Joseph Clarkson Maddison

Joseph Clarkson Maddison

Joseph Clarkson Maddison in 1905
Born (1850-02-26)26 February 1850
Greenwich, Kent, England
Died 11 December 1923(1923-12-11) (aged 73)
Napier, New Zealand
Nationality English
Occupation Architect
Buildings Carlton Hotel
Clarendon Hotel
Merchiston Station homestead
Mona Vale homestead
Old Government Building, Christchurch
Warner's Hotel
Projects 1906 International Exhibition

Joseph Clarkson Maddison (26 February 1850 – 11 December 1923) was a New Zealand architect. He trained as an architect in his native London and came to Canterbury at the age of 22. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, he was one of the most prominent architects in Christchurch, receiving commissions from all over the country. Until the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, 13 of his buildings were listed by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust on their register, with three of those Category I listings, but many of the Christchurch buildings have been demolished since. His style was plain and utilitarian, and he specialised in the classical Italian mode.

Early life

Maddison was born in Greenwich, Kent, England in 1850. His parents were the beer merchant John Maddison and Matilda Clarkson.[1] He attended private schools.[2]

Career

Old Government Building in Christchurch
International Exhibition in Christchurch, main building

From age 17, Maddison studied in England under architect George Morris and at the National Art Training School.[2] He apparently emigrated to Christchurch, New Zealand in 1872 on the Charlotte Gladstone (the source[2] calls the ship the Gladstone, but only a Charlotte Gladstone came to Lyttelton[3]) but his name does not appear on the shipping list.[4] He initially had an office in Cashel Street, but from 1878–1916 worked from an office in Hereford Street approximately opposite Liverpool Lane.[5]

He won two major competitions with his designs, including taking both first and second place in a competition to design Christchurch Town Hall in 1879.[2] This success led to commissions from a variety of clients throughout the 1880s. During the 1890s, he worked primarily on the design of freezing works and abattoirs.[1] In 1887, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.[6]

In the early twentieth century, having established a national reputation for his work, Maddison designed the Christchurch Government Building, the Clarendon Hotel and the temporary exhibition buildings for the 1906 International Exhibition.[1][7] The exhibition building was constructed in Christchurch's Hagley Park and had massive dimensions: the frontage measured 399 m, it was 113 m deep and the two towers were 49 m tall. The building, erected at a cost of £54,000, was removed again after the International Exhibition finished.[7] The Government Building in Cathedral Square, which exemplify Maddison's restrained and pragmatic style, is modelled on Italian palazzo architecture.[8]

Maddison's unsuccessful competition entry for the New Zealand Parliament Buildings

Maddison entered the competition for the new Parliament Buildings in Wellington, after the original building burned down in 1907. The competition received 33 entries,[9] and Maddison's entry did not get amongst the first nine.[10] Government architect John Campbell's entries won first and fourth price, and the building that was constructed combines elements of those two designs.[9]

Due to his preference for functionality over ornament, Maddison designed only two churches in his career, St Paul's Church at Port Levy and Holy Innocents' Church at Amberley, in 1888 and 1890 respectively.[1]

NZHPT and Christchurch earthquake

A remarkable number of Maddison's designs are (or were) recognised by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) as notable heritage buildings. Many of the Christchurch buildings were damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake and after further deterioration in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, at least half of them were demolished.

The following buildings in the Christchurch area are or were listed by the NZHPT:

Photo Category Name Status Address Description
II Carlton Hotel demolished in 2011 1 Papanui Road, Merivale Hotel built for the 1906 International Exhibition[11]
II Clarendon Hotel demolition is under-way 78 Worcester Street, Christchurch Central City Hotel façade retained for 1987 office high rise[12]
I Mona Vale damaged by earthquake; future unknown 63 Fendalton Road, Riccarton Restaurant, café and function centre in the centre of a public park[13]
II Linwood Public Library (former) mostly collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake 388 Worcester Street, Linwood Former public library used as a community centre[14]
I Old Government Building apparently ok, but located within the red zone 28 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City These days a luxury hotel and apartments[15]
II St Luke's Chapel (Christchurch City Mission) ? 275 Hereford Street, Christchurch Central City Chapel relocated to the grounds of the Christchurch City Mission[16]
Historic Area St Mary the Virgin vicarage ? Church Square, Addington 1877 vicarage[17]
II Warner's Hotel demolished in 2011 50 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City Hotel built in 1901[18]
II Wood Bros Flour Mill most buildings demolished in 2011 14-24 Wise Street, Addington Former flower and grain mill, with the main building designed successively by Maddison in the 1890s[19]
II Zetland Hotel demolished in 2011 88-92 Cashel Street, Christchurch Central City Hotel built in 1903[18]

The following buildings outside of Christchurch are listed by the NZHPT:

Photo Category Name Address Description
II Presbytery 58 Sealy Street, Allenton, Ashburton Presbytery of the Holy Name Parish, built in 1907[20]
I Merchiston Station homestead Putorino Road, Rata (near Hunterville) Homestead built in 1908[21]
II St Paul's Church Port Levy Church built in 1887/88[22]

Style

Maddison was known for his plain and utilitarian style, which suited the industrial design field in which he preferred to work. He tended to specialise in the classical Italian mode, rarely expanding into other, more baroque areas of architecture. He made forays into domestic gothic architecture with the Nurses' Home at Christchurch Hospital and the Zetland Arms Hotel, but these buildings were not as well-received as his usual work.[1]

Personal life

Maddison married Jane Midmore, the daughter of a surveyor, in 1873. They had three daughters together.[2] For the last few years of his life, Maddison lived with one of his daughters in Napier. His wife Jane died in 1920. He died on 11 December 1923 at Napier at age 73.[1][23]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joseph Clarkson Maddison.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wilson, John. "Joseph Clarkson Maddison". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved December 2011. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Cyclopedia Company Limited (1903). "Maddison, Joseph Clarkson". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "A guide to some of the 19th century passenger lists in newspapers, on microfilm, and some other sources held at Christchurch City Libraries" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "Charlotte Gladstone". Rootsweb. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "The Architectural Heritage of Christchurch : 5. Government Buildings" (PDF). Christchurch City Council Town Planning Division. May 1986. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "Maddison, Joseph Clarkson". NZHPT. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  7. 1 2 "New Zealand International Exhibition 1906". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  8. ↑ Hodgeson, Terrance; Looking at the architecture of New Zealand Grantham House, 1990, ISBN 978-1-86934-025-4 p37
  9. 1 2 "The halfway house - Parliament buildings". New Zealand History Online. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  10. ↑ "New Parliament Buildings". Thames Star. XLVII (10273). 28 September 1911. p. 1. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  11. ↑ "The Carlton Hotel". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  12. ↑ "Clarendon Hotel Facade". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  13. ↑ "Mona Vale". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "Linwood Public Library (Former)". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  15. ↑ "Old Government Building". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  16. ↑ "St Luke's Chapel (Chch City Mission)". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  17. ↑ "Church of St Mary the Virgin Historic Area". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  18. 1 2 "Lost heritage 2010-11". NZHPT. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  19. ↑ "Wood's Mill". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  20. ↑ "Presbytery". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  21. ↑ "Merchiston Station Homestead". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  22. ↑ "St Paul's Church (Anglican)". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  23. ↑ "Obituary". Evening Post. CVI (141). 12 December 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
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