Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of London, for biography of whom see Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 159-60. During the 1790s Brettingham was patronized by the second Marquess of Downshire, for whom he designed additions to Hillsborough House, Co. Down. He was also architect for the restoration of Downpatrick cathedral and is said to have provided plans for Downpatrick gaol. SAMUEL WOOLLEY  SAMUEL WOOLLEY was one of his pupils.

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4 work entries listed in chronological order for BRETTINGHAM, ROBERT WILLIAM FURZE #


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Building: CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, COUNTY GAOL (OLD)
Date: 1789-96
Nature: By Charles Lilly but based on design by RFB? For Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire.
Refs: Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 160, citing APSD; E.R.R. Green & F.M. Jope, 'Patron and architect: an example of relations in the late 18th century', Ulster Journal of Archaeology24-25 (1962), 146; D. Dunleath, P.J. Rankin, A.J. Rowan, Historic Buildingsā€¦ in the town of Downpatrick (UAHS, 1970), 10

Building: CO. DOWN, HILLTOWN LODGE
Date: 1790ca
Nature: Unexecuted proposal.
Refs: Elevations in Downshire MSS, PRONI D.671/P7/1(1)-1(5)

Building: CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY (CI)
Date: 1795
Nature: Design for refitting choir exh. at RA. Richardson suggests that Charles Lilly was responsible for exterior, then fell out with Dean on taking him to law for non-payment of fees, so that R.W.F. Brettingham was made responsible for interior.
Refs: RA 1795, no. 692 (view of cathedral 'as restored' exhib. by B's pupil, S. Woolley, at RA in 1798); Douglas Scott Richardson, Gothic Revival Architecture in Ireland (1983), 189

Building: CO. DOWN, HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
Date: 1795ca-1797
Nature: Enlargement for 2nd Marquess of Downshire.
Refs: Drawings in Downshire MSS, PRONI D.671/P8/22(1)-28(6), see also letter from - Lane to Lord Downshire, 31 Aug 1795, D607/C/129; RA 1797, no.1153; plans and elevations (not necessarily in Brettingham's hand) in Henry, Mullins & McMahon album in ICEI (photographs in IAA); E.R.R. Green & E.M. Jope, 'Patron and Architect: an example of relations in the late 18th century', Ulster Journal of Archaeology24-25 (1961-2), 145-151; Hillsborough Castle, (UAHS, 1993), 40,46

Author Title Date Details
Green, E.r.r. & Jope, E.m 'Patron and architect: an example of relations in the late 18th century' 1962 Ulster Journal of Archaeology 24-25 (1961-1962), 145-151.