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Coordinates: 51°27′22″N 2°36′16″W / 51.45611°N 2.60444°W / 51.45611; -2.60444
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Oatley later claimed that his inspiration for the building came from a dream where he saw a tower on a hill with shields around it. <ref name=autogenerated5>[http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~glejl/WMB/index.html Wills Memorial Building<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Oatley later claimed that his inspiration for the building came from a dream where he saw a tower on a hill with shields around it. <ref name=autogenerated5>[http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~glejl/WMB/index.html Wills Memorial Building<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


Construction was started in 1915 but was halted in 1916 due to the continuation of [[World War I]].<ref>http://www.gly.bris.ac.uk/www/services/museum/wmb.html</ref> Building was restarted in 1919, and the Wills Memorial Building was finally opened on June 9th 1925 by [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]], having cost a total of £501,566 19s 10d. The building was opened with Royal Salute of 21 chimes from 'Great George' the nine and a half ton bell within the octagonal belfry of the tower, which is tolled on the death of a monarch or chancellor<ref name="burrough">{{cite book |last=Burrough |first=THB |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bristol |year=1970 |publisher=Studio Vista |location=London |isbn=0289798043 }}</ref>. To celebrate the Centenary of the University receiving it's [[charter]], 'Great George' was rung, along with bells in Bristol's other churches, just as they did in May 1909 when King Edward VII granted the University its Royal Charter to grant degrees<ref>http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6367.html</ref>. Oatley received a [[Knight Bachelor|knighthood]] that same year in recognition of his work on the building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2003/257|title=New Chapter for the Wills Memorial Building|publisher=University of Bristol|accessdate=2006-03-18}}</ref>
Construction was started in 1915 but was halted in 1916 due to the continuation of [[World War I]].<ref>http://www.gly.bris.ac.uk/www/services/museum/wmb.html</ref> Building was restarted in 1919, and the Wills Memorial Building was finally opened on June 9th 1925 by [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]], having cost a total of £501,566 19s 10d. The building was opened with a Royal Salute of 21 chimes from 'Great George', the nine and a half ton bell within the octagonal belfry of the tower, which is tolled on the death of a monarch or chancellor<ref name="burrough">{{cite book |last=Burrough |first=THB |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bristol |year=1970 |publisher=Studio Vista |location=London |isbn=0289798043 }}</ref>. To celebrate the Centenary of the University receiving it's [[charter]], 'Great George' was rung, along with bells in Bristol's other churches, just as they did in May 1909 when King Edward VII granted the University its Royal Charter to grant degrees<ref>http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6367.html</ref>. Oatley received a [[Knight Bachelor|knighthood]] that same year in recognition of his work on the building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2003/257|title=New Chapter for the Wills Memorial Building|publisher=University of Bristol|accessdate=2006-03-18}}</ref>


In 1940, during the [[Bristol Blitz]] of [[World War II]], the Great Hall with its [[Hammerbeam roof]], was badly damaged by a German bomb-blast, and was restored in the 1960s to Oatley's original design.<ref name="burrough"/> At the same time the adjoining wing was enlarged by Ralph Brentnall.
In 1940, during the [[Bristol Blitz]] of [[World War II]], the Great Hall with its [[Hammerbeam roof]], was badly damaged by a German bomb-blast, and was restored in the 1960s to Oatley's original design.<ref name="burrough"/> At the same time the adjoining wing was enlarged by Ralph Brentnall.

Revision as of 10:16, 22 September 2011

Wills Memorial Building
The Wills Memorial Building
Map
General information
Architectural stylePerpendicular Gothic, Gothic revival
Town or cityBristol
CountryEngland
Construction started1915
Completed1925
Cost£501,566 19s 10d
ClientW. D. & H. O. Wills
Height68 m (215 ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Sir George Oatley

51°27′22″N 2°36′16″W / 51.45611°N 2.60444°W / 51.45611; -2.60444

The Wills Memorial Building (also known as the Wills Memorial Tower or simply the Wills Tower) is a Neo Gothic building designed by Sir George Oatley and built as a memorial to Henry Overton Wills III.[1][2][3][4] Begun in 1915, it is considered one of the last great Gothic buildings to be built in England.[5]

Situated near the top of Park Street on Queens Road in Bristol, United Kingdom,[5] it is a landmark building of the University of Bristol that currently houses the School of Law and the Department of Earth Sciences, as well as the Law and Earth Sciences libraries.[6] It is the third highest structure in Bristol, standing at 68 m (215 ft). [7]

Many regard the building as synonymous with the University of Bristol. It is the centrepiece building of the university precinct[8] and used by the University of Bristol for degree ceremonies which take place inside of the Great Hall.[9]

Architecture commentator Nikolaus Pevsner described it as:

"a tour de force in Gothic Revival, so convinced, so vast, and so competent that one cannot help feeling respect for it."[10]

It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building[11] and serves as a regional European Documentation Centre.

