Fonds GB 3245 BLOU - Gilbert Blount collection

Identity area

Reference code

GB 3245 BLOU

Title

Gilbert Blount collection

Date(s)

  • 1837-1849 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 box

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Gilbert Blount was an English Catholic architect born in 1819 and active from about 1840-70. He received his earliest training as a civil engineer under Isambard Kingdom Brunel (c 1825-28) for whom he worked as a superintendent of the Thames Tunnel works. After a period in the office of Sydney Smirke, Blount was appointed as architect to Cardinal Wiseman, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster.

Blount's mature work coincided with the resurgence of Catholic church building in England. His activity as an architect was largely in service of the need for new churches and related ecclesiastical institutions.

Archival history

GB 3245 BLOU 1837-1849 Fonds 1 box Blount , Gilbert R , 1819-1876 , architect

Gilbert Blount was an English Catholic architect born in 1819 and active from about 1840-70. He received his earliest training as a civil engineer under Isambard Kingdom Brunel (c 1825-28) for whom he worked as a superintendent of the Thames Tunnel works. After a period in the office of Sydney Smirke, Blount was appointed as architect to Cardinal Wiseman, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster.

Blount's mature work coincided with the resurgence of Catholic church building in England. His activity as an architect was largely in service of the need for new churches and related ecclesiastical institutions.

The collection was given to Brunel University Library by Michael May, the grandson of Gilbert Blount, in 1976

Correspondence between Blount and his father concerning his career, J Charlier (Clerk to the company) concerning business and Brunel concerning his resignation. The letters date from December 1840 to October 1842 and show Blount's career progress and give insight into his work. Personal Notebooks/Diaries covering 1842-July 1843 and 1847-1849. Various notes and excerpts from material and guides pertaining to Blount's profession. Also included are transcripts of letters.

The collection is complete and further accruals are unlikely.

Numbered files.

Available to researchers, by appointment. Please email: special.collections@brunel.ac.uk, giving at least two working days notice.

Further details about access to our collections are available on our website.

Access to archive material is subject to preservation requirements and must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act and any other appropriate legislation.

At the discretion of the Special Collections Librarian.

English

There is a finding aid available.

The Architectural Archives at the University of Pennsylvania hold material related to Gilbert Blount's later career as a church architect.

Collection arranged and described by Tom Elliott-Aston, with additions by Katie Flanagan.

2013-06-26 Smirke , Sydney , 1798-1877 , architect Charlier , Joseph Brunel , Isambard Kingdom , 1806-1859 , engineer Blount , Gilbert R , 1819-1876 , architect Engineering Architectural design Transport infrastructure Tunnels Building design Artists Architects Construction engineering Civil engineering Tunnelling Wiseman , Nicholas Patrick Stephen , 1802-1865 , Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster May , Michael Thames Tunnel Company

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The collection was given to Brunel University Library by Michael May, the grandson of Gilbert Blount, in 1976

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Correspondence between Blount and his father concerning his career, J Charlier (Clerk to the company) concerning business and Brunel concerning his resignation. The letters date from December 1840 to October 1842 and show Blount's career progress and give insight into his work. Personal Notebooks/Diaries covering 1842-July 1843 and 1847-1849. Various notes and excerpts from material and guides pertaining to Blount's profession. Also included are transcripts of letters.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

The collection is complete and further accruals are unlikely.

System of arrangement

Numbered files.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available to researchers, by appointment. Please email: special.collections@brunel.ac.uk, giving at least two working days notice.

Further details about access to our collections are available on our website.

Access to archive material is subject to preservation requirements and must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act and any other appropriate legislation.

Conditions governing reproduction

At the discretion of the Special Collections Librarian.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Architectural Archives at the University of Pennsylvania hold material related to Gilbert Blount's later career as a church architect.

Finding aids

There is a finding aid available.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Brunel University Library

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area