__NOTOC__ Sir William Chambers (23 February 1723 – 10 March 1796) was a Swedish-British architect. Among his best-known works are

Somerset House Somerset House is a large neoclassical architecture, neoclassical building complex situated on the south side of the Strand, London, Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The Georgian era quadran ...

, the Gold State Coach and the

pagoda A pagoda is a tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist, but some ...

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is ...

. Chambers was a founder member of the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

Biography

William Chambers was born on 23 February 1723 in

Gothenburg Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

, to a Scottish merchant father. Between 1740 and 1749 he was employed by the Swedish East India Company making three voyages to China where he studied

Chinese architecture Chinese architecture () is the embodiment of an architectural style that has developed over millennia in China and has influenced architecture throughout East Asia. Since its emergence during the early ancient era, the structural principles of ...

and decoration. It was during his employment with the company that he befriended David af Sandeberg, director of the Swedish East India Company and

nobleman Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

, who subsequently married Chambers' sister, Maria. Returning to Europe, he studied architecture in Paris (with J. F. Blondel) and spent five years in Italy. Then, in 1755, he moved to London, where he established an architectural practice. In 1757, through a recommendation of

Lord Bute John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (; 25 May 1713 – 10 March 1792), styled Lord Mount Stuart between 1713 and 1723, was a British Tories (British political party), Tory statesman who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Prime Mini ...

, he was appointed architectural tutor to the Prince of Wales, later

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

, and in 1766 also, along with

Robert Adam Robert Adam (3 July 17283 March 1792) was a British neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam (architect), William Adam (1689–1748), Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and train ...

, Architect to the King, (this being an unofficial title, rather than an actual salaried post with the Office of Works). He worked for Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, making fanciful garden buildings at

, and in 1757 he published a book of Chinese designs which had a significant influence on contemporary taste. He developed his Chinese interests further with his ''Dissertation on Oriental Gardening'' (1772), a fanciful elaboration of contemporary English ideas about the naturalistic style of gardening in China. Portrait of Sir William Chambers

His more serious and academic ''Treatise on Civil Architecture'' published in 1759 proved influential on builders; it went into several editions and was still being republished in 1862. It dealt with the use of the

classical order An order in architecture is a certain assemblage of parts subject to uniform established proportions, regulated by the office that each part has to perform. Coming down to the present from Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman civiliz ...

s, and gave suggestions for decorative elements, rather than dealing with construction and planning; for its third edition it was retitled ''A Treatise on the Decorative Parts of Civil Architecture''. It included ideas from the works of many 16th- and 17th-century Italian architects then still little known in Britain. His influence was also transmitted through a host of younger architects trained as pupils in his office, including Thomas Hardwick (1752–1825), who helped him build

and who wrote his biography. He was the major rival of Adam in British

Neoclassicism Neoclassicism, also spelled Neo-classicism, emerged as a Western cultural movement in the decorative arts, decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiq ...

. Chambers was more international in outlook (his knighthood being originally a Swedish honour) and was influenced by continental neoclassicism (which he in turn influenced) when designing for British clients. A second visit to Paris in 1774 confirmed the French cast to his sober and conservative refined blend of Neoclassicism and

Palladian Palladian architecture is a European architectural style derived from the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). What is today recognised as Palladian architecture evolved from his concepts of symmetry, perspective and ...

conventions. From around 1758 to the mid-1770s, Chambers concentrated on building houses for the nobility, beginning with one for Lord Bessborough at Roehampton. In 1766 Chambers was elected a foreign member of the

Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences () is one of the Swedish Royal Academies, royal academies of Sweden. Founded on 2 June 1739, it is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization that takes special responsibility for promoting nat ...

. From 1761 he held the unofficial post of Joint Architect to the King, he was then promoted to his first official post in the Office of Works and was from 1769–82 Comptroller of the King's Works, his final promotion put him in charge, from 1782 being Surveyor-General and Comptroller a post he kept until his death. When a scheme to unite a number of government offices on the site of

in the Strand was projected, his position did not give him automatic authority over the construction; however when William Robinson, secretary to the board, who had been put in charge of the new building, died in 1775, Chambers became its architect. His initial plans for a great oval courtyard, connected to three smaller, narrow rectangular courts, were soon modified into a simpler rectilinear scheme. On 10 December 1768 the

was founded. Chambers played an important role in the events that led to the Academy's foundation, the ''Minutes of the General Assembly of the Royal Academy'' of 14 December 1768 record 'That some time towards the latter end of November 1768, Mr Chambers waited upon the King and informed him that many artists of reputation together with himself are very desirous of establishing a Society that should more effectively promote the Arts of Design'. He was appointed the Academy's first Treasurer. Chambers died in London in 1796. He is buried in Poets' Corner in

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...

