Mary Townley (architect) facts for kids
Mary Townley (born Gosling, 1753–1839) was a talented English architect. She designed many buildings in Ramsgate in the late 1700s. This made her one of the very first female architects in England. Her most famous design was Townley House.
Mary Townley's Life and Work
Mary Gosling married James Townley in the 1770s. James was a proctor, which means he worked with legal documents, especially for the church. They moved to Ramsgate, a small port town in Kent, England. The town was growing quickly at that time.
James Townley used his business earnings to build new structures. These were all designed by his wife, Mary. She designed barracks, which are buildings for soldiers. These were later changed into homes. She also planned the development of Albion Place in the center of Ramsgate.
Her most important work was Townley House, built in 1792. This large mansion is still seen as a beautiful and important building today. In 1820, Mary designed a group of townhouses. These later became the Regency Hotel and a language school. This building has recently been fully restored.
A famous artist named Sir Joshua Reynolds was a relative and teacher to Mary. He wrote about her great skill in architecture. This was very unusual for a woman in her time.
Social Life and Later Years
Mary Townley was an important person in Ramsgate society. She hosted many parties and balls at Townley House. She also entertained important guests. In the 1820s, King William IV visited her home. The Duchess of Kent and her daughter, Princess Victoria, also stayed there for several months. Princess Victoria later became Queen Victoria.
Mary and James Townley had eight children. After some sad family events, Mary became less interested in fashion and social events. Instead, evenings at their home were spent reading the Bible. This was because two of her sons became very religious.
After her husband passed away, Mary became very active in her local church. She continued this work until she died on March 19, 1839. She was 86 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Mary Townley para niños
