John Cunningham (architect)
| John Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1799 Leitholm, Berwickshire, Scotland |
| Died | 2 October 1873 (aged 73–74) Trinity, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes Usher |
| Children | John Usher Cunningham |
| Buildings | Crewe railway station, Liverpool Lime Street railway station, Liverpool Sailors' Home, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool |
John Cunningham (1799 – 2 October 1873) was a Scottish architect perhaps best known for designing Lime Street railway station and the original Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool.
Born in 1799 in the Scottish village of Leitholm, Berwickshire, he was the son of a builder to whom he was initially apprenticed. His talent came to the attention of Sir William Purves-Hume-Campbell, the Sixth Baronet and Third Earl of Marchmont. He designed his first building at seventeen, a lodge for the Marchmont Estate.
In 1819, Cunningham was apprenticed to Thomas Brown, Edinburgh's Superintendent of Works, and remained in that city for ten years. In 1829, he designed Greenlaw's Greek Revival County Hall and Courts building, which was constructed with money supplied by Purves-Hume Campbell. In 1832/3 he is noted as living at 15 Buccleuch Place, a flat in the south side of Edinburgh.
In 1833, he married Agnes Usher. That same year, his patron Purves-Hume-Campbell died, and Cunningham and his wife moved to New York, possibly to find work. However, the climate there had a detrimental effect on his health, and he returned to Edinburgh in 1834. Upon his return he was commissioned to design the Castle Inn Hotel in Greenlaw, which was situated directly across from the County Hall.
Later that year, he was invited to Liverpool by Samuel Holme, a politician and builder. In Liverpool, Cunningham formed an informal partnership with Holme's brother Arthur Hill Holme, which lasted until 1840. During that time, the two men collaborated to design the Crown Street railway station.
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