. His tombstone is inscribed:

Visits by Swedes

One of Chambers friends, James Maule, wrote in his journal in August 1771: ''I visited the

Stock Exchange A stock exchange, securities exchange, or bourse is an exchange where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities, such as shares of stock, bonds and other financial instruments. Stock exchanges may also provide facilities for ...

and met John Wilson. I also met several Swedes at sir William Chambers. I spent the Sunday with sir William Chambers at

Hampton Court Hampton Court Palace is a Listed building, Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, southwest and upstream of central London on the River Thames. Opened to the public, the palace is managed by Historic Royal ...

, where his family lives.'' The orientalist Jakob Jonas Björnståhl wrote after a visit at Chambers house in London in 1775:

Writings

* ''Designs of Chinese Buildings, Furniture, Dresses, Machines, and Utensils. To which is annexed, a Description of their Temples, Houses, Gardens, &c.'' (London) 1757 * (London) 1757 * ''A treatise on civil architecture in which the principles of that art are laid down and illustrated by a great number of plates accurately designed and elegantly engraved by the best hands'' (London) 1759 * ''Plans, Elevations, Sections and Perspective Views of the Gardens and Buildings at Kew in Surrey'' (London) 1763 * ''A dissertation on oriental gardening.'' (London) 1772

Main works

* Roehampton Villa (largely extant including interior ceilings), now called Parkstead House, for William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough. Also designed two garden temples (one to be re-erected by 2008), similar to those at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. * Within

Kew Gardens Kew Gardens is a botanical garden, botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botany, botanical and mycology, mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1759, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its li ...

, some of his buildings are lost, those remaining being the ten-storey Great Pagoda, the Orangery, the Ruined Arch, the Temple of Bellona and the Temple of Aeolus. The Temple of the Sun survived until 1916, when it was destroyed in a storm. *The Pagoda, in Pagoda Gardens,

Blackheath, London Blackheath is an area in Southeast London, straddling the border of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Lewisham. Historically within the county of Kent, it is located northeast of Lewisham, south of Greenwich, London, G ...

, is attributed to Chambers. A three-storey house built as a pavilion (c. 1775) for the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, it features a gabled Chinese-style roof with dramatic upturned corners.

Caroline of Brunswick Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (Caroline Amelia Elizabeth; 17 May 1768 – 7 August 1821) was List of British royal consorts, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Queen of Hanover from 29 January 1820 until her ...

lived here after her separation from her husband, the

Prince Regent A prince regent or princess regent is a prince or princess who, due to their position in the line of succession, rules a monarchy as regent in the stead of a monarch, e.g., as a result of the sovereign's incapacity (minority or illness) or ab ...

, in 1799. *

in London, his most famous building, which absorbed most of his energies over a period of two decades (1776–1796) *The gilded state coach that is still used at

coronation A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...

s. * Hedsor House, Buckinghamshire, the seat of Lord Boston, equerry to George III. *For James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont, he designed Charlemont House and the Casino at Marino, as well as the chapel and public theatre in

Trinity College, Dublin Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Univ ...

. *He is also associated with Gothic additions to Milton Abbey in

Dorset Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...

and the planning of the nearby rural village of Milton Abbas, sometimes considered the first planned settlement in England. This work was carried out in collaboration with landscape gardener Capability Brown in 1780 for Joseph Damer, 1st Earl of Dorchester, who wanted to relocate the existing village further away from his home at the Abbey. * Wick House, Richmond Hill, commissioned in 1771 by painter

Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits. The art critic John Russell (art critic), John Russell called him one of the major European painters of the 18th century, while Lucy P ...

. * Osterley Park, remodelling work in the 1760s.

