The J.L. Pearson Archive is a catalogue and study of the architectural works of John Loughborough Pearson (1817–1897). It brings together information on Pearson’s buildings and other works, their history, architectural character, present status and significance, and provides a framework for considering individual works within the context of his career as a whole.
Scope of the Archive
The J.L. Pearson Archive is a record of all known architectural works and commissions by the nineteenth-century architect John Loughborough Pearson (1817–1897). The Buildings Archive contains an individual profile for each known work.
The Archive encompasses both ecclesiastical buildings, including churches, chapels and cathedrals, and non-ecclesiastical buildings, such as houses, parsonages and schools. It includes new buildings designed by Pearson; restoration, repair and additions to existing buildings; designs for furniture, fixtures and fittings; and survey and consultancy work involving no new design by Pearson.
It should be stressed that this is a record of Pearson’s known works. It includes works identified in published and online sources, particularly the Catalogue of Works in Anthony Quiney’s John Loughborough Pearson (1979) and The Buildings of England (Nikolaus Pevsner and others). A full list of references is provided under Sources and Methodology and, where appropriate, within individual Building Profiles.
It is impossible to be certain that every work by Pearson has been identified, and information concerning possible omissions or previously unidentified works is welcomed. Please see Corrections, New Information and Citation for details of how to submit information.
The J.L. Pearson Archive also includes a number of thematic essays discussing aspects of Pearson’s life, work and architectural career.
Classification
A clear, robust, consistent and logical classification of Pearson’s works is necessary for three principal reasons:
- to allow particular groups of works to be identified easily;
- to indicate how individual works relate to one another; and
- to enable statistical analysis of Pearson’s body of work as a whole.
The classification system used in the J L Pearson Archive is organised into three main areas:
A. Building Type
B. Categories of Work
- Type of Work
- Nature of Work
- Execution Status
C. Current Status of the Building
- Extant Status
- Listing Status
- Current Use
A. Building Type
Although predominantly a church architect, Pearson designed and worked on a wide range of buildings. For the purposes of the archive, these are divided into two broad categories:
Ecclesiastical — churches, chapels and cathedrals.
Non-ecclesiastical — houses, parsonages, orphanages, schools, memorials and other secular buildings and structures.
The distinction is generally unambiguous.
B. Categories of Work
The classification of Pearson’s work is necessarily more complex than that of building type. The system is designed to accommodate the different kinds of work undertaken by Pearson and to resolve, as far as possible, potential ambiguities between categories.
1. Type of Work
Pearson’s work is divided into three broad categories:
New Building
The design of a new building, whether on a new site or replacing, incorporating or making use of an earlier building or fabric.
Work on an Existing Building
This is a wide-ranging category encompassing work to an existing building, including:
- restoration, renovation and repairs;
- additions and alterations; and
- furniture, fixtures and fittings.
Survey and Consultancy Work
This category applies where Pearson was commissioned to survey a building, provide professional advice or consultancy, and/or prepare and present a report, but did not prepare plans or designs for building work.
In the case of Survey and Consultancy Work entries, the Date of Design states the date of the survey or consultancy, not design. The Building Date reads ‘Not applicable’.
Surveys, reports and professional advice would also have formed part of many projects involving work on existing buildings. These are not separately classified as Survey and Consultancy Work. The category is used only where surveying, consultancy or reporting constituted Pearson’s sole involvement.
2. Nature of Work
The broad classification by Type of Work is further subdivided to identify more precisely the nature of Pearson’s involvement in each project. These categories apply to New Buildings and Work on Existing Buildings.
New Buildings
N1 — New building on a new site
A completely new building constructed on a new site, not replacing an existing building.
N2 — New building on an old site
A completely new building constructed on an old site, replacing an existing building.
N3 — New building incorporating or using old fabric
A new building incorporating material or fabric from an earlier building. Unless otherwise stated, this is on the site of the earlier building.
N4 — New building incorporating substantial existing structures
A new building incorporating substantial parts of an existing building, such as a tower or chapel.
Work on Existing Buildings
A — Addition of a substantial structure
The addition of a substantial new structure, such as a chancel or porch, to an existing building.
R1 — Major restoration, renovation, alteration or repair
Substantial restoration, renovation, alteration or major repair of an existing building.
