Sir Aston Webb:
An Inventory of his Drawings, Photographs, and Printed Material, 1868-1936
Collection Summary | ||
| Creator: | Webb, Aston, Sir, 1849-1930 | |
| Title: | Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930) Drawings, photographs, printed material, English architecture | |
| Dates: | 1968-1936 | |
| Abstract: | Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930), London architect, designed many large public commissions throughout England between 1875-1915; he worked with E. Ingress Bell and later with his son Maurice Webb. Collection consists of 369 architectural drawings (mostly presentation drawings), 244 photographs, and 136 "tearsheets" from British architectural periodicals. The following buildings are included among the drawings: Admiralty Arch, Buckingham Palace; Birmingham New Law Courts; University of Cambridge; Imperial College of Science and Technology (London); Royal United Service Institution (Great Britain); Shepard's Bush Flats (London); Stock Exchange War Memorial and Chapel Court Entrance (London); Victoria and Albert Museum. | |
| Identification: | WEBB Accession information: 1983029 | |
| Quantity: | 369 drawings, 244 photographs, 136 tearsheets from British architecture periodicals | |
| Language: | Materials are in English. | |
| Repository: | Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. | |
Biographical Sketch of Sir Aston Webb
Aston Webb was born in London in 1849, the son of a successful painter, Edward Webb. He received his early training in architecture articled to the firm of Banks and Barry (1866-1871). When his tenure there ended he spent a year traveling throughout Europe and Asia Minor. In 1873 he won the Pugin Studentship and toured Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. On his return to London in 1874, Webb established his own architectural practice, which by the turn of the century was the largest in England. His earliest works include the Church of St. John, Oxfordshire (1875); almshouses at Worcester (1878); and a granary at Deptford (1880). Webb began working with E. Ingress Bell (1836 or 37-1914) in the early 1880s and the pair secured their first important commission with a winning design for the Victoria Law Courts in Birmingham (1886). For the next 23 years, Webb and Bell completed numerous large public building projects. The two were official partners from 1902-1909. During Webb's later career, he was assisted by his sons, Maurice and Philip.
In Webb's early design work with Bell he employed a wide variety of architectural styles. Historians consider these works his most original. They include the new frontage for the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington (1891); the Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, London (1893-1895); the design for the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth (c.1900); and the University of Birmingham (1900-1909).
In 1901 Webb won a limited competition for the Queen Victoria Memorial and mall approach to Buckingham Palace. Subsequent work at Buckingham included the Admiralty Arch (1908-1909), and a new design for the east frontage of the Palace (1912-1913). Webb's work at Buckingham reflects an increased classical influence indicative of the times.
Throughout his career Webb worked actively in professional organizations and at promoting a professional image for architects. He joined the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1883 and served as president from 1902-1904. He was elected to the Royal Acadamy as an associate in 1899, full academician in 1903, and served as acting president from 1919-1924. Webb was knighted in 1904, received the Royal Gold Medal in Architecture in 1905 and the first recipient of the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1907.
Webb showed political and social astuteness by repeatedly securing both public and private large scale commissions. He was a model professional, leading a conservative lifestyle and effectively managing his firm. Webb died in 1930 and is memorialized at St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
Major works include Christ's Hospital School, Sussex (1893-1902); the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington (1900-1906); King's College, Cambridge (1908); the Royal School of Mines, South Kensington (1909-1913).
Scope and Content of the collection
The Sir Aston Webb Papers consist of 369 architectural drawings, 224 photographs and 136 "tearsheets" from British architectural periodicals. The majority of drawings are presentation drawings executed on illustration board. Included in this collection are drawings for the restoration of the Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great (1892), additions to the Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University (1900, 1904, 1907), and numerous country houses. The collection also contains a number of drawings representing the student work of Phillip Edward Webb executed from 1907 to 1912 at the Architectural Association (1905-1907) and the Royal Academy (1907-1912). The bulk of the drawings in the collection represent the post World War I work of Sir Aston Webb and Son, including materials for the Royal Air Force Club (1922) and the Stock Exchange War Memorial (1919-1921).
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar. Rolled materials must be flattened before viewing. A three day advance notice is required to flatten rolled materials. Portions of this collection are not processed and may not be accessible.
Restrictions on Use
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Alexander Architectural Archive's Use Policy.