List of architectural work

London work

, Kew, Surrey, various structures: House of Confucius (1749) demolished; Frederick, Prince of Wales, Mausoleum (unexecuted); Gallery of Antiquities (1757) demolished; Orangery (1757–61); Temple of Pan (1758) demolished; Temple of Arethusa (1758) demolished; Alhambra (1758) demolished; Garden Seat (1758) demolished; Porter's Lodge (1758) demolished; Stables (1758) demolished; Temple of Victory (1759) demolished; Ruined Arch (1759); Theatre of Augusta (1760) demolished; Temple of Bellona (1760); Menagerie (1760) demolished; Exotic Garden (1760) demolished; Mosque (1761) demolished; Temple of the Sun (1761) demolished 1916 after damage in a storm; Great Pagoda (1761–62); Temple of Peace (1763) demolished; Temple of Aeolus (1763); Temple of Solitude (1763) demolished; Palladian Bridge (1763) demolished; Dairy (1773) demolished; and alterations to Kew Palace – demolished *Leicester House,

Leicester Square Leicester Square ( ) is a pedestrianised town square, square in the West End of London, England, and is the centre of London's entertainment district. It was laid out in 1670 as Leicester Fields, which was named after the recently built Leice ...

, alterations (1757) – demolished * Carlton House, alterations, (1757–61), new porters lodge and remodelled entrance passage (c. 1761), later virtually rebuilt (1783–6) by Henry Holland – demolished *Richmond House, Whitehall, gallery, greenhouse, gate to Privy Garden (1759–60) – demolished * Parkstead House (formerly Manresa House and Bessborough House),

Roehampton Roehampton is an area in southwest London, sharing its SW15 postcode with neighbouring Putney and Kingston Vale, and takes up a far western strip, running north to south, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It contains a number of large counc ...

(1760) *47

, Sir

Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits. The art critic John Russell (art critic), John Russell called him one of the major European painters of the 18th century, while Lucy P ...

's house, new painting room and gallery (c. 1760-2) – demolished * Pembroke House, Whitehall, internal decoration (1760) riding house (1773) – demolished *

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...

(then Queen's House), addition of north & south wings, west and east libraries, the Octagon Library, interior decorations and riding house (1762–68) – none of this work survives *Grantham House, Whitehall, alterations (1760s) – demolished *25

Grosvenor Square Grosvenor Square ( ) is a large garden square in the Mayfair district of Westminster, Greater London. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from the duke's surname "Grosvenor". It was deve ...

, internal alterations (1762) – demolished *

Richmond Palace Richmond Palace was a Tudor royal residence on the River Thames in England which stood in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Situated in what was then rural Surrey, it lay upstream and on the opposite bank from the Palace of Westminste ...

, Richmond, various designs (1762, 1764, 1769, 1775) – none executed *45

Berkeley Square Berkeley Square is a garden square in the West End of London. It is one of the best known of the many squares in London, located in Mayfair in the City of Westminster. It was laid out in the mid 18th century by the architect William Kent, ...

, internal decoration (1763–7) *13–22, 44–58 Berners Street (1764–70) *Gower House,

Whitehall Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London, England. The road forms the first part of the A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme, A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea, London, Chelsea. It ...

, Chamber's largest town house (1765–74) – demolished *German Lutheran Chapel, Savoy Palace, (1766) – demolished *20 Grosvenor Square, internal alterations (1767) – demolished *

Kew Observatory The King's Observatory (called for many years the Kew Observatory) is a Grade I listed building in Richmond, London. Now a private dwelling, it formerly housed an astronomical observatory, astronomical and Terrestrial magnetism, terrestrial mag ...

Old Deer Park Old Deer Park is an area of open space within Richmond, London, Richmond, owned by the Crown Estate, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. It covers of which are leased as sports grounds for sports, particularly rugby, gol ...

, for George III (1768) *6 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea (c. 1768) *

St James's Palace St James's Palace is the most senior royal palace in London, England. The palace gives its name to the Court of St James's, which is the monarch's royal court, and is located in the City of Westminster. Although no longer the principal residence ...

, internal decorations (late 1760s) *21 Arlington Street,

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

(1769) *Milton House,

Park Lane Park Lane is a dual carriageway road in the City of Westminster in Central London. It is part of the London Inner Ring Road and runs from Hyde Park Corner in the south to Marble Arch in the north. It separates Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park to ...

, entrance gate and screen (1769–71) – demolished *Bedford House,

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London, part of the London Borough of Camden in England. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural institution, cultural, intellectual, and educational ...

, London, alterations and internal decorations (c. 1769 – c. 1772) – demolished *79

Piccadilly Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, England, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road (England), A4 road that connects central London to ...

, alterations including addition of attic storey (1770–71) – demolished *Errington House (later Warwick House), Cleveland Row (1770–71) – demolished *House

Knightsbridge Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London, south of Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside the West End of London, West End. ...