History

The Wills Memorial Geology Library
Wills Memorial Building, front face

The Wills Memorial Building was commissioned in 1912 by George Alfred Wills and Henry Herbert Wills, the magnates of the Bristol tobacco company W. D. & H. O. Wills, in honour of their father, Henry Overton Wills III, benefactor and first Chancellor of the University who donated £100,000 to the University. Sir George Oatley was chosen as architect and told to "build to last". He produced a design in the Perpendicular Gothic style, to evoke the famous university buildings of Oxford and Cambridge. The building was funded through the fortunes which the Wills family made through tobacco[1] Oatley later claimed that his inspiration for the building came from a dream where he saw a tower on a hill with shields around it. [12]

Construction was started in 1915 but was halted in 1916 due to the continuation of World War I.[13] Building was restarted in 1919, and the Wills Memorial Building was finally opened on June 9th 1925 by King George V and Queen Mary, having cost a total of £501,566 19s 10d. The building was opened with a Royal Salute of 21 chimes from 'Great George', the nine and a half ton bell within the octagonal belfry of the tower, which is tolled on the death of a monarch or chancellor[14]. To celebrate the Centenary of the University receiving it's charter, 'Great George' was rung, along with bells in Bristol's other churches, just as they did in May 1909 when King Edward VII granted the University its Royal Charter to grant degrees[15]. Oatley received a knighthood that same year in recognition of his work on the building.[16]

In 1940, during the Bristol Blitz of World War II, the Great Hall with its Hammerbeam roof, was badly damaged by a German bomb-blast, and was restored in the 1960s to Oatley's original design.[14] At the same time the adjoining wing was enlarged by Ralph Brentnall.

Architecture

The building's dominant feature is Wills Tower. The tower is reinforced concrete faced with Bath and Clipsham stone,[2] with carving designed in collaboration with Jean Hahn of King's Heath Guild, Birmingham. At 215 feet (68 metres) height it is over twice the height of nearby Cabot Tower. It is 16 meters square and ornamented with in heraldic shields.

It is topped by an octagonal lantern which houses Great George (England's sixth-largest bell, weighing over 9.5 tonnes) which strikes on the hour.[17]

In addition to the Great Hall there is a General Library, Reception Room and Council Chamber and another 50 rooms including some teaching space such as seminar rooms and lecture theatres. In the Entrance Hall are two ceremonial staircases. The building is also used as a conference venue.[8]

Restoration work

In 2006, cleaning work began on the Wills Memorial Building costing £750,000.[18] Cleaning on the building revealed the engraving "IO TRIVMPHE"[19] intended as a tribute to the architect of the building Sir George Oatley. The engraving had remained hidden for over 80 years[20] and recognises the role of Sir Isambard Owen (then Vice-Chancellor) in the realisation of Oately's plans. Harry Patch, World War One veteran who also worked on the building, re-unveiled the now clean building[21].



Further reading

  • Whittingham, S. Wills Memorial Building (Bristol, 2003) ISBN 086292541X [1]

References

Restoration
  1. ^ a b Bristol University | The University | The Wills Memorial Building
  2. ^ a b http://www.about-bristol.co.uk/lnd-03.asp
  3. ^ Building - 686 - Wills Memorial Tower - Bristol
  4. ^ "Bristol University". Wills Tower set for new glory. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  5. ^ a b The Wills Memorial Building is situated at the top of Park Street in Queens Road
  6. ^ Bristol University | The University | Law Library
  7. ^ http://www.emporis.com/application/?lng=3&nav=building&id=151240
  8. ^ a b Bristol University - Centre for Romantic Studies - Wills Memorial Building
  9. ^ Bristol University | The University | Graduation
  10. ^ "Wills Memorial Building". University of Bristol, Centre for Romantic Studies. Archived from the original on 2006-06-27. Retrieved 2006-03-18.
  11. ^ "University Tower and Wills Memorial Building and attached front walls and lamps". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  12. ^ Wills Memorial Building
  13. ^ http://www.gly.bris.ac.uk/www/services/museum/wmb.html
  14. ^ a b Burrough, THB (1970). Bristol. London: Studio Vista. ISBN 0289798043. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6367.html
  16. ^ "New Chapter for the Wills Memorial Building". University of Bristol. Retrieved 2006-03-18.
  17. ^ "Wills Memorial Building". Bristol-Link.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-03-18.
  18. ^ Bristol University | News from the University | Wills Tower set for new glory
  19. ^ Wills Memorial Building - August 2006
  20. ^ Bristol University | News from the University | 80-year-old engraving finally discovered
  21. ^ "Obitury: Private Harry Patch". Daily Telegraph. London. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
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