R2 — Minor restoration or repair
Limited restoration or minor repair of an existing building.
F1 — New furnishings and fittings
The addition of new furnishings or fittings to an existing building.
F2 — Restoration of furnishings and fittings
The repair or restoration of existing furnishings or fittings.
(unexecuted elements) — part of the scheme was not executed.
A single project may encompass more than one Nature of Work and may therefore be assigned to more than one category.
Resolving ambiguities
Some projects do not fall neatly into a single category. The following principles are used throughout the archive to provide a consistent basis for classification.
N4 or A: new building or addition?
Where substantial new work is attached to an existing structure, there can be ambiguity over whether the result should be regarded as a new building incorporating an earlier structure (N4), or as an addition to an existing building (A).
This is, in effect, a version of the Ship of Theseus (or Trigger’s Broom) problem: at what point does alteration or replacement result in a different building?
For the purposes of this archive, the distinction is determined by whether the existing building could continue to fulfil its intended function without the new work.
If it could, the new work is classified as an addition (A). A porch added to an existing church, for example, is an addition because the church could continue to function without it.
If it could not, the project is classified as a new building incorporating substantial existing structures (N4). A new nave and chancel constructed onto an existing tower, for example, is treated as a new building because the tower alone could not fulfil the intended function of the church.
Rebuilding: restoration or addition?
The rebuilding of part of an existing building presents a different ambiguity.
For the purposes of this archive, the rebuilding of part of a building to the same design is classified as restoration. Where an existing part is replaced by a structure of a new design, the work is classified as an addition.
R1 or R2: major or minor restoration?
The distinction between major and minor restoration or repair is inevitably more subjective.
In many cases the distinction is clear. Replacing a roof, for example, would normally constitute major work (R1), whereas a limited masonry repair to a window would normally constitute minor work (R2).
There will nevertheless be cases in which the distinction is open to interpretation. An R1 project may also contain individual elements which, considered in isolation, would be classified as R2. The classification therefore reflects the overall character and extent of the project rather than requiring every individual intervention to be classified separately.
Buildings with more than one Type of Work
In five cases, Pearson undertook two distinct types of work on separate occasions: restoration, repairs, etc., and survey or consultancy work unrelated to the restoration. In these Building Profiles, the Type of Work is recorded as Work on existing building and Survey work.
Where several works of the same type were carried out on the same building, these are recorded within a single Building Profile and distinguished in the History or Description sections.
In a few instances, two Building Profiles have the same building name. This occurs where separate buildings existed or were planned on the same site. For example, at St Mary, Dartington, Pearson restored the old church, which was subsequently largely demolished, and later designed a new church; at Great Rissington, he produced unexecuted plans for the restoration of the existing church and, separately, unexecuted plans for a new church. In such cases, the distinct commissions are recorded as separate Building Profiles.
How are memorials classified?
Memorials are classified according to their architectural context. A freestanding memorial or monument not forming part of another building is treated as a building in its own right and classified as Non-ecclesiastical. Where designed as a new work by Pearson, it is classified as a New Building under the appropriate Nature of Work category.
A memorial forming part of the fabric, furnishings or fittings of a church is classified as Ecclesiastical and as Work on an Existing Building, under the appropriate Nature of Work category.
Thus, the tomb at Trinity Cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, is classified Non-ecclesiastical / New Building / N1, whereas Pearson’s memorial work in Wells Cathedral is classified Ecclesiastical / Work on an Existing Building / F1.
3. Execution Status
Not all architectural plans result in building or restorative work. The J L Pearson Archive includes Pearson’s unexecuted proposals as well as work that was carried out. Each project is therefore classified according to its execution status:
Executed — Pearson’s plans or designs were carried out, either wholly or in part.
Unexecuted — Pearson prepared plans or designs, but the proposed work was not carried out.
Where only part of a proposed scheme was executed, the Nature of Work will include (unexecuted elements) and this is further explained in the individual building profile.
C. Current Status of the Building
In addition to classifying the nature and execution of Pearson’s work, the archive records the present status of each building. This is considered under three headings: Extant Status, Listing Status and Current Use.
1. Extant Status
Extant Status records whether the building still exists.
Extant — The building still exists.
Not Extant — The building no longer exists. Where available, historical photographs may be used in the building profile, and information about the date and circumstances of demolition is included where known.