(1770–72) – demolished * Wick House, Richmond Hill (1771–72) *3 St. James's Square, internal alterations (1771) – demolished * The Earl and Countess of Mountrath's tomb, St John's Chapel,

(1771) * Melbourne House Piccadilly, (1771–76) converted to the Albany by Henry Holland (1803–4) *

Marlborough House Marlborough House, a Grade I listed mansion on The Mall in St James's, City of Westminster, London, is the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Nations and the seat of the Commonwealth Secretariat. It is adjacent to St James's Palace. The ...

, addition of attic and internal alterations including new chimney-piece in the state drawing room (1771–74) *14 Cecil Street, interior work (c. 1772) *62 Curzon Street (1773) *15 George Street, internal alterations and Doric porch (1774) *51 Grosvenor Street, alterations (1774–5) *

, Chambers'

magnum opus A masterpiece, , or ; ; ) is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, skill, profundity, or workmanship. Historically, ...

(1776–96), the building was unfinished at Chambers' death and continued in (1829–31) under Robert Smirke who added the east wing

England outside London

* Goodwood House, Sussex, South wing of house & stables (1757–60) * Wilton House,

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...

, Triumphal arch, Casina, Rock Bridge, Library, tennis court (1757–74) * Duntish Court,

, new house (c. 1760–64) *Poston Court,

Herefordshire Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...

, casino (1760) * Newby Park, (now Baldersby Park), Yorkshire, alterations to the house, pheasantry and menagerie (c. 1760) * Peper Harow House,

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

(1760–65) * Osterley Park,

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, former county in South East England, now mainly within Greater London. Its boundaries largely followed three rivers: the River Thames, Thames in the south, the River Lea, Le ...

, north front and gallery (1761); the rest of the house by

*Beechwood,

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...

, dining room (1761) *The Hyde, near

Ingatestone Ingatestone is a village and former civil parish in Essex, England, with a population of 5,409 inhabitants at the United Kingdom 2021 Census, 2021 Census. Just north lies the village of Fryerning; the two now forming the parish of Ingatestone ...

Essex Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...

, hall and staircase (1761) *The Hoo, Hertfordshire, alterations and interior decoration, bridge, temple, gateway, stables, boathouse and gate piers (c. 1762) *Temple of Romulus and Remus, Coleby Hall, Coleby, North Kesteven,

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...

(1762) * Styche Hall,

Shropshire Shropshire (; abbreviated SalopAlso used officially as the name of the county from 1974–1980. The demonym for inhabitants of the county "Salopian" derives from this name.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West M ...

, new house and stables (1762–66) * Walcot Hall, Shropshire, remodelling (1764–7) *Teddington Grove, Middlesex, new house, greenhouse and temple (c. 1765) * Whitton Place, Middlesex, Mausoleum, redecoration of house, Roman Bathhouse, greenhouse, Temple of Aesculapius (1765–90) *Completion of John Vardy's house for Andrew Drummond (Vardy had died),

Stanmore Stanmore is part of the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London. It is centred northwest of Charing Cross, lies on the outskirts of the London urban area and includes Stanmore Hill, one of the List of highest points in London, highest point ...

, Middlesex (1765–70) * Houghton House, Houghton Conquest,

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...

, restoration and alterations (1765); now a ruin *Kirkleatham Hall,

Kirkleatham Kirkleatham is an area of Redcar in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland in North Yorkshire, England. It is approximately north-northwest of Guisborough, and south of Redcar centre. It was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. The area has a ...

, Yorkshire, now the local museum and gallery (c. 1765) * Woodstock Town Hall,

Woodstock, Oxfordshire Woodstock is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish, north-west of Oxford in West Oxfordshire in the county of Oxfordshire, England. The United Kingdom Census 2021, 2021 census recorded a parish population of 3,521, up from t ...

(1766) * Blenheim Palace,

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

, Internal decorations, furniture, gateway to kitchen garden, Blagdon Bridge, Temple of Diana, Temple of Flora, Flower Garden, erection of

Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...

Obelisk (1766–1775) *Monument to Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, St Michael's, Chenies, Buckinghamshire (1766) * Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, Chinese Pavilion attributed (c. 1766) *Ansley Hall, Ansley, Warwickshire Chinese temple (1767) *Barton Hall,

Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...

, Library (1767) * Terling Place, Essex, work of unknown nature (1767–8) *

Woburn Abbey Woburn Abbey (), occupying the east of the village of Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, is a country house, the family seat of the Duke of Bedford. Although it is still a family home to the current duke, it is open on specified days to visitors, ...

