Albert Estcourt | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1832 Painswick, Gloucestershire |
Died | 18 February 1909 Gloucester |
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Builder |
Known for | Constructing:
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Albert Estcourt (c. 1832 – 18 February 1909) was a builder in Gloucestershire, England, in the 19th century who with his brother, and later on his own, constructed a number of notable buildings in the county and across southern England.
Some of his buildings are Hillfield House in Gloucester (1867–1869), now grade II listed; major restoration work at St Mary's Church, Cheltenham (1877); the Oxford University Cricket Club Pavilion (the Parks Pavilion) to a design by Thomas Graham Jackson (1880–1881); and Clouds House in Wiltshire (1881–1886).
Albert Estcourt was born in Painswick, Gloucestershire, around 1832 to William and Maria Estcourt. He was christened on 27 May 1832 at Painswick.[1] The 1851 census shows him as a stone mason, lodging at St Mary's Square in Gloucester with the publican Joseph Gardner.[2] In the 1861 census he was in Painswick with his wife Ellen.[3]
Albert Estcourt was at first in partnership with his brother Oliver Estcourt who died in 1871.[7] Oliver was responsible for the construction in 1858[4] of the grade II listed Gloucester Court of Probate by Thomas Fulljames of Fulljames & Waller.[8]
Estcourt worked with leading architects on buildings throughout Gloucestershire[9] and across southern England. His works include Hillfield House in Gloucester (1867–69) to a design by John Giles for the timber merchant Charles Walker, now grade II listed and described as the "most elaborate Victorian house in Gloucester";[5][10] major restoration work at St Mary's Church, Cheltenham (1877);[11] and in 1880–1881 the Oxford University Cricket Club Pavilion (the Parks Pavilion) to a design by Thomas Graham Jackson.[12]
A major work was the construction in 1881–1886 of Clouds House in Wiltshire,[6] now grade II* listed with Historic England.[13]
Estcourt married Ellen[14] who was born at Coaley.[15] At the time of the 1871 census he was living in South Hamlet, on the southern edges of Gloucester, with Ellen, four children and one servant. He was described as a "builders manager".[16] In the 1881 and 1891 censuses he and his wife were recorded as living in Barton Street in Gloucester with seven children and two servants.[14][17]
In 1897 he owned the Middletown estate in Upleadon which he sold in 1898.[18]
Estcourt died on 18 February 1909. His address at the time of his death was Falkland House, Denmark Road, Gloucester. He left an estate of £55,987 and probate was granted to George Oliver Estcourt, builder, and Charles William Estcourt, timber merchant.[19]
The Escourts are remembered in Estcourt Road, Gloucester, built in the 1930s near Albert's home in Denmark Road.[20]