Robert Potter (architect)

Robert Potter
Born 6 October 1909
Guildford, Surrey
Died 30 November 2010 (aged 101)
Alma mater Regent Street Polytechnic
Occupation Architect
Awards OBE
Practice Brandt, Potter, Hare
Buildings
Projects

Robert James Potter (6 October 1909 – 30 November 2010) was an English architect who was noted for his work on church buildings. He studied architecture in London before moving to Salisbury where he established his practice.

Early life and education

Potter was born in Guildford, Surrey to Jack Potter, an engraver who worked on printing blocks for Bank of England banknotes, and his wife Florence. After school he studied Architecture at the Regent Street Polytechnic.

Career

Potter moved to Salisbury in 1935, aged 26, establishing an architectural practice there. Within three years he was commissioned to design St Francis's Church in the city, which has subsequently become a listed building.

In the Second World War he served in the Royal Engineers in northern India where he was involved in constructing road and rail networks to enable troop movements to the war in the Far East. He attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel during his wartime service.

After the war he returned to Salisbury and began a professional partnership with William Randoll Blacking, who had studied under Sir Ninian Comper and was known for his design and conservation work on ecclesiastical buildings. Their partnership lasted 11 years, after which Potter established his own firm with a new partner, Richard Hare, based in De Vaux House in Salisbury.

Potter's designs included military and residential buildings (such as the extensive extension to South Stoneham House in Southampton) but his primary focus was on church architecture; in 1958 his Church of the Ascension, Crownhill in Plymouth was consecrated and in 1959 he started work on St George's, in Oakdale, Poole. Potter's practice expanded in 1967, being renamed the Brandt, Potter, Hare Partnership and opening an office in Southampton.

Potter's work was not purely on new builds. He was involved in substantial renovation works to a number of well known buildings including Chichester Cathedral, Oxford's Bodleian Library, St Peter Mancroft (the largest church building in Norwich other than the city's cathedrals) and St Stephen Walbrook, All Souls Church, Langham Place and St Paul's Cathedral, all in central London. He became well known for creating community rooms under the foundations of ancient church buildings and earned the nickname "The Mole" as a result. In addition to his work on the buildings themselves, Potter was noted for his designs of fixtures and fittings including organs, crosses, candlesticks and fonts.

From 1978 to 1984, he was Surveyor of the Fabric of St Paul's Cathedral.

In 1989 Potter's designs were used to extend the St Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Church in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, where the original building had been designed by Potter's first professional partner, William Randoll Blacking.

Potter was awarded the OBE in 1993.

Personal life

Potter married Geraldine Buchanan when he moved to Salisbury in 1935. They had three children together but divorced in the early 1960s. He married again to Margaret and had two stepchildren. He enjoyed watercolour painting and sailing, having obtained a master mariner's certificate.

Notable works

Notable buildings that Potter designed or worked on include:

Year Building Image Location Potter's role Building status
1938 St Francis Church Salisbury Salisbury, Wiltshire Architect Grade II listed
1955–1977 Chichester Cathedral Chichester, West Sussex Assisted with renovation; established masons' workshop Grade I listed
1958 Church of the Ascension, Crownhill Crownhill, Plymouth, Devon Architect Grade II listed
1960 St George's Church Oakdale, Poole, Dorset Architect Grade II listed
1960s St Peter Mancroft Norwich, Norfolk Architect (roof replacement) Grade I listed
1964 South Stoneham House Swaythling, Southampton Architect of major extension including 17-storey tower block Demolished.

The original Grade II* listed manor house still stands.

1967 All Saints Clifton Clifton, Bristol Architect (rebuilding) Grade II listed
1970s St Paul's Cathedral City of London, London Surveyor to the Fabric Grade I listed
1976 Lincoln College Library (formerly All Saints Church) Oxford, Oxfordshire Conversion of church building into library Grade I listed
1988 St Andrew's Church, Goldsworth Park Goldsworth Park, Woking, Surrey Architect –
1989 Church of St Edward the Confessor, Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford, Hampshire Architect (extension)
Unknown Bodleian Library Oxford, Oxfordshire Architect (structural reinforcements) Grade I listed
Unknown St Stephen Walbrook City of London, London Architect (renovations/repairs) Grade I listed
Unknown All Souls Church, Langham Place Marylebone, London Architect (renovations/repairs) Grade I listed
Unknown St Matthew's Church, Bridgemary Bridgemary, Gosport, Hampshire Architect (with Richard Hare)