, Bedfordshire, south wing including eating room and library; and Basin Bridge (1767–72) * Cobham Hall,

Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...

, new rooms in south wing including the library, raising of attic (c. 1767–70) * Southill House, Southill, Bedfordshire, alterations (c. 1768); the house was later rebuilt by Henry Holland * Ampthill Park,

Ampthill Ampthill () is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. It lies between Bedford, Bedfordshire, Bedford and Luton. At the 2021 census it had a population of 8,825. Histor ...

, Bedfordshire, addition of wings and redecoration of the interiors (1768–72) * Milton Abbey,

, new house, porter's lodge and west front of abbey church, uniquely for Chambers all in

Gothic revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

style *New House,

(c. 1769) *

Danson House Danson House is a Palladian architecture, Palladian mansion and a Grade I listed building at the centre of Danson Park, in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley, south-east London. History The Danson estates before Danson House The earlie ...

, Kent, internal alterations including new chimney-pieces, the Temple and 'Palladio Bridge' (late 1760s–1770) *

Tottenham House Tottenham House is a large Grade I listed English country house in the parish of Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, about five miles southeast of the town of Marlborough. It is separated from the town by Savernake Forest, which is part of the Tottenha ...

, work of unknown nature (1770–76) * Milton Hall,

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...

, alterations and interior decoration and garden temples (1770–76) *Trinity House Chapel,

Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull, usually shortened to Hull, is a historic maritime city and unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Est ...

, Yorkshire (1772) * Amesbury Hall, Amesbury, Wiltshire, Chinese temple (1772) and ornamental bridge (1775) *Theatre Royal,

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

(1772); demolished * Milton Abbas, estate village for Milton Abbey (1773) * Newburgh Priory,

Coxwold Coxwold is a village and civil parish in the county of North Yorkshire, England, in the North York Moors National Park. It is 18 miles north of York and is where the Rev. Laurence Sterne wrote '' A Sentimental Journey''. History The villag ...

, Yorkshire, alterations (1774) * Hedsor House,

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...

(1778)

Ireland

* Abbeyleix House, managing the construction of the house which had earlier been designed by

James Wyatt James Wyatt (3 August 1746 – 4 September 1813) was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the Neoclassicism, neoclassical and neo-Gothic styles. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1785 and was its president from 1805 to ...

* Casino at Marino,

Marino, Dublin Marino () is an inner suburb on the Northside (Dublin), Northside of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It was built, in a planned form, on former grounds of Marino House, in an area between Drumcondra, Dublin, Drumcondra, Donnycarney, Clont ...

(1758–76). Garden pavilion for 1st Earl of Charlemont. Open to the public. * Marino House,

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

. (1758–75) Alterations and additions to existing country house for 1st Earl of Charlemont. Demolished. * Marino House, Dublin. Dragon gates. Relocated from original position. * Castletown House, (1760)

County Kildare County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the Local gove ...

, internal alterations of long gallery and other rooms and gate piers for Thomas Connolly *

Slane Castle Slane Castle () is located in the village of Slane, within the Boyne Valley of County Meath, Ireland. The castle has been the family seat of the Conyngham family since it was built in the late 18th century, on land first purchased in 1703 by ...

County Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

, work of unknown nature (1760s) * Charlemont House, Rutland Square, Dublin (1762–75) for 1st Earl of Charlemont. City house. Adapted for use as Hugh Lane Gallery. Porch added by others. Rear section demolished. * Headford,

, (1765) Unexecuted design for country house with 13 bay garden front * Town Hall, Main Street,

Strabane Strabane (; ) is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Strabane had a population of 13,507 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census. This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under th Open Government Li ...

County Tyrone County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. Its county town is Omagh. Adjoined to the south-west shore of Lough Neagh, the cou ...

. Design for steeple. *

Leinster House Leinster House () is the seat of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Originally, it was the ducal palace of the Duke of Leinster, Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it has been a complex of buildings which houses Oirea ...

, Dublin, redecoration of first floor apartments on garden front (1767) * Hunting lodge, Roxborough Castle,

Moy, County Tyrone Moy () is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland about southeast of Dungannon and beside the smaller village of Charlemont, County Armagh, Charlemont. Charlemont is on the east bank of the River Blackwater, Northern Ireland, ...

. (1768). Two unexecuted designs for Lord Charlemont. * City Hall, Parliament Street, Dublin, (1768–1769). Unsuccessful competition entry. *

Rathfarnham Castle Rathfarnham Castle () is a 16th-century fortified house in Rathfarnham, South Dublin, Ireland. Originally a semi-fortified and battlemented structure it underwent extensive alterations in the 18th century. It is in State care, has been restore ...

