William Lindley – Doncaster Buildings

D O N C A S T E R’ S A R C H I T E C T S

N O. 3 - WILLIAM L I N D L E Y

William Lindley, unlike William Hurst and J. Greenhalgh Walker, the subjects of the previous articles in this series, was not born in Doncaster. Indeed, he was in his middle years before he set up in practice in the town - nevertheless he made a distinctive contribution to Doncaster ‘s architectural character, being responsible ·for many of the town's attractive late Georgian and Regency buildings.

M. Colvin suggests that William Lindley may have been related to Joseph Lindley (1710-1791) of Heath, near Wakefield whose son Joseph (1756-1808) was a surveyor and cartographer. William Lindley was born in 1739 and about 1754 he was apprenticed to John Carr who had moved to York four years previously to pursue a career in architecture, after having worked for his father, Robert Carr, a mason, and quarry owner of Horbury.

John Carr achieved striking success in 1754 when his design for a (grandstand on the Knavesmire at York was preferred to that of· James Paine”. Carr subsequently displaced Paine as the leading architectural practitioner in the north of England. The print of the York: Grandstand that was published bore William Lindley's name.

In December 1758, Carr sent a few prints "of our Will's doing" to the steward of Harewood. The building of Harewood House for the 1st Earl of Harewood was Carr's first large country house commission. William Lindley also prepared the drawing for Basire’s engraving of Kirby Hall, a house executed by Carr to the designs of Lord Burlington, and for engravings of the interior of the York Assembly Rooms.

On September 27th, 1774, the following advertisement appeared in the York Courant, WILLIAM LINDLEY, Architect and Director of buildings, who has been an assistant to Mr Carr of York, in that business, (his apprenticeship included) upwards of 20 years, invents and draws designs for HOUSES, for the most stately and superb MANSION down to the plain Farmhouse, also designs for Churches, Chapels, Monuments, Obelisks, Temples, Pavilions, Green-Houses, Baths, Bridges, Gateways, Stables, &c.

He likewise makes Alterations, Additions, & Improvements in old or inconvenient Houses and draws designs for INTERNAL DECORATIONS viz. Chimneypieces, Doors, Windows, Girandoles, Pier Glass, and. Slab Frames, Cornices, Ceilings, in an elegant taste, with proper directions for executing each design.

He hopes the long study of his Profession and the great Practice he has had, (while with MR. CARR) will enable him to give entire satisfaction to those that please to favour him with their commands, who may depend on their being performed expeditiously and on moderate terms."

One week later, on October 4th, 1774, the Doncaster Town Council resolved that "The Mayor, Mr Partrick, Mr France, Mr Hawley, Mr Holmes, Mr Robert Cave, and Mr Henry Heaton be of a Committee to treat with the present tenants of the line of shops on the south side of the Magdalene and for the quitting of the same, as soon, as possible, and ·that they apply to Mr Lindley of York to draw a plan for a Playhouse to be laid before the Corporation."

Thus, began William Lindley ‘s connection with the Doncaster Corporation.

A relationship which resulted in Lindley carrying out several commissions for public buildings, in and about the town, over 40 years. On January 12th, 1775, Lindley's plan for the new Theatre was laid before the Council and approved and the Committee for the Theatre was ·empowered to treat and contract with Mr Lindley or any other person for building the new theatre. On August 7th, 1776, the Town Council agreed to let Mr Tate Wilkinson of York have the new playhouse on a lease, at a yearly rental of £70.

In 1776 the corporation decided to erect a commodious stand on the racecourse. This commission, however, was not given to William Lindley, probably because the Corporation had referred the matter to a group of leading figures in the racing world including the Marquess of Rockingham who had close links with John Carr of. York. Who was given the job of designing the new stand?

But when the Town Council decided in February 1779 to build a new Gaol in St. Sepulchre Gate they again turned to William Lindley. The building does not appear to have been a palatial structure Judging from the following extract from the report of Mr. James Nield, taken from his "General State of Prisons in England, Scotland and Wales" c.1802.

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“This Gaol is a detached building in St, Sepulchre Gate street. The keeper's house overlooks the court.

Inscribed on its front, in stone, "John Whitaker Esq. Mayor. 1779," For all kinds of prisoners, one small, flagged court, with a pump. Felons have two good sized rooms below; one totally dark, except a small aperture in the door; the other has an iron grated window, not glazed. Above stairs are two rooms with iron grated and glazed windows, for debtors, the rooms have fireplaces.”

The building had a modicum of architectural splendour for a bill of £13, 10, O. from the carver Christopher Theakstone included carving the town's crest and supplying a large vase for the Gaol.