Index Terms | ||
| This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Texas Online Catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings. | ||
| Persons: | ||
| Webb, Aston, Sir, -- 1849-1930 -- Archives. | ||
| Bell, Edward Ingress, -- 1834-1914. | ||
| Webb, Philip Edward, -- 1885-1916. | ||
| Webb, Maurice Everett, -- 1880-1939. | ||
| Organizations: | ||
| Admiralty Arch, Buckingham Palace (London, Eng.) | ||
| Birmingham New Law Courts (Birmingham, Eng.) | ||
| University of Cambridge. | ||
| Imperial College of Science and Technology (London, Eng.) | ||
| Royal United Service Institution (Great Britain) | ||
| Shepard's Bush Flats (London, Eng.) | ||
| Stock Exchange War Memorial and Chapel Court Entrance (London, Eng.) | ||
| Victoria and Albert Museum. | ||
| Subjects: | ||
| Church architecture -- England. | ||
| Architecture, Domestic -- Designs and plans. | ||
| Universities and colleges -- England. | ||
| Public buildings -- England -- Designs and plans. | ||
| Memorials -- England -- Designs and plans. | ||
| Architecture -- England. | ||
| Architecture -- Edwardian. | ||
| Design development drawings. | ||
| Great Britain -- Buildings -- 19th century. | ||
| Document types: | ||
| Architectural drawings. | ||
| Competition drawings. | ||
| Interior design drawings. | ||
| Periodical illustrations. | ||
| Presentation drawings. | ||
| Renderings. | ||
| Student works. | ||
| Travel sketches. | ||
| Working drawings. | ||
| Photoprints. | ||
Related Material
The most comprehensive archive of the work of Sir Aston Webb is located at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. An inventory of these drawings is published in volume 15 of the Catalogue of the Drawings Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Gregg International, 1984). |
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930) Drawings, photographs, printed material, 1868-1936, English architecture, Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
Acquisition Information
Transferred to the Alexander Architectural Archive from the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center.
Processing information
drawings by Lila Knight; other material processed by Kathy Martinson, March 1993; Amy Reichert.
Other Finding Aids
Unpublished inventory in Archive.
References to works by or about Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930), E. Ingress Bell (1837-1914), and Maurice Webb (1880-1939)
Edward Ingress Bell"John Francis Bentley. A Sketch from Memory." Architectural Notes vol. 18 (January 1903): p. 191. [Obituary] Builder vol. 92 (1914): p. 231, 271. [Obituary] Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects (JRIBA) vol. 21 (1913-1914): p. 682-3. "Unrest." American Architect and Building News vol. 7 (May 29, 1880): p. 238-9. |
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Sir Aston Webb"The American Presentation to Sir Aston Webb." JRIBA vol. 14 (1907): p. 294-301. "The Architecture of Sir Aston Webb, President of the Royal Academy." Building News vol. 119 (1920): p. 63-4. "The Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth." Architectural Review vol. 18 (November 1905): p. 194-216. "A Century of Regent Street: MDCCCXX - MDCCCCXX." Architectural Review vol. 62 (December 1927): p. 202-39. Creswell, H. B. "A Backward View." Architect and Building News vol. 208 (August 11, 1955): p. 172-3. Creswell, H. B. "Seventy Years Back." Architectural Review vol. 124 (December 1958): p. 405. "Current Architecture: University of Birmingham." Architectural Review vol. 26 (September 1909): p. 142-52. "Current Architecture: The Victoria and Albert Museum." Architectural Review vol. 26 (July 1909): p. 38-48. Darby, Elizabeth. "The Nation's Memorial to Victoria." Country Life vol. 164 (November 16, 1978): p. 1647-8. Darly, Gillian. "Informality in a Formal Layout, Whiteley Village, Surrey." Country Life vol. 160 (November 18, 1976): p. 1484-5. "Death of Noted Architect." Architect vol. 15 (September 1930): p. 555. Design for the South Kensington Museum Building." Architectural Digest vol. 47, no. 7-8 (1977): p. 471. "Drawing for the Metropolitan Life Assurance Society's Offices in Moorgate, London." Architectural Design vol. 47, no. 3 (1977): p. 175. "Grain Silos, Greenwich, England." American Architect and Building News vol. 56 (May 22, 1897): p. 64. Gray, Stuart A. Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical Dictionary. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press. Jackson, N. and Thomas, J. "Presidents of RIBA." JRIBA vol 91 (May 1984): p. 56-7. "The Late Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M.R.A." RIBA Proceedings vol. 19 (1911-1912): p. 608-9. "The Late Sir Thomas Brock." The Builder vol. 123 (1922): p. 331. [Obituary] American Architect vol. 191 (January 26, 1907): p. 53. [Obituary] Architecture (NY) vol. 62 sup. 45 (October 1930). [Obituary] Architectural Forum vol. 53 (September 1930): p. 57. [Obituary] Architectural Review vol. 68 sup. 64 (September 1930). [Obituary] Art Digest vol. 4 (September 1930): p. 18. [Obituary] Connoisseur vol. 86 (October 1930): p. 262-3. [Obituary] JRIBA vol. 37 (1929-30): p. 744. "A Picture in Passing; Rue de la Grosse Horlogo, Rowen." Architect vol. 3, no. 8 (August 1973): p. 50-2. "Portrait by W. Llewellyn." London Studio vol. 9 (June 1935): p. 297. "The Proposal for a League of Nations." Architectural Review vol. 46 (December 1919): p. 132-54. "Registration of Architects." JRIBA vol. 21 (1913-1914): p. 167-74. Royal Institute of British Architects Drawing Collection. London: Sir Banister Fletcher Library, 1968. "The Royal College of Science." Architectural Review vol. 21 (April 1907): p. 192-206. "Royal Gold Medal Presentation to M. August Choisy, 20th June, 1904." JRIBA vol. 11 (1904): p. 449-54. Service, Alastair. Edwardian Architecture: A Handbook of Building Design in Britain, 1890-1914. New York, Toronto: Oxford Press, 1977. Service, Alastair. Edwardian Architecture and Its Origins. London: Architectural Press Ltd., 1975. "Sir Aston Webb." JRIBA vol. 12 (November 1904): p. 13. "Sir Aston Webb's Record. Public Buildings and Churches." The Architect's Magazine vol. 5 (July 1905): p. 57. "The Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London, England." American Architect and Building News vol. 82 (November 28, 1903): p. 72. "Work of Sir Aston Webb, Architect." The Builder vol. 116 (1919): p. 110, 156. |
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Sir Aston Webb and E. Ingress Bell"Current Architecture." Architectural Review 16 (August 1904): p. 74-80. "Current Architecture: University of Birmingham." Architectural Review 26 (September 1909): p. 142-52. Illus. |
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Sir Aston Webb and Son, architects"The War Memorial at Malvern College." Architectural Review 58 (August 1925): p. 50-7. Illus, plans. |
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Maurice Everett Webb (1880-1939)"Century of Progress." Architectural Review 76 (December 1934): p. 190-1. "Design and Construction of Buildings in Relation to Fire Risks." Royal Society of Arts Journal 81 (January 27, 1933): p. 242-55. "The Guildhall, Kingston-on-Thames." Architect and Building News 143 (July 19, 1935): p. 81-7. "Hospital Designed to Prevent Cross-Infection: Maurice E. Webb, architect." Architectural Record 85 (January 1939): p. 40-1. Illus., plans. "Hospitaux." L'Architecture d'aujour d'hui. n.s., loe annee (September-October 1939): p. 10-51. Illus., plans. "The London Fever Hospital New Isolation Block, Architect: Maurice E. Webb." Architect and Building News 155 (July 22, 1938): p. 98-100. [Obituary]. JRIBA 47 (Dec 11, 1939; January 15, 1940): p. 41-3. [Obituary]. Architect and Building News 160 (November 17, 1939): p. 149-50. [Obituary]. Architect and Building News 161 (February 2, 1940): p. 133. [Obituary]. The Builder 157 (November 17, 1939): p. 711. [Obituary]. The Builder 157 (December 1, 1939): p. 754. [Obituary]. Royal Society of the Arts Journal 88 (November 24/December 8, 1939): p. 61, 102. [Portrait]. JRIBA 42 (November 6, 1934): p. 81. "The Report of the First International Congress on Architectural Education, Held Under the Auspices of the Royal Institute of British Architects, July 28-August 2, 1924." Architectural Review 9 (March 1926): p 82-9. Illus., plans. "A Sketch of Some Experiences During the War, and the Moral..." Builder 116 (1919): p. 641-2. |
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Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.