positive effect on Nottingham's cityscape. He was the son of a wealthy lace manufacturer and merchant and at the age of 11 moved to Nottingham. Heavily influenced by European gothic architecture, he became known as Nottingham's most flamboyant Victorian architect. Follow the Watson Fothergill Trail around the city and discover the buildings he designed, which include his offices in the Lace Market and the Rose of England pub on Mansfield Road. Alternatively, you can choose the Architecture Ale Trail. This particular trail will take you around most well-known and best loved pubs located within some of the finest buildings in Nottingham.

T. Cecil Howitt

Designer of the Nottingham Council House, described by some as the finest municipal building outside London. It was built on the site left vacant after the demolition of the old Exchange in the 1920's. Four statues stand at the base of the 200 foot high dome, representing commerce, civic law, prosperity and knowledge, the hallmarks of the City of Nottingham. Two stone lions guard its fine colonnaded facade, while behind its pillars, cherubs toil at traditional Nottingham trades. The ten-and-a-half ton bell, Little John, is renowned as the deepest-toned in Britain.

Julian Marsh

Nottingham architect Julian Marsh is a five-times RIBA Award winner. His city based company Marsh: Grochowski Architects, urban and interior designers' was responsible for the design of Hart's Hotel, the boutique hotel standing on the site of the ramparts of Nottingham Castle, along with The D.H. Lawrence Pavillion at the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Playhouse Square Sky Mirror in collaboration with artist Anish Kapoor.

Lawrence Bright

Born in 1847 and educated at the Nottingham School of art, Bright was a prominent member of the Derby Road Baptist Church. Upon his death in 1908, Bright left an estate worth £33,900 (equivalent 3.9 million in 2021) to his wife Hannah and son Lawrence Lee. Bright is responsible for the design of the Old Angel Inn, in central Nottingham - which is now a microbrewery and the 1905 remodel of Lenton hall, located on the University of Nottingham campus. Amongst various other works, Bright is also responsible for the design of various homes within the Park estate to the west of Nottingham Castle.

Alexander Wilson

Born in December 1888, Wilson is responsible for the design of the 900 houses built on the Beeston Rylands estate in the late 1930s. The houses were built in order to house working men. The homes cost £400 - or £29,000 in 2021. Needing only an initial deposit of £20 and weekly repayments of around 9 shillings. The houses were semi-detached properties consisting of a sitting room, living room, kitchen and scullery complete with three upstairs bedrooms and one shared bathroom. Wilson was a member of the constitutional club, the conservative club and the primrose club. In 1927 he stood as an independent conservative candidate in the Beeston council elections. Amongst other projects, Wilson has chiefly been responsible for the design of the homes of the people of Nottingham. His legacy is the design of hundreds of houses, a few shops, one bungalow, three cottages and the jolly Anglers public house! His estate, upon his death in 1969 was valued at £32,869 - or £575,500 in 2021.

Frederick Ball

Born in Lenton in 1861, Ball was the sheriff of Nottingham from 1906-07 and the mayor of Nottingham from 1913-14! Ball is responsible for the design of multiple schools including those in West Bridgford and Shirebrook. The design of 10 king street and a few houses on Lenton Boulevard. He also designed the Castle Ward conservative club, the globe picture theatre and the Orion picture theatre, which were all unfortunately demolished around the 1960s. Ball has left a legacy of homes, hotels - such as the white lion hotel, unions and public houses. Ball passed away in 1914, leaving an estate to the value of £31,171, or 2.66 million in 2021.