Arthur John Hope

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Arthur John Hope, known as “AJ” (1875-1960) was an English architect and president of the Manchester Society of Architects (1924). He was born in Atherton, Greater Manchester.

Hope entered the office of Bradshaw & Gass in 1892 as a pupil and was made a partner ten years later creating Bradshaw, Gass & Hope[1] (after 1912 Bradshaw Gass & Hope).

Hope was respected as a building planner but was a poor draftsman[1] and required a large number of assistants to interpret his ideas. By the 1930s, he was an intimidating figure dominating an office in which there was a strict hierarchy of professions[2]. One of his interpreters was George Grenfell Baines whose work so impressed Hope he considered making him a partner[2]. Hope was a Traditionalist, favouring a severe classical style derived from the later Georgian architects, with a strong dislike of Modernism; under his direction Bradshaw Gass & Hope continued to produce neo-Georgian designs until the 1960s.[3]

Bolton Civic Centre, design conceived by A. J. Hope
Bolton Civic Centre, design conceived by A. J. Hope

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b R. M. McNaught, "Arthur John Hope" [obituary], RIBA Journal, 67 (1960), p. 336.
  2. ^ a b George Grenfell-Baines (2000), interviewed by Louise Brodie at Preston, (January 5 - 11) Architects’ Lives, London: National Biographical Archive, C467/46/F7839
  3. ^ Austen Redman(2007), Bolton Civic Centre and the Classical Revival Style of Bradshaw Gass & Hope. in Clare Hartwell & Terry Wyke(editors), Making Manchester, Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, ISBN 978-0-900942-01-3