# Hans Price

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{{Short description|English architect (1835–1912)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
[[File:WestonTownHall.jpg|alt=Stone building with colonnaded entrance. Above is a clock tower.|right|thumb|Hans Price made a significant addition to [Weston-super-Mare Town Hall](/source/Weston-super-Mare_Town_Hall)]]
'''Hans Price''' (1835–1912) was the [architect](/source/architect) responsible for much of the development of [Weston-super-Mare](/source/Weston-super-Mare), in [North Somerset](/source/North_Somerset), [England](/source/England), during the [Victorian era](/source/Victorian_era).<ref>{{cite book | last = Taylor | first = Martin | title = Hans Fowler Price | publisher = Weston-super-Mare Civic Society | year = 2004 | location = Weston-super-Mare }}</ref>

==Life==
Hans Fowler Price was born in St James's parish, [Bristol](/source/Bristol).<ref>England and Wales Christening Index, 1530–1980</ref> He studied under Thomas Barry in [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool). By the time that he married Jane Baker in 1862 he had already established his own architectural practice in [Weston-super-Mare](/source/Weston-super-Mare).

Jane's father was the solicitor to the Smyth Pigott family who were major landowners in the town.  Price used these connections to build his business and his personal standing.  He spent time as a Town Commissioner, a director of the Gaslight Company, and on many other boards and committees.

==Style==
thumb|left|upright|Queens Road, which leads up to the Town Quarry
[[File:Price, Hans, 1835-1912, The Mercury Office, 1885, entrance aedicule.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Entrance aedicule to the Mercury Office incorporating classical and eclectic stylistic elements based on the [triumphal arch](/source/triumphal_arch), 1885]]
Price was an eclectic architect who successfully mixed styles such as [Classical](/source/Classical_architecture), [Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture), [Moorish](/source/Moorish_architecture) and [Flemish](/source/Flanders) in different buildings, his works invariably used materials characteristic of the area.  Grey [Mendip](/source/Mendip_Hills) limestone from local quarries formed the walls, generally as squared rubble blocks.  These were decorated with pale yellow [Bath Stone](/source/Bath_Stone) [quoins](/source/Quoin_(architecture)) and details, and roofed with Welsh slate shipped across the [River Severn](/source/River_Severn) or tiles produced at the Royal Pottery, Weston-super-Mare.  Both domestic and public buildings of this description are familiar in Weston-super-Mare, [Clevedon](/source/Clevedon), and elsewhere in the area, having been built from the 1840s through to the 1900s.  Many of these were designed by other architects and builders who were influenced by Price's work.

Although rows of Price's houses have a standardised look, the extensive use of individual details in areas such as gables and windows mean that no two adjacent buildings look the same, although individual details were often repeated further down the road.
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==Works==
Using his wife's family connections, Price was responsible for developing much of the housing on [Worlebury Hill](/source/Worlebury_Hill) to the north of the developing Weston-super-Mare town centre.  Many buildings in Church Road, Grove Park Road, Cecil Road, South Road and other roads in the district were designed in his offices.

Public buildings designed by Hans Price include:

