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Up for sale "The Builder Magazine" Editor George Godwin Clipped Signature.
ES-2055C
George Godwin FRS (28
January 1813 – 27 January 1888) was an influential architect, journalist, and
editor of The Builder magazine.
He was one of nine children of the architect George Godwin senior (1780–1863) and
trained at his father's architectural practice in Kensington where he set up in business with his brother
Henry Godwin (1831–1917). Encouraged by his friend the antiquary John Britton, he pursued
an interest in architectural history and wrote several volumes on the Churches
of London (1838), mason's marks and gothic style. He was also interested in new materials and
wrote on the use of concrete (1836). He soon joined the Institute of
British Architects, the Society of Antiquaries,
and became a Fellow of the Royal
Society. He was a co-founder of the Royal Architectural Museum in
1851. The Builder was first published as a weekly magazine in 1842
by Joseph Hansom, inventor of
the Hansom cab. In 1844 Godwin became its third editor and
immediately expanded its scope and coverage beyond new works and architectural
issues to include history, archaeology, arts, sanitation and social issues. It
described itself as 'An illustrated weekly magazine for the architect,
engineer, constructor, sanitary reformer, and art lover'. This broadened its
appeal beyond the construction trade, and he took a campaigning stance to improve
the circumstances of the working classes. Godwin wrote on slums and
republished edited collections of his articles as reforming books. In addition
to self-improvement, he promoted the use of public baths, wash-houses, charitable housing trusts, and
pavilion-styled hospitals. In 1881, he set up the Godwin Bursary, which was
administered by the RIBA. This yearly competitive prize was to enable young
British architects to study modern techniques of construction outside of Great
Britain. Winners were encouraged to spend at least five weeks within a country
of their choice and then they would submit reports on what they learnt. The
first five winners all went to the United States. He
edited the magazine until 1883. It was renamed Building in
1966 and is still in existence. Throughout his editorship, he worked in the
family architectural practice. Works included churches, housing and public
buildings, amongst them Redcliffe Square, Kensington, The Boltons, Kensington,
St Mary's, The Boltons, Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea, St Luke, Kensington and the
restorations of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
and St Mary's, Ware. He was
largely responsible for the design of large areas of South Kesington and Earls Court including five public houses among them
the Finborough Arms, now
the Finborough Theatre. Godwin
was retained as district surveyor for south Islington between 1853 and 1874. In 1884, he reported to
the Royal Commission that
was producing recommendations for improving working-class housing. He also
wrote plays and co-founded the Art Union of London. Godwin
died on 27 January 1888 at Kensington and was buried in Brompton Cemetery. He lies to the east side of the main path,
between the north entrance and the colonnades, and although set back behind
other monuments it is easily spotted due to its unique design. His memorial is
Grade II listed, containing a portrait medallion, and being topped by the
mourning figures of Faith and Charity. His extensive art collection was sold at
Christie's, London, 12 April 1888 and numbered 98 lots.