Amon Wilds

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For this architect's son, see Amon Henry Wilds.

Amon Wilds
Born1762
Brunswick estate
Amon Wilds was involved in the design of Arundel Terrace, the first part of Kemp Town to be completed.
Wilds built The Temple for Thomas Read Kemp.
Ammonite capitals on a building in Old Steine, Brighton
Amon Wilds's gravestone in St Nicholas' Churchyard

Amon Wilds (1762 – 12 September 1833) was an English architect and builder. He formed an architectural partnership with his son

Brunswick estates on the edges of Brighton, whose constituent parts are Grade I listed buildings.[2][3]

Life and activities

Wilds senior was born at Lewes, the county town of East Sussex, in 1762,[4] and became a builder and carpenter.[5] He later moved into the field of architecture and design, and after his son developed an interest in the same activities they formed a building firm in Lewes in about 1806.[5][6] Wilds senior's first independent design commission was an extension to the nave of All Saints Church in Lewes, which he executed in red brick in contrast to the flint tower.[7]

In 1810, he built Castle Place on the High Street, part of which was later converted into a house for the

ammonite-shaped Ionic-style capital on top of a pilaster, this design was particularly liked by the Wilds because it represented a pun on their first names.[6][9]

In 1815, both men moved to Brighton, where their partnership grew and took on more work. They continued to work in both towns until 1820, after which they concentrated exclusively on Brighton.[6][10] By this time, Wilds senior had completed two buildings on behalf of Thomas Read Kemp, who later proposed and funded the Kemp Town estate. He was a wealthy Brighton resident who had been Member of Parliament for Lewes[11] until 1816, when he resigned, left the Church of England and found a Nonconformist sect. He commissioned Wilds senior to build a chapel for him; although it was later reconsecrated as an Anglican church (under the name Holy Trinity Church) and has been altered externally, it still exists (as an art gallery) and is Grade II-listed. Wilds senior's design was Greek Revival, featuring a four-column portico of the Doric order and a large square tower.[12][13][14]

In 1819, Kemp decided to move from

Brighton and Hove High School. It is listed at Grade II.[15][16]

Charles Busby joined Wilds senior and his son in partnership soon after moving to Brighton in 1822.[10] Their first major project was the execution of Kemp's grand scheme for a vast estate of high-quality houses on the cliffs east of Brighton, intended for the rapidly increasing number of rich people wanting to live in Brighton.[17][18] By this time, Wilds junior was working independently most of the time, so Wilds senior and Busby received most of the credit for the design, planning and layout.[17][19] Building work began in May 1823, but the plan—consisting of 250 houses—proved too ambitious: not enough people moved to the isolated site, and Kemp's money was running out.[20] Only 106 were eventually built, 36 of which were complete by the time Wilds senior died.[20]

Wilds also had some input in the design of the

Brunswick estate, just over the border in Hove, which was conceived soon after Kemp Town's construction started; Charles Busby was more influential in the project, though,[21][22][23] and recent research indicates that on the contract dated 11 November 1824 agreeing details of the construction of Brunswick Square and Terrace, Wilds senior had obliterated his name and stated that Busby should be considered responsible for the work.[24]

From 1825 Wilds senior and Busby undertook more speculative building, for example at Marine Square and Portland Place;

Congregational churches).[27] In the 20th century it passed to a miners' mission and then the Elim Pentecostal Church,[28] which occupied it until 1988, after which it became a pub.[29] Amon Wilds gave the building a tall Greek Revival façade which dominates the lane it stands on; it has three Doric pilasters topped by a pediment, slightly tapering Greek-style windows and a triglyph. The interior was less imposing: a central pulpit was surrounded by pews in a semicircular pattern on a slight gradient.[26][30]

Amon Wilds died at the age of 71 on 12 September 1833 and is buried in the churchyard at

St Nicholas' Church, Brighton. His ornate gravestone was designed by his son.[6]

The inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of
Mr. Amon Wilds
Died 12 September 1833 Aged 71 Years
A remarkable incident accompanies the period at which this gentleman came to settle in Brighton.
Through his abilities and taste the order of the ancient architecture of buildings in Brighton
may be dated to have changed from its antiquated simplicity and rusticity and its improvements
have since progressively increased. He was a man of extensive genius and talent and in his
reputation for uprightness of conduct could only meet its parallel.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In this article, Amon Wilds is referred to as Wilds senior and his son Amon Henry Wilds as Wilds junior.

References

  1. ^ Musgrave 1981, pp. 176–177.
  2. ^ Carder 1990, §4.
  3. ^ School of Architecture and Interior Design 1987, pp. 12–18.
  4. ^ Dale 1950, p. 68.
  5. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64995. Retrieved 22 May 2009. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  6. ^ a b c d Carder 1990, §209.
  7. ^ Nairn & Pevsner 1965, p. 551.
  8. ^ School of Architecture and Interior Design 1987, p. 14.
  9. ^ Musgrave 1981, p. 179.
  10. ^ a b Musgrave 1981, p. 176.
  11. ^ Musgrave 1981, p. 177.
  12. ^ Carder 1990, §80.
  13. ^ Carder 1990, §115.
  14. ^ Historic England (2007). "Former Holy Trinity Church, Ship Street (west side), Brighton (1380934)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  15. ^ Historic England (2007). "Brighton and Hove High School for Girls (The Temple), Denmark Terrace (west side), Brighton (1389120)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  16. ^ Musgrave 1981, p. 178.
  17. ^ a b Musgrave 1981, p. 180.
  18. ^ Gilbert 1954, p. 98.
  19. ^ Carder 1990, §81.
  20. ^ a b Musgrave 1981, p. 181.
  21. ^ Musgrave 1981, p. 183.
  22. ^ School of Architecture and Interior Design 1987, p. 18.
  23. ^ School of Architecture and Interior Design 1987, p. 83.
  24. ^ Middleton 2001, p. 4.
  25. ^ Musgrave 1981, p. 184.
  26. ^ a b Nairn & Pevsner 1965, p. 437.
  27. ^ Dale 1989, pp. 161–162.
  28. ^ Dale 1989, p. 167.
  29. ^ Antram & Morrice 2008, p. 79.
  30. ^ School of Architecture and Interior Design 1987, p. 38.

Bibliography

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