County Dublin County Dublin ( or ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and holds its capital city, Dublin. It is located on the island's east coast, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Until 1994, County Dubli ...

, refaced 16th-century castle, provided with Georgian windows, straight roof parapets with urns and Georgian interiors (1770–71) for Henry, 4th. Viscount Loftus, Later 1st. Earl of Ely. * Lucan House, Lucan, County Dublin, (1773–75) for Agmondisham Vesey. Now Italian Embassy. *

, East range. (1775). Not built. *Trinity College, Dublin, College Exam Hall. (1775) In use as exam hall and theatre. *Trinity College, Dublin, Collegiate chapel (c. 1775–1797). In use as chapel.De Breffny, pg. 61

Scotland

* Dunmore Pineapple,

Falkirk Falkirk ( ; ; ) is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a resident population of 32,422 at the ...

, attributed (1761) *Duddingston House, Duddingston, house, stables and temple (1763–68) *26 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh (1769) *Dundas House, (now The Royal Bank of Scotland), St Andrew Square, Edinburgh (1771–74)

Sweden

*Råda säteri, manor house in Härryda Municipality, Härryda just outside of

, (1770–72) *Partille herrgård, manor house in Partille Municipality, Partille just outside of Gothenburg, (1772–73) *Svartsjö Palace, concept for remodeling of the royal gardens, (1773–74).

Gallery of architectural works

File:RichmondpalaceunbuiltproposalWilliamChambers1765.jpg, Richmond Palace, not executed File:Kew Orangery 5138.JPG, The Orangery, Kew Gardens File:Ruined arch Kew 7214.JPG, The Ruined Arch, Kew Gardens File:The Pagoda, Kew Gardens. - geograph.org.uk - 122634.jpg, The Pagoda, Kew Gardens File:PeperHarowHouse1.jpg, Peper Harrow House, Surrey File:Woodstock, Stocks and Town Hall. - geograph.org.uk - 138094.jpg, Wood Stock Town Hall File:Royal Bank of Scotland Headquarters.jpg, Former Dundas House, Edinburgh File:Casino at Marino.jpg, Casino at Marino, Dublin File:Casino marino.JPG, Casino at Marino, Dublin File:Pineapple Dunmore.jpg, Dunmore Pineapple, Falkirk, Scotland File:Le Royal Mews de Londres-007.JPG, The State Coach, Royal Mews, London File:Somerset House, Strand.jpg, Strand front, Somerset House, London File:Somerset House Strand Block.JPG, Strand block from courtyard, Somerset House, London File:Somerset House.jpg, Courtyard, Somerset House, London File:Somerset House - geograph.org.uk - 104076.jpg, Thames front, Somerset House, London File:Embankment view of Somerset House IMG 9268.JPG, Centre of Thames front, Somerset House, London File:Courtauld Gallery, Staircase.jpg, Staircase in Strand Block, Somerset House, London File:Coultauld Galleries 1.jpg, Room in Strand Block, Somerset House, London File:Microcosm of London Plate 002 - Exhibition at Somerset House by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin. 1800..jpg, The Exhibition Room, former Royal Academy, Somerset House, London File:Courtauld Galleries 2.jpg, Former Exhibition Room (Now part of Courtauld Galleries), Somerset House, London File:Osterley House, the West Front. - geograph.org.uk - 122656.jpg, West front, Osterley House, rest of building by Robert Adam File:Milton Abbey 01.jpg, Milton Abbey, Dorset, Chamber's house to left of church File:The Albany by Thomas Shepherd.jpg, Melbourne House (Later Albany), London File:Trinity_College_Building_Dublin_Ireland.jpg, the Chapel, Trinity College, Dublin

Notes

References

* * Michael Snodin (Ed.), ''Sir William Chambers'', V&A Publishing

External links

* * *
''A Dissertation on Oriental Gardening''
(London, 1772)
Sir William Chambers architectural drawings, circa 1769–1796
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, William 1723 births 1796 deaths 18th-century British architects Burials at Westminster Abbey British neoclassical architects Fellows of the Royal Society Knights of the Order of the Polar Star People from Gothenburg Royal Academicians Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew British alumni of the École des Beaux-Arts Swedish East India Company people Swedish merchants 18th-century Scottish merchants Swedish emigrants Immigrants to the Kingdom of Great Britain 18th-century Swedish businesspeople