Alfred Bickerdike

• Born                      1845 at Lancaster
• Married                   Rosa Whitley, (born Marylebone, London in 1859).
• Died                       Oct-Dec 1899, of consumption, death registered at Croydon

Alfred Bickerdike was born January-March 1845, the son of Robert Bickerdike, manager of a cotton mill, and his wife, Elizabeth of Dalton Square, Lancaster. By 1861 he was a pupil of John Douglas of Chester before moving to London as an assistant in the offices of Sir George Gilbert Scott. About 1872 he entered into partnership with H J Paull with whom he remained until 1876. At this time the firm had an office in the Adelphi, and their principal work was the large block of buildings known as Christ Church, Westminster Bridge-road, erected for the Rev. Newman Hall at a cost of about £50,000. According to his obituary Alfred Bickerdike “was the author of its design, and it stands in evidence of his skill as an architect.” Alfred Bickerdike left H J Paull before the building was completed.

In the years immediately after the dissolution of the partnership, Bickerdike worked on his own account, mostly on church restorations and exhibited at the Royal Academy but by 1891 was describing himself as an artist (drawing) rather than architect. However, in his later years he was believed to have been employed as an assistant, in HM. Office of Works.

Although no record of the ceremony has been found, Alfred Bickerdike seemingly married Rosa Whitley about 1879 and by the time of the 1881 census had a daughter, Mabel, aged one year. However, in the 1881 census Alfred Bickerstaff is recorded as living as a lodger at Field Court, Gray’s Inn and unmarried, while Rosa and Mabel were living in lodgings at 28 Frederick Street St John’s Wood. Their second child was baptised Alfred Charles but also known as Charles Alfred or Charles was born in 1882. He achieved fame as a conjuror, performing under the names of “Presto” and “Alfred the Conjurer.” At the aged of 14 he supposedly ran away to join the circus when his father threatened to send him to Eton. However, by 1901 he was living with his sister and mother at Beauchamp Road, Upper Norwood, London. Charles's occupation is given as 'conjurer'.

Alfred Bickerdike died in October-December 1899, his death being registered at Croydon.

GOVERNMENT SCHOOL OF ART.—We are glad to find that Mr. Alfred Bickerdike, a pupil with Mr. Douglas, architect, Chester, and son of R. Bickerdike, Esq., of Dalton Square, is one of the successful competitors in the National Competition of Drawings, having had a "National Medallion" awarded to him at the recent competition at Marlborough House, for a series of drawings made from actual measurement of the various ornamental features of the Chester Cathedral and St. John's Church, illustrating the history of Gothic architecture. Mr. Bickerdike was formerly a pupil in the School of Art, under the tuition of Mr. Gilbert. [Lancaster Gazette 25 June 1864 page 5]

OBITUARY - The death is announced in the April number of A.A. Notes of ALFRED BICKERDIKE, who for some time had been in bad health from consumption. Formerly he was an assistant in the offices of Sir George Gilbert Scott, and about 1872 he went into partnership with the late Mr. Paull, formerly of Manchester, who had a connection among Nonconformists for chapels and school buildings. At this time the firm had an office in the Adelphi, and their principal work was the large block of buildings known as Christ Church, Westminster Bridge-road, erected for the Rev. Newman Hall at a cost of about £50,000. Mr. Bickerdike was the author of its design, and it stands in evidence of his skill as an architect. We illustrated the work in the BUILDING News for Jan. 1, 1875, when an exterior view and plan appeared; some details followed on Feb. 5 and 12, and the interior of the church, from Mr. Bickerdike’s Royal Academy autograph drawing, was given on April 9 of the same year. The auditorium is octagonal, in combination with a Greek Cross on plan, extending into shallow transepts. At the time the design attracted considerable attention. Mr. Bickerdike left Mr. Paull before the building was completed. Of late years he was employed as an assistant, we believe, in HM. Office of Works. For over 30 years he was a member of the A.A. [Building News 13 April 1900 page 505]

* NOTE - The 1891 census (original document) incorrectly records Alfred Bikerdike’s birthplace as Yorkshire
* NOTE - Mabel suffered an inability to accurately remember her age; aged 1 in 1881 and 11 in 1891 Mabel was supposedly aged 19 (1901 Census) Drapers assistant; and aged 25 (1911 Census) when she was a ladies tailoress).

Address
1874             A Bickerdike, architect.  24, Cecil Street, Strand.
1876-1877    A Bickerdike, architect 10, Adam Street, Strand.
1890             A Bickerdike, architect 10, Adam Street, Strand. (Electoral register 1890)

Residence
1851        Dalton Square, Lancaster
1861        Milton Street, Great Boughton, Chester       
1871        61 Denbigh Yard, Hanover Square London (lodging house)
1881        2 Field Court, Gray’s Inn Holborn (headof household:  John Medland, architect)
1891        162, St John’s Wood Terrace, Marylebone

Obituary        Building News 13 April 1900 page 505
Reference      Lancaster Gazette 25 June 1864 page 5 – National Medallion