On June 6th, 1783, the Town Council agreed to accept Mr. William Lindley’s offer to "paint and repair” the Ball Room at the Mansion House white and French grey three times over with oil colour, also to repair and paint the Vestibule three times over with oil colour white and light straw, repair, and paper the Drawing Room with such coloured paper as the Committee for the Mansion House think proper (not exceeding 5 gms.) for the sum of €61. 7. 3," On the same day William Lindley was admitted to his freedom of the Corporation on payment of a fee of £5. He had moved to Doncaster at least as early as 1779 and in the 1780s he was living in French Gate.

The building had a modicum of architectural splendour for a bill of £13, 10, 00, from the carver Christopher Theakstone included carving the town's crest and supplying a large vase for the Gaol.

On February 25th, 1784, the Town Council ordered that “the Common Council Room and part of the Town Hall shall be taken down and rebuilt according to Mr Lindley’s plan which he has contracted to do in consideration of £280 to be paid by the Corporation."

The Town Hall which stood in the Market Place almost at right angles to the Theatre incorporated the nave and chancel of the ruined church of St, Mary Magdalene. Lindley’s work would most likely have included raising the central portion to three storeys in height and giving the building a classical look with a one bay central pediment with an urn on either side and with pilasters to the central three bays.

William Lindley was receiving commissions from other clients. When advertising for an articled clerk in the local paper on July 24th, 1790, Lindley described himself as "an Architect in full and extensive practice."

In 1785 he had prepared plans for the extension of the Doncaster Vicarage, sited near the river Cheswold for the Revd. George William Hay Drummond. In 1793 he designed a new vicarage at Wath on Dearne. The lack of a recognised architect at Sheffield led to William Lindley undertaking a number of commissions there, including the new Courthouse and Gaol at Ecclesall for Earl Fitzwilliam and alterations to Sheffield Parish Church. Tax records of the time on servants, carriages and horses show that Lindley possessed neither the first or the second but he had a horse which would be his means of transport when his work took him out of town, In the autumn of 1791 William Lindley was advertising in the local paper offering a reward of two guineas for information about a bay mare "STRAYED OR CONVEYED from Crimpsal, near Doncaster, on Sunday, October 2nd, 1791."

It was presumably the same horse referred to in the Doncaster Journal, May 21st, 1791, "We are sorry to hear, that on Wednesday as Mr. Lindley, architect, of this town, was riding to Wakefield, his horse took fright upon the road, by which Mr, Lindley, unfortunately, dislocated his thigh." The journey was probably being undertaken in connection with the proposed new church.

The Town Hall - next to the Royal Opera House, which Lindley was designed in conjunction with Charles Watson, a former articled clerk of his. Lindley also laid out the South Parade estate at Wakefield and designed houses for it, Watson had by 1792 opened an office in Wakefield and the two were in partnership as Lindley and Watson until it was dissolved in 1800. In 1796 they surveyed the spire of All Saint's Church (Wakefield Cathedral).

In the meanwhile, Lindley was receiving further commissions from the Corporation. The matter of street improvements was a constant concern of the Town Council and it was their practice to make matters easier for passengers by buying up properties that projected into the street and rebuilding them further back and by rebuilding corner properties in a nicely rounded form. On February 9th, 1790, the Town Council ordered that ''Mr. Mayor, Mr, Rimmington, Mr, Jackson, Mr, Holmes, and Mr. Cave be a Committee for applying to Mr, Lindley to draw a plan for building a house at the corner of Scot Lane in a neat manner.”

In 1792 there was a movement in the town towards the establishment of a Dispensary for the treatment of the sick poor. In June 1793, the Town Council appointed a Committee to build a house proper for a dispensary in such a place and upon such a plan as they thought most proper and convenient, William Lindley prepared the plans and the tender of Thomas Anelay.to build the house for £660 was accepted. The "Dispensary House" stood in the Friars Closes, on the eastern side of the Great North Road, and near the foot of the Friars Bridge which spanned the river Cheswold, At the time of its erection the site although low was completely open. The building later stood overshadowed by the North Bridge and was pulled down some years ago.

In 1795 William Lindley purchased a plot of land at the top of Hall Gate on the east side adjoining a newly set out thoroughfare, later to be known as Prince’s Street. On this plot Lindley erected one of his most interesting compositions from Hall Gate, it appears to be a double fronted house with an elegant central doorway surmounted by a balustrade and urns, flanked on either side by bow windows rising through three storeys. In fact, it is two houses, the other entrance being in Prince's Street. William Lindley occupied one of the houses from 1798 for some years before moving to South Parade.