The Extant Status refers to the building, not necessarily Pearson work within an existing building. Where necessary, discrepancies are noted in the History or Description sections.
2. Listing Status
Listing Status records whether an extant building is included in the National Heritage List for England, and at what grade:
Grade I
Grade II*
Grade II
Not Listed — the building is not listed.
Not Applicable — listing status is not applicable, for example where a proposed new building was never constructed.
Unknown — the listing status has not yet been established.
On individual building profiles, Not Listed and Not Applicable may be displayed together as Not Listed / Not Applicable, although they represent conceptually different circumstances.
3. Current Use
Current Use records the present use or condition of the building in relation to its original purpose.
Original Use — The building continues to be used for its original intended purpose.
Adapted Use — The building remains in a broadly similar use, but in a different context. For example, an Anglican church may now be used by another denomination, or a parsonage may have become a private residence.
New Use — The building has acquired a substantially different use. Examples might include a former church used as a bingo hall or a former school used as a community centre.
Redundant — The building remains structurally sound but is no longer in use.
Derelict — The building is no longer structurally sound.
Demolished — The building no longer exists.
Unexecuted — The proposed building or work was not executed.
Building Profiles
Each building profile brings together factual, documentary, descriptive and analytical information about an individual work by Pearson. The amount of information available varies considerably between buildings, and some fields or sections may therefore be absent where relevant information is not known or not applicable.
A full building profile comprises the following principal elements:
- Name of the Building
- Main Photograph
- Overview
- History
- Exterior Description
- Interior Description
- Analysis
- Gallery
1. Name of Building
Each profile is identified by the name of the building or project.
2. Main Photograph
Where the building is extant, the main photograph normally shows the building in its present state. For buildings that have been demolished, an historical photograph is used where one is available. For unexecuted proposals for new buildings, for which no photograph can exist, another appropriate identifying image may be used.
3. Overview
The Overview provides the principal information about the building and Pearson’s work on it at a glance. It includes the classification data explained above, together with information about location, dates, patronage, cost and those involved in the work.
- Building Type — Ecclesiastical or Non-ecclesiastical.
- Type of Work — the broad character of Pearson’s involvement: New Building, Work on an Existing Building, or Survey and Consultancy Work.
- Nature of Work — a more precise classification of the nature and extent of Pearson’s work. More than one category may apply to an individual project.
- Execution Status — whether Pearson’s proposals were executed or remained unexecuted.
- Extant Status — whether the building still exists.
- Listing Status — whether the building is included in The National Heritage List for England and, where applicable, its grade.
- Current Use — the present use or condition of the building in relation to its original purpose.
- Location — the place in which the building is situated.
- Historic County — the county in which the building was situated at the time of Pearson’s work.
- Current County — the county in which the building is situated today. In some cases this differs from the Historic County as a result of subsequent changes to administrative boundaries.
- Date of Design — the date or period in which Pearson prepared the design. (In the case of Survey and Consultancy Work entries, the Date of Design states the date of the survey or consultancy, not design. The Building Date reads ‘Not applicable’.)
- Building Date — the date or period during which the work was carried out. This may be a single year, a period of several years (for example, 1874–76), or several dates representing distinct phases of work (for example, 1868–69 / 1870 / 1876).
- Patron — the person, organisation or body that commissioned the work, where known.
- Cost — the cost of the work, where known. For unexecuted proposals, this may instead record the cost of preparing the plans or the estimated or proposed cost of carrying out the work.
- Craftsmen and Contractors — the names and roles of craftsmen, builders, contractors and others involved in the execution of the work, where known. Those who worked on the building after the time of Pearson’s involvement are noted in the History or Description texts.
- Involvement of Other Architects — records the involvement of architects other than Pearson. This may include direct collaboration, the execution or completion of another architect’s designs, or the continuation or completion of Pearson’s work by another architect.
4. History
The History section provides an account of the building and of Pearson’s involvement with it. Depending on the nature of the project and the information available, this may include:
- the history of the site and any earlier buildings;
- the circumstances of the commission;
- patronage, costs and financing;
- the development of the design, including the involvement of other architects where relevant; and
- the construction process, including materials, builders, craftsmen and contractors.
Where Pearson worked on an existing building, its earlier history provides the context within which his intervention can be understood.
