George Maddox (architect) facts for kids

George Maddox (born in 1760 in Monmouth, died in 1843 in London) was a very talented person. He was an architect, which means he designed buildings. He was also a draughtsman, a painter, and a teacher.

Designing Buildings and Art

George Maddox was born in Monmouth, where his father was a builder. George first learned his skills from his dad. Later, he moved to London and worked with a famous architect named John Soane. He even helped Soane with big projects like the Bank of England.

George Maddox loved to draw and paint. He showed his drawings and paintings at the Royal Academy of Arts, which is a very important art place. He showed four of his works there between 1796 and 1819.

In 1790, a royal person, the Duke of Cumberland (who was King George III's brother), asked George to design an opera house in Leicester Square. George drew all the plans, but sadly, the Duke passed away, and the project was stopped. This was a big financial problem for George.

Around 1824, George Maddox might have designed Strensham Court. This building was later destroyed by a fire in 1974.

In the same year, 1824, a well-known architect named Jeffrey Wyatville hired George Maddox. George helped him with a huge project: remodeling Windsor Castle!

Also in 1824, George Maddox helped start the Royal Society of British Artists. He often showed his art there. He designed many private homes and shops. These buildings were in a style called Anglo-Greek, which means they looked a bit like ancient Greek temples. You can find some of his designs in areas like the Strand, Conduit Street, and Bloomsbury in London.

As he got older, George stopped designing buildings. Instead, he earned money by teaching drawing. He also sometimes made designs for other architects.

Teaching and Students

For many years, George Maddox taught drawing at No. 7 Furnival's Inn. His teaching space was quite interesting. On the first floor, he had two rooms for his students, his own bedroom, and a library with 5,000 books! On the second floor were his living rooms and a museum filled with ancient sculptures.

Many famous architects and artists learned from George Maddox. Some of his well-known students included Cockerell, Decimus Burton, and Hosking.