| Code | DS/UK/563 |
| Surname | Sampson |
| Forenames | George |
| Dates | ? - [1764] |
| Epithet | Architect |
| Activity | George Sampson was the first appointed architect to the Bank of England. The Bank had decided to build its own premises in view of the expiration of the lease on the Grocers' Hall, which the Bank had occupied since late in 1694. The expiration of the lease was due in 1734.
In 1724, the Bank purchased the Holman Estate on Threadneedle Street, with the intention to erect a completely new building on this site. The formal appointment of George Sampson was announced in 1731 and the building work was carried out between 1732 and 1734. Sampson's building was said to be in 'Palladian' style, characterised by symmetry and by the use of classical motifs.
Following George Sampson, Sir Robert Taylor was the second Architect appointed to work on the Bank, in 1764.
Little information is known about Sampson's life. Aside from his work at the Bank, he worked as Clerk of the Works at the Tower of London and Somerset House ca. 1718-1719, and was employed as surveyor for the Fishmongers' Company, St. Thomas' Hospital and Guy's Hospital. The only other known work by him is a monument to Mrs Elizabeth Cromwell in Hursley Church in Hampshire.
Copies of Sampson's original designs for the Bank can be found at the Sir John Soane's Museum. |
| Source | - Colvin, Howard 'A Biographical Dictionary of British Architect 1600-1840', John Murray Fifty Albemarle Street London 1978
- Abramson, Daniel A. 'Building the Bank of England - Money, Architecture, Society 1694-1942', Yale University Press New Haven and London 2005
- Steele, H. Rooksby and Yerbury, F.R. 'The Old Bank of England, London, CALM ref. 10A271/1
- Sir John Soane's Museum online catalogue: http://www.soane.org/collections |
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