===Weston-super-Mare===
thumb|right|upright|Wooler Road, building at forefront was originally part of the nearby hospital
thumb|right|upright|Wadham Street Baptist Church, now The Blakehay Theatre
* Wadham Street Baptist Church (1862). Situated in the oldest part of the town, this church was built using parts of the first public building in Weston-super-Mare that had been on the same site.  It now houses the [Blakehay Theatre](/source/The_Blakehay_Theatre%2C_Weston-super-Mare).<ref>{{cite web|title=Short History |work=Friends of the Blakehay |url=http://www.blakehay.org.uk/History.htm |access-date=2007-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118145631/http://www.blakehay.org.uk/History.htm |archive-date=18 January 2007 }}</ref>
* Hospital (1865).  Later becoming the dispensary for an expanded hospital in Alfred Street, this building has been converted into flats and is known as ''Hans Price House''.
* Toll House and Piermaster's House (1867) and [Birnbeck Pier](/source/Birnbeck_Pier)head buildings (1897). The pier links Worlebury Hill and Birnbeck island at the northern limit of the seafront.  The building is currently derelict and, as is the pier itself, in need of being found a new sustainable use that will allow its restoration.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.birnbeck-pier.co.uk/history.html | title= Birnbeck Pier History | work= Friends of the Old Pier Society | accessdate= 31 October 2017 }}</ref>
* Bristol Road Baptist Church (1866). This church is built in pink limestone. It serves the upper-class housing development on Worlebury Hill and is situated just above The Boulevard.
* [Sanatorium](/source/Sanatorium) (1871). Situated in Uphill Road North at the south end of the beach, the Royal Hospital has since been converted into flats as part of the Royal Sands housing development.  The Hans Price-designed building is now known as ''Royal Court''<ref>{{cite web|title=Building News 1871 |work=Rossbret Institutions |url=http://www.institutions.org.uk/architecture/building_news_1871.htm |access-date=5 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703120939/http://www.institutions.org.uk/architecture/building_news_1871.htm |archive-date=3 July 2007 }}</ref>
* The Boulevard (1874–85).  Price built piecemeal much of this street including his own office (1874), Church Institute (1881), [Masonic](/source/Freemasonry) Lodge of St Kew (1881 – now the Constitutional Club),<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitutional Club|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1129732|work=historicengland.org.uk|publisher=[English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage)|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref> and the Weston Mercury newspaper office (1885).<ref>{{cite web|title=Mercury Printing Offices|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1138161|work=historicengland.org.uk|publisher=[English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage)|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref>
* Somerset House (1897–9).This terrace of shops occupies the east side of the northern section of the High Street.  The central section once housed a market hall but this was destroyed by fire in the 1960s and was replaced by [The Playhouse](/source/The_Playhouse%2C_Weston-super-Mare) theatre.<ref>{{cite web | title= History | work= The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare | url= http://www.theplayhouse.co.uk/history/index.asp | accessdate= 2007-07-05 }}</ref>
* The School of Science and Art (1892). This school, in Lower Church Road, was completely refurbished from a derelict state in 2012, and is now named the [Weston College](/source/Weston_College) Conference Centre.<ref name="Hans Price gem back to its best">[http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/hans_price_gem_is_back_to_its_best_1_1223588 Hans Price gem is back to its best] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930202822/http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/hans_price_gem_is_back_to_its_best_1_1223588 |date=30 September 2015 }}, Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury.</ref> In August 2013, the college's redevelopment of the building was nominated for an [English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage) Angel Award to "recognise the time, effort and determination" of the college for the rescue of the building.<ref name="Hans Price Award">{{cite web|title=Project to restore Weston-super-Mare heritage recognised at national awards ceremony|url=http://www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/news/18042013073657-project-to-restore-weston-super-mare-heritage-recognised-at-national-awards-ceremony/|website=South West Business|accessdate=11 September 2015}}</ref>
* [Weston-super-Mare Town Hall](/source/Weston-super-Mare_Town_Hall) (1897).  Hans Price was responsible for the extension of an earlier Town Hall in Walliscote Road.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Town Hall|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1138148|work=historicengland.org.uk|publisher=[English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage)|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref>
* The [Board Schools](/source/School_board_(England_%26_Wales)) (1897).  Now Walliscote School, separate boys' and girls' schools were built on a shared site close to the Town Hall.
* Locking Road Schools. This was the Walliscote Senior School for many years but has now been converted to flats.
* [Public Library](/source/Public_library) (1899).  A rare building that makes extensive use of red brick.  It is situated at the eastern end of The Boulevard.
* Weston-super-Mare Gaslight Company (1912).  The workshops for the gas company in Burlington Street now houses the [Weston Museum](/source/Weston_Museum).

<gallery>
File:North Somerset Museum entrance.jpg|Gaslight Company
File:Locking Road School.jpg|Locking Road School
File:Weston-super-Mare Library.jpg|Public Library
File:Weston-super-Mare Walliscote School.jpg|Walliscote School
File:Weston-super-Mare Town Hall.jpg|Town Hall
File:Weston-super-Mare School of Art.jpg|School of Science and Art
File:weston-super-Mare Somerset House.jpg|Somerset House
File:Weston Mercury Office.jpg|Weston Mercury Office
File:Weston-super-Mare Constitutional Club.jpg|Lodge of St Kew
File:Hans Price Close.jpg|Hans Price House stands on the corner of Hans Price Close
File:Weston-super-Mare Library Muses.jpg|The Muses above the Library
File:Weston-super-Mare Church Institute.jpg|Church Institute
File:Weston-super-Mare Royal Court.jpg|Sanatorium
File:2007 at Birnbeck Pier - toll house.jpg|Old Pier Toll House
File:Bristol Road Baptist Church.jpg|Bristol Road
File:Hans Price House.jpg|Hospital Dispensary
</gallery>