5. Exterior Description
The Exterior Description provides a detailed account of the exterior of the building, with particular attention to its design, architectural character, materials and construction.
Depending on the building and the nature of Pearson’s work, this may include:
- the site, setting and orientation of the building;
- its overall form and massing;
- principal architectural elements, such as towers, spires, naves, aisles, transepts, chancels, chapels, porches and vestries;
- constructional elements, including walls, roofs, windows and other structural or functional features;
- decorative elements, including carving, decorative stonework and other embellishments; and
- associated or auxiliary features, such as gates, lychgates, boundary walls, clocks and bells.
6. Interior Description
The Interior Description provides a detailed account of the interior of the building, including its spatial organisation, design, architectural character, materials, construction, decoration, furnishings and fittings.
Depending on the building and the nature of Pearson’s work, this may include:
- principal spaces, such as the nave, aisles, transepts, chancel, choir, sanctuary, chapels, tower chambers, porch, vestry and crypt;
- constructional and architectural elements, including doors, roofs, floors, steps and changes of level, walls, windows, clerestories, arcades, arches and columns;
- decorative elements, including carving, decorative stonework, tiles, ceramics, mosaics and glass;
- liturgical furnishings and fittings, including fonts, pulpits, lecterns, screens, altars, aumbries, piscinas, sedilia and reredoses;
- seating, including congregational seating, choir stalls, clergy stalls and reading desks;
- artistic elements, including wall paintings, frescoes, paintings, hangings, banners and memorials;
- organs and organ chambers;
- liturgical artefacts, fabrics and plate; and
- amenities, including heating, lighting, plumbing and drainage, and subsequent developments providing spaces for community or other activities.
Scope of the Descriptions
Where Pearson worked on an existing building, the Exterior and Interior Descriptions consider the building as a whole, while drawing particular attention to Pearson’s work and distinguishing it, as far as possible, from earlier and later fabric.
Where Pearson prepared unexecuted proposals for work on an existing building, the existing building is described in order to provide the architectural context for his proposals. Pearson’s proposed work is described in as much detail as the surviving evidence permits.
Where Pearson prepared plans for an entirely new building that was never executed, the description is necessarily based on the surviving plans, drawings, documentary evidence and other available sources.
Illustrative Photographs
Where appropriate, the Descriptions will include photographs to illustrate aspects of the building discussed in the text.
7. Analysis
The Analysis section moves beyond the factual, documentary and descriptive material presented elsewhere in the profile to consider the building interpretatively. The extent and nature of the analysis will vary according to the building, the character of Pearson’s involvement and the evidence available.
While informed by documentary evidence, architectural observation and relevant scholarship, analysis necessarily involves interpretation and, particularly in its critical and experiential aspects, personal judgement.
The building and Pearson’s work are considered on three levels:
- Architectural Analysis
Architectural Analysis is a systematic study of the building’s physical form, structure and spatial organisation, examining how the building is designed, how it functions, and how its different elements relate to and affect one another.
Four fundamental aspects of the building may be considered:
Structure and fabric — construction techniques, methods of design, and the choice and use of materials.
Spatial qualities — the physical arrangement and functional purpose of spaces, their scale and character, and the ways in which the different volumes within the building relate to one another.
Use and purpose — the intended purpose of the building and the ways in which its design determines or influences how it is encountered and used.
Aesthetic qualities — the visual effects created by form, composition, scale, colour, texture, materials and decoration, and the relationships between them.
- Analysis of Significance
Analysis of Significance considers the building and its intended purpose within its wider geographical, historical, social, cultural and architectural contexts.
Of particular importance to the archive is the significance of each building or project within Pearson’s own architectural development and body of work.
Depending on the building, the analysis may address such questions as:
What does the building mean to those who encounter or use it?
How does the building relate to its geographical setting and environment?
What part does the building play in the social and cultural life of its community?
What is the significance of the building in the history of its location?
What is the significance of the building within Pearson’s own architectural development and body of work?
What is the significance of the building within architectural history more broadly?
How does the building compare and relate to other buildings of similar type, period or purpose?
- Critical Analysis
Critical Analysis considers the success of the building as architecture. It examines the extent to which the building succeeds structurally, spatially, aesthetically and functionally, as well as the experience of encountering and using it.
