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| </ref> The Bastards were brothers,<ref>A third brother, Thomas, died in 1731 (Colvin 1995, sub "Bastard").</ref> the sons of Thomas Bastard (died 1720), a ] and architect, the founder of a family firm of provincial architects in the area. However little remains today of the works of the brothers' ancestors, chiefly as the result of the 1731 fire and a previous fire in the town in 1713. | </ref> The Bastards were brothers,<ref>A third brother, Thomas, died in 1731 (Colvin 1995, sub "Bastard").</ref> the sons of Thomas Bastard (died 1720), a ] and architect, the founder of a family firm of provincial architects in the area. However little remains today of the works of the brothers' ancestors, chiefly as the result of the 1731 fire and a previous fire in the town in 1713. | ||
| The Blandford fire, which swept away the heart of a town that had evolved in a haphazard way from the medieval period, presented an opportunity for more regular redevelopment in the classical styles. However, with the exception of a wide square in the |
The Blandford fire, which swept away the heart of a town that had evolved in a haphazard way from the medieval period, presented an opportunity for more regular redevelopment in the classical styles. However, with the exception of a wide square in the ] style, the town was rebuilt on its former medieval street plan.<ref>Blandford Forum</ref> | ||
| The first building to be completed in Blandford was the grandiose town hall, finished in 1734. Constructed like much of their work in the local ]. The building is architecturally interesting for its idiosyncrasies of style. While at first glance appearing a typical example of the ] style popular at the time - this is not truly the case. The ground floor is an open arcade of three segmented arches more typical of ] Dutch and English market halls. The upper floor however, is in the highest Palladian tradition, as exemplified by ] in his ] at ], the windows alternating segmental and pointed ]s. The whole of the facade is surmounted by a uniting pediment, with a circular window at its centre. The design of the facade seems incomplete, as though flanking wings are missing. The provincial design of the building is again emphasised by the placement of three covered urns on the pediment redolent of the Baroque period which by the 1730s had already passed from its brief period of high fashion in England. The pediment appears heavy and lacking in support from the ]s which more ] architects would have placed at either end of the facade. Such architectural irregularities can be found in small country towns the length and breadth of Britain and exemplify the spread of evolving architectural ]s from the cities. | The first building to be completed in Blandford was the grandiose town hall, finished in 1734. Constructed like much of their work in the local ]. The building is architecturally interesting for its idiosyncrasies of style. While at first glance appearing a typical example of the ] style popular at the time - this is not truly the case. The ground floor is an open arcade of three segmented arches more typical of ] Dutch and English market halls. The upper floor however, is in the highest Palladian tradition, as exemplified by ] in his ] at ], the windows alternating segmental and pointed ]s. The whole of the facade is surmounted by a uniting pediment, with a circular window at its centre. The design of the facade seems incomplete, as though flanking wings are missing. The provincial design of the building is again emphasised by the placement of three covered urns on the pediment redolent of the Baroque period which by the 1730s had already passed from its brief period of high fashion in England. The pediment appears heavy and lacking in support from the ]s which more ] architects would have placed at either end of the facade. Such architectural irregularities can be found in small country towns the length and breadth of Britain and exemplify the spread of evolving architectural ]s from the cities. | ||
Revision as of 16:11, 6 March 2007
John (ca 1668–1770) and William Bastard (ca 1689–1766) were British surveyor-architects, and civic dignitaries of the town of Blandford Forum in Dorset. . They are most notable for their rebuilding work at Blandford Forum following a large fire of 1731, and for work in the neighbourhood that Colvin describes as "mostly designed in a vernacular baroque style of considerable merit though of no great sophistication." The Bastards were brothers, the sons of Thomas Bastard (died 1720), a joiner and architect, the founder of a family firm of provincial architects in the area. However little remains today of the works of the brothers' ancestors, chiefly as the result of the 1731 fire and a previous fire in the town in 1713.
The Blandford fire, which swept away the heart of a town that had evolved in a haphazard way from the medieval period, presented an opportunity for more regular redevelopment in the classical styles. However, with the exception of a wide square in the Baroque style, the town was rebuilt on its former medieval street plan.
The first building to be completed in Blandford was the grandiose town hall, finished in 1734. Constructed like much of their work in the local Portland stone. The building is architecturally interesting for its idiosyncrasies of style. While at first glance appearing a typical example of the Palladian style popular at the time - this is not truly the case. The ground floor is an open arcade of three segmented arches more typical of Renaissance Dutch and English market halls. The upper floor however, is in the highest Palladian tradition, as exemplified by Inigo Jones in his Banqueting house at Whitehall, the windows alternating segmental and pointed pediments. The whole of the facade is surmounted by a uniting pediment, with a circular window at its centre. The design of the facade seems incomplete, as though flanking wings are missing. The provincial design of the building is again emphasised by the placement of three covered urns on the pediment redolent of the Baroque period which by the 1730s had already passed from its brief period of high fashion in England. The pediment appears heavy and lacking in support from the pilasters which more urbane architects would have placed at either end of the facade. Such architectural irregularities can be found in small country towns the length and breadth of Britain and exemplify the spread of evolving architectural genres from the cities.
The Town Hall is typical of the work of the Bastard brothers, from which they were to make their fortune. They became entrepreneurs and local politicians. . Other works by the Bastards in the town include the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, built between 1733 and 1739; the market place around the town hall, designed in classical style but not uniform; the Greyhound Inn (1734-35; now a bank), which was their own property; a terrace of almshouses; and many large private houses with classical facades.
The rebuilding of the town was officially completed in 1760 — a feat commemorated by a memorial known as the Fire Monument. Pevsner describes this memorial as a "detailed tabernacle with Doric columns". This was designed and paid for by John Bastard and had it engraved, somewhat immodestly, with the inscription "in grateful Acknowledgement of the Divine Mercy, that has raised this Town, like a phoenix from its ashes, to its present beautiful and flourishing State." However the monument also has a more practical use, built above a piped spring: should a fire break our again it would supply a head of water for the attachment of fire hoses.
Outside Blandford, the Bastards were responsible for joiner's and carver's work inHazlegrove House, Somerset and at Lulworth Castle, Dorset (destroyed by dire, 1929). TJohn Bastard was employed, with the master-mason Francis Cartwright, in rebuilding Crichel House, Dorset, for Sir William Napier. Their nephew Thomas Bastard, enlarged the shell of Crichel in 1771-73; the new interiors were designed by James Wyatt. Other members of the Bastard family were masons in Dorset and as far afield as London and the Dashwood mausoleum at West Wycombe.
While the Bastards worked in a provincial style this should not detract from a positive evaluation of their work. Pevsner describes the Bastards works at Blandford as providing "One of the most satisfying Georgian ensembles anywhere in England".
Notes
- Pevsner 1972:95
- The Burlington Magazine pp 144–145; 148–1
- Colvin 1995 sub "Bastard".
- A third brother, Thomas, died in 1731 (Colvin 1995, sub "Bastard").
- Blandford Forum
- Blandford Forum.
- Pevsner 1972:97
- Pevsner. p 95
References
- Pevsner, Nikolaus (1972). The buildings of England — Dorset. England: Penguin. ISBN 0 14 071044 2.
- Colvin, Howard (3rd ed. 1995). A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 0 300 06091 2.
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- The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs 47 No. 270 (September 1925)
- Blandford Forum Official site