William Vitruvius Morrison facts for kids

William Vitruvius Morrison (born 1794 – died 16 October 1838) was a talented Irish architect. He was the son and work partner of another famous architect, Sir Richard Morrison. William helped design many important buildings across Ireland.

Early Life and Training

William Vitruvius Morrison was born in Clonmel, a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. He was the second son of Sir Richard Morrison and Elizabeth Ould. His unique middle name, Vitruvius, came from a very old Roman architect named Marcus Vitruvius Pollio. This shows how much his family valued architecture!

William's father, Sir Richard, had a very successful architecture business. In 1809, when William was about 15, he joined his father's company. This was a great way for him to learn the skills of an architect directly from an expert.

Travels and Career

In 1821, William went on a big trip around Europe. He visited famous cities like Rome and Paris. These trips were very important for architects back then. They could see amazing old buildings and learn new ideas.

When he came back to Ireland, William started his own successful architecture business. He became well-known for his designs. Sadly, his health became poor later in his life. After another trip to Europe, he passed away at his father's home in Bray, County Wicklow, on 16 October 1838. He is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin.

Amazing Buildings He Designed

William Morrison designed many different kinds of buildings. He often worked with his father on big projects. Together, they designed grand homes like Kilruddery in County Wicklow, Ballyfin in County Laois, and Fota in County Cork. They also worked on Baronscourt in County Tyrone.

Houses and Castles

William also designed many impressive buildings on his own. Some of the notable houses and castles he created include:

• Clontarf Castle in Clontarf, County Dublin (built between 1836 and 1827).
• Glenarm Castle and its gatehouse, called Barbican, in Glenarm, County Antrim (built 1823–1824).
• Hollybrooke House in Bray, County Wicklow (built 1835).
• Mount Stewart in Newtownards, County Down (built 1825–1828).

Public Buildings and Monuments

Besides homes, William Morrison also designed important public buildings. These were places used by many people. His public works include:

• Salmon Weir Bridge in Galway (built 1819).
• Wicklow Gaol (an old word for prison) in Wicklow (built 1822).
• Carlow Courthouse (built 1834).
• Tralee Courthouse (built 1834).
• The Ross Monument in Rostrevor, County Down (built 1826). This monument honors Major-General Robert Ross, a British Army officer.

Images for kids

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  Thurles court house, designed by Morrison in 1826.