Name

William Atkinson

Designation
Architect
Born
1779
Place of Birth
Skipton
Location
Manchester

  • Born : 1779 at Skipton, Yorkshire
  • Christened : 23 May 1779
  • Married : 1809 to Eliza Lindow Rawlinson, aged 18, at Gretna Green and Manchester
  • Death : Not known

Not to be confused with William Atkinson (1774/5–1839) of Barnard Castle and London

Born in Skipton Yorkshire in 1779 the son of Richard and Elizabeth Atkinson, William Atkinson appears to have moved to Manchester by 1808; for in February 1809, he eloped with Eliza Lindow Rawlinson, the 18-year old daughter of William Rawlinson to Gretna Green. [Hull Packet 14 February 1809 page 3]. Her father, William Rawlinson, an eminent Manchester merchant who was sufficiently wealthy to have purchased Ancoats Old Hall on the banks of the River Medlock was somewhat displeased and steps were immediately taken to regularise the union.  A little over two weeks the couple were again married at the Collegiate Church, now Manchester Cathedral, [Manchester Mercury 28 February 1809 page 4]

William Atkinson’s commissions in Manchester included the Jubilee or Ladies’ Female Charity School, Strangeways (1810) and All Saints Church, Newton Heath, Manchester (1814). His scheme for Waterloo Square, Quay Street was not progressed.

According to the Directory of Irish Architects William Atkinson of London was employed by the Fifth and Sixth Dukes of Devonshire as town planner and architect on their Irish estates from about 1803 to 1813. In 1803 he was commissioned to survey and re-plan the towns of Bandon, Co. Cork, and Lismore, Co. Waterford, and at about the same time he also re-planned parts of the centre of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. He prepared the original designs for the bridge across the River Colligan at Dungarvan, begun by 1810, but was replaced by Samuel Ware in 1813 when the cost began to outrun the estimate. He was responsible for alterations at Lismore Castle from 1811 or 1812 with James Dwyer acting as executant architect. However, these works were more probably undertaken by William Atkinson of Manchester. Colvin notes the existence of correspondence from William Atkinson at a Manchester address to the Duke of Devonshire’s London agent, etc. The Irish connection is confirmed by a classified advertisement inserted by Mr Atkinson, architect, Hope Street, Piccadilly, for eight or ten good plasterers to work in Ireland. [Manchester Mercury 17 November 1812 page 4]

There is evidence that William Atkinson also acted as a builder/developer but disposed of this part of his business in 1818-1819. In July 1818 he sold by auction fourteen valuable chimney pieces of statuary, and February 1819 On the premises belonging to Mr Atkinson, architect, bottom of Major Street, Portland Street, the stock in trade of Mr Atkinson, architect, (who is declining the building department of his profession) consisting of well- seasoned timber of mahogany oak and deal …. [Manchester Mercury 16 February 1819 page 1]

 The last known references to William Atkinson are the Directory entry for 1821-2 and the sale of two houses in George Street, Manchester. When and where he died is unknown.