EDMUND SHARPEEdmund Sharpe (1809-1877) excelled in so many fields – an architect for bridges, railways, churches and other buildings, an engineer, historian, entrepreneur, civic leader, campaigner and sportsman. Called Lancaster’s Renaissance Man, few have equalled the wide range of contributions he made to life in Victorian Lancaster. More details about him are given in the Guide to Lancaster No. 32. A green heritage plaque to commemorate him can be seen on 14 Fenton Street, the house he designed and lived in for 11 years. Here are some of the local buildings he designed.

Edmund Sharpe (courtesy of the Architectural Association)

Conder Viaduct, Galgate (1838–39)

Holy Trinity Church, Morecambe (1840-41). Note the narrow lancet windows Sharpe favoured at this time.

The church has stained glass by Shrigley & Hunt and Abbott.

Holy Trinity Church, Morecambe. The south aisle, nearest the camera, was added in 1866 by E.G. Paley who took over

Sharpe’s practice.

St Thomas Church, Penny Street, Lancaster (1840-41)

St Paul’s, Scotforth (1874–75). A Romanesque style.

Holy Trinity, Wray (1840) (the porch is a later addition)

His house, 14 Fenton Street (ca. 1844)

Detail on the facade of the Charity School for Girls (Bluecoat School), Middle Street, Lancaster (1849–50)