Structural success — How successfully was the building conceived and constructed structurally? What structural problems has it encountered, and to what extent do these arise from the original design, construction and materials, or from later alterations, deterioration or neglect?
Spatial success — How successfully do the building’s spaces relate to one another? Do they create an appropriate physical environment for the activities for which the building was designed?
Aesthetic success — How successful is the building aesthetically? How do its form, scale, materials, decoration and spatial qualities combine, and how effectively do they engage those who encounter it?
Functional success — How successfully does the building fulfil its intended purpose? Has that purpose subsequently changed, and how successfully has the building accommodated or been adapted to those changes?
Experience of the building — What is it like to encounter, move through and use the building? This is a deliberately subjective element of the analysis and provides a personal account of the experience of the architecture.
7. Gallery
The Gallery contains a selection of photographs to illustrate further significant elements and features of the building. In cases where Pearson worked on an existing building, these will illustrate the whole building, not just Pearson’s work, to show the architectural context in which he was working.
Sources and Methodology
The aim of the J.L. Pearson Archive is to create a record of all known architectural works and commissions by John Loughborough Pearson (1817–1897).
The Archive is an ongoing project, and information will continue to be added as the research develops. Its compilation involves the following processes:
1. Identifying Pearson’s known works and commissions
A range of sources has been consulted to identify known works and commissions by Pearson. Principal sources include the Catalogue of Works in Anthony Quiney’s John Loughborough Pearson (1979); The Buildings of England by Nikolaus Pevsner and others; Clare Howard and Simon Taylor’s The Church and Chapel Interiors of John Loughborough Pearson: A Selective Assessment of Significance (Historic England, Historic Places Investigation); and individual building entries in Historic England’s National Heritage List for England. These have been supplemented by a variety of other published and online sources, including sources relating to individual buildings.
2. Compiling the database
A database of factual information about Pearson’s works and commissions has been compiled from these sources. This provides the underlying information from which the individual Building Profiles are developed.
3. Visiting the buildings
Every effort is being made to visit each known building on which Pearson worked. These include new buildings designed by Pearson; existing buildings on which he carried out restoration or repair work, or for which he designed additions; buildings for which he designed furniture, fixtures or fittings; and buildings on which he undertook survey or consultancy work.
During these visits, time is given to experiencing and understanding the building itself. In the case of churches, this includes attending worship where possible. Every opportunity is also taken to meet those who use or care for the building, to discuss their experience of it, and to identify local sources of information.
4. Creating a photographic record
During site visits, each building is photographed systematically, including its exterior, interior and significant details such as furniture, fixtures and fittings. Where Pearson worked on an existing building, the photographic record encompasses the building as a whole rather than only those elements attributable to him.
All contemporary photographs in the Archive are by the author. A small number of historical photographs are also included, for which sources are acknowledged.
5. Classifying the works
A clear, robust, consistent and logical system of classification has been developed for Pearson’s works and commissions. This is explained in detail in the Classification section.
6. Creating the Building Profiles
An individual Building Profile is created for each known work or commission, bringing together factual information, descriptive and analytical texts, references and photographs. The structure and content of these records are explained in detail in the Building Profiles section.
As an ongoing and developing project, the Archive welcomes additional information about individual buildings, as well as information concerning possible omissions or previously unidentified works. Please see Corrections, New Information and Citation for details of how to submit information.
References
Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
National Heritage List for England.
Howard, Clare, and Simon Taylor. The Church and Chapel Interiors of John Loughborough Pearson: A Selective Assessment of their Significance. Historic England Research Report 26/2016, 2016.
Pevsner, Nikolaus, and others. The Buildings of England. Various volumes and editions.
Quiney, Anthony. John Loughborough Pearson. London: Yale University Press, 1979.
The Victorian Web.
The Victorian Web.
Photography
Photography forms an important part of the J.L. Pearson Archive. The photographs are intended not simply as illustrations to the Building Profiles, but as a systematic visual record of Pearson’s buildings and architectural work as they survive today.
Within each Building Profile, photographs are used in three principal ways. The Feature photograph is an exterior view of the building, used as the principal identifying image for the Profile. Illustrative photographs are incorporated within the text sections, where they illustrate specific features or aspects of the building being discussed. Gallery photographs provide additional images at the end of the Profile, giving a broader visual record of the building as a whole.
