Joseph Henry Hirst (1863–1945) was a leading architect of the post-Victorian era based in Kingston upon Hull.

City Hall, Hull 1903-09
Carnegie Public Library, Anlaby Road, Hull 1905
Beverley Road Baths, Hull 1905
Pickering Almshouses, 1909
Former School for Fishermen, now the Boulevard Centre, Hull 1914

Life edit

He was born in 1863 in South Milford, Yorkshire, the son of William Hirst (1833-1918) and Mary Ann Carr (1839-1883). He married Hannah Whitehead (1852-1951) in 1890 in St Charles Catholic Church, Hull. They had the following children:

  • Captain Joseph Francis Xavier Hirst MC (1891-1978)
  • William Leo Hirst (1896-1983)
  • Irene Mary Hirst (1900-1973)

During the Second World War his home in Hymers Avenue, Hull was damaged in an air raid. He moved to Selby where he died aged 82.[1]

Career edit

He started his career as a surveyor under Colonel William H. Wellsted.

He was appointed first City Architect for Kingston upon Hull on 1 January 1900, and he retained this until retirement on 1 July 1926[2] and was "the man who more than any other designed the face of the modern city".[3] He was responsible for some of Hull's best-known buildings, among them the City Hall, swimming baths, schools and housing estates. [4]

Buildings designed by Joseph Hirst edit

  • East Hull Baths, Holderness Road, Hull 1897-98
  • Crematorium, Hedon Road Cemetery, Hull 1899-1901[5]
  • Council Houses, Steynburg Street and Rustenburg Street, Hull 1902-03
  • Trinity Market Hall, North Church Side, Hull 1902-04[6]
  • Police Station, 20 Parliament Street, Hull 1902-04[7]
  • Empress Hotel, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull 1903[8]
  • Lodge, East Park, Hull 1903
  • Fountain House, Fountain Road, Hull 1904
  • Public Baths, Beverley Road, Hull 1905[9]
  • Carnegie Library, Anlaby Road, Hull 1905[10]
  • City Hall, Hull 1903-09[11]
  • Pickering Almshouses, Hessle Road, Hull 1909
  • Sewage Pumping Station, Hessle Road, Hull 1909[12]
  • Lodge, West Park, Hull 1910
  • Southcoates Lane School, Hull 1910-11[13][14]
  • Sidmouth Street School, Hull 1911-12[15][16]
  • Chapel, Northern Cemetery, Hull 1912[17]
  • Museum of Fisheries and Shipping, Hull 1912
  • School for Fishermen, Boulevard, Hull 1914[18]
  • Newland School for Girls, Cottingham Road, Hull 1914[19]
  • Central Fire Station, Worship Street, Hull 1927[20]
  • Residences on Hymers Avenue, Hull, near Hymers College[21]

Publications edit

  • (1913) The block houses of Kingston-upon-Hull and who went there: A glimpse of catholic life in the penal times and a missing page of local history. Hull: A. Brown & Sons.
  • (1916) The Armorial Bearings of Kingston Upon Hull. Hull: A. Brown & Sons.

References edit

  1. ^ "Built City Hall". Hull Daily Mail. England. 15 May 1945. Retrieved 22 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "City Architect Retires". Hull Daily Mail. England. 24 March 1926. Retrieved 22 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "History - Trinity Market". Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Undercover shopping a mainstay of city history | This is Hull and East Riding". www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  5. ^ Historic England, "Former Chapel and Crematorium at Hedon Road Cemetery (1197740)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  6. ^ Historic England, "The Market Hall and Bob Carvers Fish and Chip Restaurant (1283105)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  7. ^ Historic England, "No. 20 Parliament Street (1197711)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  8. ^ Historic England, "Empress Public House (1207633)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  9. ^ Historic England, "Beverley Road Swimming Centre (1297036)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  10. ^ Historic England, "Former Carnegie Public Library (1197652)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  11. ^ Neave, David; Neave, Susan (2010). Pevsner Architectural Guides. Hull. Yale University Press. p. 65. ISBN 9780300141726.
  12. ^ Historic England, "Sewage Pumping Station 10 metres west of Pickering Homes (1209557)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  13. ^ Historic England, "Southcoates Lane Education Centre (1197661)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  14. ^ Historic England, "Southcoates Lane Primary School (1197662)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  15. ^ Historic England, "Sidmouth Street School East Block (1283099)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  16. ^ Historic England, "Sidmouth Street School West Block (1219200)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  17. ^ Historic England, "Chapel at Northern Cemetery (1197629)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  18. ^ Historic England, "The Boulevard Centre (1389675)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  19. ^ Historic England, "Newland School for Girls (1208622)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 July 2023
  20. ^ "Hull's Fire Station". Hull Daily Mail. England. 7 April 1927. Retrieved 22 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "5 bedroom house for sale in Hymers Avenue, HULL, HU3 1LN, HU3". Rightmove.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2018.

External links edit