The fourth son of Charles James Blomfield, Anglican Bishop of London, Arthur Blomfield was articled to Philip Hardwick, architect to the Bank of England. He became President of the Architectural Association in 1861, Architect to the Bank of England in 1883, and Vice-President of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1886. He was elected Associate of the Royal Academy in 1888 and knighted the following year.

According to the Dictionary of National Biography,

Blomfield was one of the last great Gothic revivalists. He was also a prolific architect, whose primary activity was church building and restoration. His favourite style was English Perpendicualr, which he considered particularly suitable for church designs, though his variant of this style was not based on a slavish copying of architectural precedent, or on any search for eccentric originality. He was also open to the possibilities offered by modern materials, especially iron, which he used regularly.... His successful practice drew the attention of the young Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). Hardy's training as a Gothic draughtsman was a strong recommendation to Blomfield, in whose office he worked on his arrival in London in 1862." (Oxford DNB)

Working with A. E. Street, Blomfield helped complete George Edmund Street's (1824-1881) Royal Courts of Justice in London (usually known as the Law Courts) after the architect's death in 1881. His major buildings include the great hall for Charterhouse School at Godalming, Surrey (1885), the law courts branch of the Bank of England (1886-8), Queen's School and the lower chapel, Eton College (1889-91), erection of the nave, south porch and south transept for St Saviour's, Southwark (Southwark Cathedral) (1890-1897), and the Royal College of Music (1894)

St Andrew's Church, Surbiton stands as one of the best surviving examples of the churches he built.


Last modified 11 June 2006