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Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812–1852) pioneered the nineteenth-century Gothic Revival that still shapes our towns and villages. Driven by a desire to address the challenges of modernity through architecture and social reform, Pugin designed cathedrals, churches, civic buildings and houses inspired by his vision of a simpler medieval world. His outpouring of creativity in his short life turned the Gothic Revival into a national style: the most iconic image of British government, the Elizabeth Tower that houses Big Ben, is a Pugin creation.
Pugin did not work alone. This display showcases two major new acquisitions by the Museum of Pugin’s drawings that highlight his close collaborations with the Birmingham metalworker, John Hardman Jr (1811-1867), and the London builder George Myers (1803-1875). It includes Pugin’s designs across various media for major projects such as the New Palace of Westminster and the Great Exhibition, as well as more personal commissions including his own house, the Grange, in Ramsgate. The display unites the drawings with related objects to reveal the leading role that Hardman and Myers played in making Pugin’s Gothic dream a reality for the modern world.
