Salvin, Anthony – Designed many stately homes

Anthony Salvin (1799-1881)

ANTHONY Salvin was an English architect, born at Sunderland Bridge, County Durham.. He was an expert on medieval buildings and applied this expertise to his new buildings and his restorations. He restored castles and country houses, and built a number of new houses and churches.

He became a pupil of John Paterson of Edinburgh while he was working on the restoration of Brancepeth Castle in County Durham.

In 1821 Salvin moved to London.

Salvin considered his most important early domestic work was building Harlaxton Manor for Gregory Gregory in the 1840s.

His design combined elements from Montacute House in Somerset and Hengrave Hall in Suffolk. However before the building was complete he was was replaced by William Burn.

But he hadn’t finished in the Grantham area, for he also designed St John in Spittlegate Church and Stoke Rochford Hall – also completed by Burn.

He also designed the new cottages in Belton village after Lord Brownlow bulldozed Tolthorpe which had spoiled the view from his home.

He was also responsible for the delightful boat house in Belton Park, recently restored.

Other work carried out by Salvin included rebuilding the keep of Durham Castle for student accommodation, and work on restoring Trinity College, Cambridge.

In 1863 he was awarded the royal gold medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects and in 1879 he retired from formal practice.

He died at Hawksfold in 1881 and was buried at Fernhurst. His estate was valued at over £78,000.