Benjamin Ferrey : A Victorian Architect – Harry Spain, Lucinda Lambton
Benjamin Ferrey (1810–1880) is often remembered as the childhood friend and first biographer of A.W.N. Pugin, yet this connection tells only part of the story. Ferrey's career unfolded during some of the most transformative decades in British architectural history. Recognised early for his talent as a draughtsman, he trained in London under Augustus Charles Pugin and became part of the emerging Gothic Revival movement at a pivotal moment in its development.
From these beginnings, Ferrey established a distinguished architectural practice, designing and restoring churches, country houses and public buildings across Britain. His work brought him into contact with many of the leading figures of the age and included commissions associated with landmarks such as the National Gallery and Bagshot Park. Following Pugin's death, Ferrey turned his attention to documenting the life and achievements of his former friend, producing the first full biography of one of the nineteenth century's most influential architects.
Although his reputation has long been overshadowed by that of Pugin, Ferrey emerges from this study as a significant architectural figure in his own right, offering a fresh perspective on the Gothic Revival and the wider architectural culture of Victorian Britain.
Harry Spain is an architectural historian and designer with a particular interest in the Gothic Revival and church building in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Harry is based between Oxford and London and regularly lectures and writes on a wide range of architectural subjects.
Author: Harry Spain, Lucinda Lambton
Publisher: Unicorn Press
Format: Hardback
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9781911397953
Publication date: August 2026