William Talman (architect)

William Talman
William Talman, his son John Talman, his daughter Frances Cokayne, and his wife, Hannah Talman, by Giuseppe Grisoni, c.1718–19, NPG
Born	1650 Eastcott Manor House West Lavington, Wiltshire
Died	22 November 1719(1719-11-22) Felmingham, Norfolk
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Chatsworth House

William Talman (1650–1719) was an English architect and landscape designer. A pupil of Sir Christopher Wren, in 1678 he and Thomas Apprice gained the office of King's Waiter in the Port of London (perhaps through his patron Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon). From May 1689 until William III's death in 1702 he was Comptroller of the Royal Works, and also in 1689 William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland appointed Talman and George London as his deputies in his new role as Superintendent of the Royal Gardens. In these roles Talman worked with Wren in his rebuilding of Hampton Court Palace and its gardens and, by proposing a cheaper interior decoration scheme for the new building, won that commission over Wren's head.

Talman's principal work is recognised to be Chatsworth House, considered to be the first baroque private house in Britain, and he was possibly the architect of St Anne's Church, Soho. Talman was held by many to be surly, rude and difficult to get on with. One of those who felt so was Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, who thus chose John Vanbrugh, not Talman as his architect for Castle Howard; (Vanburgh had also been Talman's replacement as Comptroller of the Royal Works in May 1702.)

During his long career Talman worked on many of England's country houses. These include:

Chatsworth House, south & east fronts

Chatsworth House, south fronts

Chatsworth, Painted Hall

Chatsworth, State Bedroom

Dyrham House East front

Uppark, south front

St. Anne's Soho

Petworth House West Sussex