Richardson, Sir Albert

Sir Albert Richardson

Sir Albert Richardson K.C.V.O., P.P.R.A., F.R.I.B.A, F.S.A., Hon M.A. (Cantab), Hon Litt.D. (Dublin), Hon R.W.S. was born on the 19th May 1880, he died on the 3rd February 1964 at the age of 83. His obituary in 'The Times' had this to say of him "it is probable that Richardson will still be most generally remembered for his personality as the complete Georgian. He had an enthusiasm for all that belonged to that period that brought him into the company of the English - or Irish - eccentrics. One of the most congenial of his many activities must have been his deputy chairmanship of the Georgian Group and he was said to be so completely wedded to the eighteenth century, that at his house at Ampthill Bedfordshire, designed by Henry Holland, he wore eighteenth century dress and read eighteenth century newspapers."

Richardson's long and full career began when he entered an architects office at the age of fifteen. He showed early promise and was lecturing on architecture by the age of eighteen; by the time he was 25 he was teaching architecture at Birbeck College. In 1912 he was appointed architect to the Prince of Wales's Duchy of Cornwall Estate and during the following year he became F.R.I.B.A.. He received the Institutes Gold Medal in 1947, was elected A.R.A. in 1936 and R.A. in 1944. In 1945 he formed a partnership with his son-in-law Eric Alfred Scholefield Houfe with whom he worked on a number of buildings including Bracken House in London (the old Financial Times building) which was completed in 1958. This became the first post-war building to be listed thus preventing its redevelopment and leading to an award-winning partial rebuilding by Sir Michael Hopkins. Richardson was knighted in 1956 after he had become President of the Royal Academy.

In 1904 he married Elizabeth Byers (1882/3-1958) and had one daughter.

Richardson settled in Avenue House, Church Street, Ampthill in 1919. An article in the Bedfordshire Magazine recalls that he was "eccentric about modern innovations of lighting and heating, and illuminated his home by candles" (Vol. 9, 1964, no.68). He was certainly a very colourful character and was known as "The Professor" by local people.

Richardson also designed and restored a large number of buildings in Bedfordshire, including:

1920: a house for a Mrs Ridgeway on the outskirts of Ampthill
1930: a Keepers House at Whipsnade Zoo. Unfortunately this timber building was destroyed by fire in 1939 and not replaced
1930: restoration of Eaton Socon Church after a fire
1936: restoration of Flitwick Manor
1937: new wing of Harlington Manor
1940s/50s: housing work for Ampthill Rural District Council, including land in Saunders Piece
1950: alterations to Woburn Abbey
1956: a house in Bromham road for James White, the owner of the Pyghtle Works
1964: offices of Ampthill Rural District Council

In 1999, the first retrospective exhibition of his work was held at The RIBA Heinz Gallery in Portman Square, London and Bedford Museum.

Richardson is buried in Millbrook churchyard with his wife, Elizabeth.

Sources:

See Albert Richardson - Further Reading

Sir Albert Richardson by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2005

Page last updated: 4th June 2007