Carr, John

Carr, John (1723–1807). English architect. He was a competent and prolific practitioner in Yorkshire (where he was Surveyor of Bridges, first for the West Riding (1760–73), and then for the North Riding (from 1772) ) and the North of England of the Palladianism he had learned while building Kirby Hall, Ouseburn, Yorks., by Burlington and Morris (1747–c.1755). His reliability gained him favour among the gentry, and many of his works were featured in Vitruvius Britannicus (vols. iv and v) and in New Vitruvius Britannicus. He was also influenced by Robert Adam's Neo-Classicism, and could turn his hand to Gothic when required. Among his works may be mentioned his many bridges, his domestic architecture (e.g. Constable Burton, North Riding (c.1762–8), illustrated in Vitruvius Britannicus, v), his public buildings, and his churches (e.g. Kirkleatham, North Riding (c.1760–3) ). The Assize Courts (1773–7) and Prison for Females (1780–3) at York Castle are accomplished palace-fronted compositions of great refinement, while the Assembly Rooms and Crescent, Buxton, Derbys. (1780–90), applied an elevational treatment derived from Inigo Jones's arcaded piazza at Covent Garden and a variation of the younger Wood's grand residential Royal Crescent at Bath. His public buildings include the Palladian Town Hall and Assembly Rooms at Newark, Notts. (1773–6).

Bibliography

Bradshaw & and I. Hall (1973);
Colvin (1995);
J. Curl (2002a);
Summerson (ed.) (1993);
Wragg (2000);
York Georgian Society (1973)