William Lindley in 1795 also acquired some other building plots on the west side of the Bawtry Road, where the houses in South Parade now stand. The site known as Sand Pit Close, had been put up for sale in building plots in 1791, but had failed to find purchasers, Lindley bought one plot north of the Salutation where he built the large house with a pediment and pilasters now housing the Borough Architect and his staff. Lindley (also bought two adjoining plots further north where he erected the distinctive Pillared Houses., so called because the lower two storeys are recessed, and the upper part of the frontage is supported on columns. This property was erected at some time between 1801 and 1804 and comprises three houses; the middle one of which was occupied by Lindley.

On their attendance at the Races in 1806 the Prince of Wales (later George IV lodged at Mr Lindley’s house and the Duke of Clarence at Dr. Chorley’s (next door).

The Corporation again called on William Lindley's services in 1800 when they; decided. That the Mansion-House needed putting in good repair, it was at this time that the pediment which formed part of Paine's design was removed and replaced with an attic store surmounted by the Borough coat of arms.

On December 2nd, 1800, the Town Council ordered that ''Mr. Lindley shall be paid £950 for making alterations in the front of the Mansion House according to his plan this day produced for making, finishing, and completing all the repairs and improvements in and around the Mansion House, yards, cellars, and outbuildings thereto belonging,"

In 1803 the Corporation decided that John Carr’s Grandstand should be enlarged by adding a wing at each end. The new work, designed by Lindley, met with approbation.

The Doncaster, Nottingham .and Lincolnshire Gazette on September 20th, 1005 reported "Our races which commence on Monday seem in all companies to be the present topic of conversation. The town, as usual, has put on that uniform neat appearance, which so particularly attracts the admiration of strangers who attend this annual jubilee, Sporting amateurs will, be highly gratified with the very great improvement made in the course, which several gentlemen of the turf pronounced to be the completest in the kingdom. The Grandstand, being now finished, is a most beautiful edifice, and we believe may view with any piece of architecture of the kind ever erected. The intro duction of Ionic pillars instead of arches at each end which communicated with the wings lately added gives to the room an elegant and light appearance. The building extends in front upwards of 120 ft," the works included a new steward stand in an octagonal form.

William Lindley was at ·the same time carrying out work at Rossington for the Corporation who were ·the lords of the manor. Plans were made for the consolidation of the rector's glebe as part of a scheme for enclosure and the Corporation were to receive the old rectory and were to provide a new rectory near the church in exchange. It was not a completely new rectory that Lindley designed but was in fact formed by making extensive alterations and enlargements to the schoolhouse built in 1801.

William Lindley’s further works for the Corporation included the provision of the elegant Dining Room at the Mansion House in 1806 and additions to the Theatre in 1814, William Lindley took John Woodhead into partnership about 1810 and in 1815 William Hurst, an articled pupil of Lindley’s joined the firm.

William Lindley, a lifelong bachelor, died February 28th, 1819 and was buried in the north aisle of St. George's Church. After his death, the practice was carried on by his partners.

Lindley also had quite an extensive country house. He had advertised in 1774 that he made alterations additions and improvements in old or inconvenient houses.

He designed many more buildings than have been mentioned above. Many buildings could be conjecturally ascribed to him, but documentary evidence is lacking. Lindley’s style was economical, his decoration restrained but elegant, his buildings were rarely flamboyant but always well proportioned. His work must have appealed to the town’s genteel families of modest means. William Lindley did much to give Doncaster an architectural distinction not found in the average market town.)

1794 Additions and alterations at Owston Hall, near Doncaster

1794 Additions to Ouslethwaite Hall, near Barnsley

1790 (conjectural) The Woodlands, near Doncaster

1798 15 South Parade, Doncaster (Borough Architect I s Office)

1801 Doncaster 11ansion House, alterations to front and addition of attic storey

1801/4 19,20,21 South Parade, Doncaster \The Pillared Houses)

1803 (conjectural) Elmfield House, Doncaster

1802 Additions and alterations at Cantley Hall, near Doncaster

1802 Alterations to Campsmount, near Doncaster (dem.)

18?? Alterations to Hooton Pagnell Hall, near Doncaster

1804 Rossington Rectory, near Doncaster

18?? Campsall Hall Gateway, near Doncaster<=r (dem,)

1804/5 Grandstand, Doncaster, provision of wings

1805 Stewards' or Judges' Stand, Doncaster

1806 Doncaster Mansion House, new Dining Room

1809 (conjectural) 22/23 South Parade, Doncaster (Conservative Club)

1811 Alterations to the Oakes in Norton, near Sheffield.

1812 Alterations to Serlby Hall, near Doncaster ·

1812 Cantley Vicarage rebuilt, near Doncaster (dem,)

1814/5 Extensions to Doncaster Theatre (dem.)