===Elsewhere===
[[File:ClevedonPierTollHouse.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The toll house on [Clevedon Pier](/source/Clevedon_Pier)]]
* The Toll House, [Clevedon Pier](/source/Clevedon_Pier).<ref>{{cite web|title=History – Part 1: The building of Clevedon Pier |work=The Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust |url=http://www.clevedonpier.com/history.htm |access-date=5 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102055038/http://www.clevedonpier.com/history.htm |archive-date=2 November 2008 }}</ref>
* The [Royal Pier Hotel, Clevedon](/source/Royal_Pier_Hotel%2C_Clevedon).<ref>{{cite web | title= Ten Endangered Buildings | work= The Victorian Society | url= http://www.victorian-society.org.uk/downloads/2007Endangeredbuildings.pdf| accessdate=5 July 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070812113913/http://www.victorian-society.org.uk/downloads/2007Endangeredbuildings.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 12 August 2007}}</ref>
* Town Market Hall, Clevedon.<ref>{{cite web | title= The Town Market Hall | work= historicengland.org.uk | url= https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1320719 |publisher=[English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage) | accessdate=5 July 2007 }}</ref>
* Mortuary Chapels, Oswestry Cemetery, [Oswestry](/source/Oswestry), [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire) (opened 1862).<ref>[http://www.oswestrycemeteryproject.org.uk/history-of-the-cemetery.html] Oswestry Cemetery Project website, History of the Cemetery.</ref>
* [Stapleton Road Chapel](/source/Stapleton_Road_Chapel), Bristol, built 1871.<ref>{{cite book |last=Major |first=S. D. |url=https://archive.org/details/major-illustrated-handbook-bristol/page/68/mode/2up |title=New Illustrated Handbook to Bristol, Clifton and Neighbourhood |publisher=W. Mack |year=1872 |location=Bristol |pages=68–70 |via=[Archive.org](/source/Archive.org)}}</ref>
* Unitarian mission chapel, Feeder Road, St Phillips, [Bristol](/source/Bristol), built 1897, demolished 1934.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
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==Legacy==
An art gallery in [Weston College](/source/Weston_College) called the ''Hans Price Gallery'' was housed in the former School of Science and Art, a building that was designed by Price. The old Weston-super-Mare Hospital dispensary has been named ''Hans Price House'' and stands on the corner of ''Hans Price Close''. In 2011, it was announced that Wyvern Community School in Weston-super-Mare was to receive [academy](/source/Academy_(English_school)) funding of £14 million and be renamed to [Hans Price Academy](/source/Hans_Price_Academy).<ref name=newacademy>{{cite news | title= Weston's Wyvern School wins funding for academy plan | date= 7 January 2011 | accessdate= 29 January 2011 | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-12139115 | publisher= [BBC News](/source/BBC_News)}}</ref> In December 2018, a blue plaque was unveiled at the former School of Science and Art, commemorating Hans Price.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 December 2018|title=Weston Mercury|url=https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/hans-fowler-price-blue-plaque-unveiled-4535938}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |last1=Brodie |first1=Allan  |last2=Roethe |first2=Johanna |last3=Hudson-McAulay |first3=Kate |title=Weston-super-Mare: the town and its seaside heritage |date=2019 |publisher=Historic England |location=Swindon |isbn=978-1-84802-479-3 |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/weston-super-mare-town-and-seaside-heritage/weston-super-mare/}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Roethe |first1=Johanna |title=The doyen of the local architectural profession: Hans Fowler Price of Weston-super-Mare |journal=Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society for 2019 |date=2020 |volume=163 |pages=192–203 |url=https://sanhs.org/2019-roethe/}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Price, Hans}}
Category:Architects from Somerset
Category:People from Weston-super-Mare
Category:1835 births
Category:1912 deaths

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hans Price](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Price) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Price?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.