North Lancashire contains Architecture
March 16th, 2009
Clare Hartwell’s major revision of Nikolaus Pevsner’s The Buildings of England: North Lancashire has just been published. The book describes all the significant buildings of the region from early history to the present day. It is an engrossing work and provides us locals with the chance to find ourselves in the Index of Architects, Artists and Patrons alongside, amongst others, Pugin, Hansom and Velarde.
The pictures here show Francis Xavier Velarde’s Our Lady of Lourdes Thanksgiving Shrine in Blackpool. According to the book the building was built in thanksgiving after the Lancaster R.C. Diocese was spared serious damage during the Second World War; now in the care of the Historic Chapels Trust. A singular building which combines familiar forms with exotic motifs…
Book details on Amazon: Lancashire: North: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides)
Our Lady of Lourdes Thanksgiving Shrine: Photoset
C20 Society: Building of the Month
Francis Xavier Velarde
March 31st, 2007
St Matthew, Clubmoor, Liverpool by Francis Xavier Velarde (1897-1960). “..built through the generosity of the late Captain Matthew Honan FRIBA…killed in action on November the 14th 1916″. Completed in 1930. The interior is reminiscent of German railway station architecture of the ‘twenties. Severe, brown brickwork with Velarde’s characteristic low arches delineating passage-like aisles and the shallow vault over the nave. The brickwork was intended to contrast with the brilliance of the gold baldacchino sheltering the altar - the later addition of paler mosaics has significantly lessened the effect. The pews were originally painted dark green and light green. More pictures: Photoset.
