A Spiral Architect: John Foster, Junior of Liverpool: An Appreciation

A single session on campus, Saturday 9 May, 10am - 4pm

Overview

The life’s work of Liverpool architect John Foster, Junior has generally been overlooked, in part because so few of his magnificent civic projects survive in the contemporary environment; but also because in their studied utility, these projects were considered by critics to be more functional than artistic. This of course, is total nonsense. The Oratory at St. James Mount (1829) may just be one of the greatest reinterpretations of Greek Revival architecture anywhere in Europe. The Custom House, a local landmark bigger than St. George’s Hall, stood watch over Liverpool’s dockland for generations until WWII. Designed to appeal to anyone with an interest in Liverpool history, art, sculpture, social history and town planning, this session includes a city walk to finish.

Syllabus

Part 1. Introduction – John Foster, Senior
Part 2. First Projects – Port Surveyor – St. James Cemetery, St. Luke’s Church
Part 3. Saint John’s Market, Liverpool Royal Infirmary
LUNCH
Part 4. The Custom House, Blind School Chapel, The Moorish Arch – L&MR Railway
Part 5. City centre walk, including a tour around many of Foster’s surviving buildings - Conclusion

Course lecturer

Dr. Lee R. Kendall was born in Liverpool in 1974 and earned his BA (Hons) in History of Art at University of Leicester in 1997 before going on to complete a PhD in the same subject at Liverpool John Moores University in 2006. An independent art historian with a particular interest in all things Liverpool related, his publications include “Being for the Benefit of… Beatles Art in Liverpool” (2012). He has been part of the front of house team at Tate Gallery, Liverpool since 2009 and has lectured for the University of Liverpool's CE Department since 2019.

Course fee

• Standard fee: £55