18 Facts About Cuthbert Brodrick

Cuthbert Brodrick FRIBA was a British architect, whose most famous building is Leeds Town Hall.

Cuthbert Brodrick was the sixth son of ten children of John and Hannah Brodrick.

Cuthbert Brodrick attended Kingston College in Hull and, on leaving school, he became an articled pupil in the architectural practice of Henry Francis Lockwood whose premises were at 8 Dock Street.

Cuthbert Brodrick remained at Lockwoods from 1837 until May 1844 when he embarked on the Grand Tour to continue his studies.

When Cuthbert Brodrick returned to Hull in 1846, he was offered a partnership in Lockwood's firm.

Cuthbert Brodrick refused this, and set up in practice on his own at 1, Savile Street in Hull.

Cuthbert Brodrick designed a number of buildings within the town.

In 1852, aged 29, Cuthbert Brodrick entered and won a competition for the design of Leeds Town Hall.

Cuthbert Brodrick moved to an office at 30 Park Row, Leeds and acquired the nickname 'Town Hall, Leeds'.

Cuthbert Brodrick designed a number of buildings in Hull, including the Royal Institution building in 1852, and the Renaissance-style Town Hall in 1866, which was demolished in 1905 to make way for the present Guildhall.

Since the demolition of Wellington House, in the Fruit Market area of the city, in 2014, no significant buildings by Cuthbert Brodrick survive in Hull.

Cuthbert Brodrick designed Yokefleet Hall, Yorkshire which commenced building in 1868.

Cuthbert Brodrick designed Wells House which opened in 1856 as a Hydro, offering water treatments and pure air.

In 1870, Cuthbert Brodrick moved to France where in 1876 he bought a house at Le Vesinet, St Germain-en-Laye.

Cuthbert Brodrick retired in 1875, and spent his time painting, exhibiting his work and gardening.

Cuthbert Brodrick died in Jersey on 2 March 1905, and is buried in St Martin's Churchyard.

Cuthbert Brodrick was the subject of a 2007 BBC2 television programme, The Case of the Disappearing Architect, by Jonathan Meades.

Cuthbert Brodrick is commemorated on four blue plaques, on Leeds Town Hall, Brodrick's Building, Wells House and Leeds Corn Exchange.