Designer Biography

Alfred Waterhouse

Born: 1830

Died: 1905

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Born in Liverpool and articled to Manchester architect Richard Lane, Waterhouse set up his own practice in 1854. In 1859 he won the Manchester Assize Courts competition, travelling to London to study Pugin's furniture for the Palace of Westminster. His own designs were executed by the Manchester firms of Doveston, Bird & Hull, Goodall's and Lamb's. He moved to London in 1864 and secured important commissions to design the Natural History Museum, South Kensington (built 1870-80), and Manchester Town Hall (built 1868-77). He was a friend of R. Norman Shaw, who had designed a cradle for his son. In the 1870s he rebuilt Eaton Hall for the Duke of Westminster, the interiors of which were executed by Heaton, Butler & Bayne. His furniture for Blackmore was made by J. Capel, and he designed tiles for Craven Dunnill & Co., and offered designs to Wedgwood for their 'Marsden' patent art tiles. J. M. Brydon is among the long list of assistants who worked in Waterhouse's office. Waterhouse retired in 1901, and his son Paul took over his practice after ten years as a partner.