The photographic record aims to document each building systematically, including its exterior and interior, architectural details, and significant furniture, fixtures and fittings. Where Pearson worked on an existing building, the intention is to photograph the building as a whole, rather than only those parts attributable to him. This provides a record of Pearson’s work within its wider architectural and historical context, and helps to show how his interventions relate to the existing fabric of the building.
The photographs are primarily documentary in purpose rather than simply aesthetic architectural photographs. They record the buildings as they appeared at the date of each visit and, as buildings are altered, restored or otherwise change over time, may themselves acquire value as a historical record.
Except where otherwise stated, contemporary photographs in the Archive are by the author. Historical photographs and photographs from other sources are individually credited where they appear.
Copyright and reproduction. Except where otherwise stated, contemporary photographs by the author may be reproduced and reused under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0), provided that appropriate credit is given. The preferred form of credit is: Photograph: Nigel Williamson, J.L. Pearson Archive.Where practicable, the Archive should be identified as the source and a link provided to the original photograph or Building Profile. Any changes made to a photograph should be indicated. Photographs from other sources remain subject to the copyright and reproduction conditions of their respective owners.
Corrections, New Information and Citation
The J.L. Pearson Archive is a developing project and reflects the current position of ongoing research. Comments, corrections and contributions are welcome. These might include:
Information about previously unknown Pearson work. The Archive aims to provide a complete record of Pearson’s known works and commissions. Although it can never be certain that every work by an historical architect has been identified, the author would be pleased to receive information about omitted works or commissions. Any such information will be investigated and the work included where the available evidence indicates that Pearson was involved.
Corrections to existing information. The author would be pleased to receive corrections to factual information. These will be considered carefully and amendments made where appropriate. Where uncertainty remains about factual information, this may be noted in the relevant Building Profile.
Other comments and contributions. Comments and opinions about J.L. Pearson and his work are also welcome. The inclusion of such contributions, or suggestions for additional articles, in the Archive is at the author’s discretion.
Comments, corrections, new information and other contributions may be submitted through the Contact page.
Citation
Material from the J.L. Pearson Archive may be cited and referenced in academic, scholarly and other publications. As the Archive is an ongoing project and its contents may be revised or updated as research develops, citations should include the date on which the material was accessed.
When citing an individual Building Profile, the following form is recommended:
Nigel Williamson, ‘[Building name]’, J.L. Pearson Archive, [URL] (accessed [date]).
For references to the Archive as a whole:
Nigel Williamson, J.L. Pearson Archive, [URL] (accessed [date]).
These forms may be adapted to conform to the citation conventions of the publication in which the reference appears.
About the Author
Nigel Williamson is a Church of England priest and primary school teacher, with a longstanding interest in, and enthusiasm for, architecture, particularly churches. He is a former member of a Diocesan Advisory Committee. His first encounter with a church by J. L. Pearson was St Mary’s, Freeland, and, after many years spent visiting historic churches, he began an independent, systematic study of Pearson’s work in 2022.
This study has involved a project to visit every known building and commission associated with Pearson. A particular area of interest is Pearson’s use of proportional systems and their contribution to the remarkable spatial qualities of his buildings. Williamson also gives occasional presentations on Pearson’s work called Creating Space.
J.L. Pearson remains relatively underrepresented in architectural literature, compared with some of his major nineteenth-century contemporaries. The J. L. Pearson Archive is a contribution towards addressing that imbalance. It was created as a web archive (rather than published in print) to allow continued updating and revision as further buildings are visited and new information comes to light. Its purpose is to provide a resource for those with a particular interest in Pearson, but also to encourage a wider interest in, and appreciation of, his architecture, particularly among those who worship in, work in, care for, or simply encounter and enjoy his buildings as part of their everyday surroundings.
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to the many people who have assisted in the research and compilation of the J.L. Pearson Archive. Particular thanks are due to clergy, churchwardens, building custodians, members of congregations and local people who have generously provided access to buildings, often making special arrangements for them to be opened, and who have given a warm welcome, shared their knowledge and experience, and provided local sources of information. The willingness of so many people to give their time, answer questions and engage in conversation, has made an invaluable contribution to the project and is greatly appreciated.