Richard Knill Freeman

Richard Knill Freeman (1840, Stepney, London – 24 June 1904^[1]) was a British architect who began his career at Derby and moved to Bolton, Lancashire in the late 1860s.^[1] His work, in Victorian Gothic style and typically recalling the Decorated Period of later medieval architecture, can be seen in several cities and towns across the north of England.^[2] He worked in total on about 140 buildings, of which about half survive in some form.^[3]

Freeman was a fellow of the Manchester Society of Architects and president of that Society from 1890 to 1891.^[3]

Freeman's work included new churches, restorations, vicarages, schools, homes, museums, municipal buildings and hospitals.^[4] He designed additions to Southport Pier and an "Indian Pavilion" for Blackpool's North Pier in 1874.^[5] His Derby Museum, Library and Art Gallery, a gift to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass, was completed in 1876.

In 1882 he won the first competition for the Museum of Science and Art, Dublin with a design for "a building quadrangular in form, with mansard roofs" which made provision for the collection of the Royal Irish Academy;^[6] but because no Irish architect had been shortlisted there was controversy leading to a second competition in 1883, which was won by Thomas Newenham Deane & Son.

In 1878 Freeman was selected to design St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Moscow, Russia. Responding to the growth of the Moscow British community, church officials desired an English architect, and Freeman responded by submitting plans for a "typical English church in Victorian Gothic style". The church was completed in 1884.^[4]

En 1887, Freeman trabajó como arquitecto en una casa en Bryerswood, Far Sawrey , delegando la supervisión de la construcción a su asistente, Dan Gibson . El diseñador de jardines británico Thomas Hayton Mawson fue contratado para trabajar en el jardín al mismo tiempo. Gracias a ese encargo, el trío continuó trabajando en las mismas funciones en Graythwaite Hall, Newby Bridge , y Gibson y Mawson formaron una breve sociedad después de eso. ^{[ 7 ]}

La iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad de Freeman en Blackpool se terminó en 1895, al igual que su iglesia de San Lorenzo en Barton, Preston . ^{[ 8 ]} También construyó la iglesia de Santa Margarita en Hollingwood , realizó trabajos de restauración para la iglesia de Worsley y diseñó un hospital. ^{[ 1 ]}

Su hijo, Frank Richard Freeman (1870–1934), también fue arquitecto. Continuó con el estudio de su padre, Freeman & Son, y construyó varias iglesias con un estilo similar al de su padre. ^{[ 3 ]}

• Hospital Real de Bolton

• Biografía y detalles de los edificios de Richard Knill Freeman.
• "Richard Knill Freeman" en el Diccionario de Arquitectos Escoceses