List of works by Edmund Kirby

For the American army officer, see Edmund Kirby (army officer).

St Michael and All Angels Church, Little Leigh, one of Kirby's Anglican churches

Edmund Kirby (1838–1920) was an English architect. He was born in Liverpool, educated at Sedgeley Park School and Oscott College. He was articled to E. W. Pugin, then worked for Hardman & Co., and for John Douglas in Chester. By 1863 he was practising in Birkenhead and by 1866 his office was in Derby Buildings, 24 Fenwick Street, Liverpool. He was a Roman Catholic and he designed many churches for that denomination. Most of his work was in Liverpool, the northwest of England, and North Wales. He designed 14 churches for the Diocese of Shrewsbury and built 15 Roman Catholic schools. In addition he designed a great variety of other buildings.[1] Two of his sons joined him in his business, which is still in existence.[2] Many of his commissions were for Roman Catholic buildings.[3]

Key

Grade	Criteria[4]
II*	Particularly important buildings of more than special interest
II	Buildings of national importance and special interest

Works

Name	Location	Photograph	Date	Notes	Grade
St Wilfrid's Church	Northwich, Cheshire 53.2626°N 2.5062°W / 53.2626; -2.5062 (St Wilfrid's Church, Northwich)		1864–66	A new church in red brick with a slated flèche.[5]
St Mary's Church	Middlewich, Cheshire 53.1946°N 2.4422°W / 53.1946; -2.4422 (St Mary's Church, Middlewich)		1865	A new church in red brick.[6]
Dee House	Chester, Cheshire 53.1888°N 2.8872°W / 53.1888; -2.8872 (Dee House, Chester)		1867	Kirby added a convent wing to the house that dates from about 1730. It is in Gothic Revival style, while the rest of the house is Georgian.[7][8]	II
Dene House	Great Budworth, Cheshire 53.2954°N 2.5101°W / 53.2954; -2.5101 (Dene House, Great Budworth)		1868–69	For Rowland Egerton-Warburton of Arley Hall.[9]
St Clare's Convent	Pantasaph, Flintshire, Wales 53.2729°N 3.2628°W / 53.2729; -3.2628 (St Clare's Convent, Pantasaph)		1868–1907	The convent was built in phases. It closed in 1977.[10]
Sacred Heart Church	Hindsford, Greater Manchester 53.1911°N 2.8824°W / 53.1911; -2.8824 (Sacred Heart Church, Hindsford)		1869	A new church. It closed in 2004.[11][12]	II
St Werburgh's Church	Chester, Cheshire 53.1911°N 2.8824°W / 53.1911; -2.8824 (St Werburgh's Church, Chester)		1873–75	A new church in French lancet style. A narthex was made in 1913–14, also by Kirby.[13][14]	II
St Gregory's Church	Farnworth, Greater Manchester 53.5483°N 2.3904°W / 53.5483; -2.3904 (St Gregory's Church, Farnworth)		1873–75	A new church with lancet windows and a north transept. Now redundant, its parish having been united with that of Our Lady of Lourdes.[15][16]
St Anne's Church	Ormskirk, Lancashire 53.5627°N 2.8930°W / 53.5627; -2.8930 (St Anne's Church, Ormskirk)		1874	Kirby designed the high altar for the church dating from 1850.[17][18]	II
Blessed Sacrament Church	Walton, Liverpool, Merseyside 53.4621°N 2.9603°W / 53.4621; -2.9603 (Blessed Sacrament Church, Walton)		1876–78	A new, plain, church in buff sandstone.[19]
Redcourt	Prenton, Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.3872°N 3.0493°W / 53.3872; -3.0493 (Redcourt, Prenton)		1876–79	Built as a house for George Rae. Later became St Anselm's Junior School.[20]	II
St Thomas' Church	Waterloo, Merseyside 53.4719°N 3.0241°W / 53.4719; -3.0241 (St Thomas' Church, Waterloo)		1877	A new church in buff sandstone.[21]
Methodist Church	Weaverham, Cheshire 53.2624°N 2.5812°W / 53.2624; -2.5812 (Methodist Church, Weaverham)		1878	Possibly by Kirby; in orange brick.[22][23]	II
Our Lady's Church	Lydiate, Merseyside 53.5396°N 2.9600°W / 53.5396; -2.9600 (Our Lady's Church, Lydiate)		1878	Kirby added the reredos to the church of 1854–55 by J. J. Scholes.[24]	II
St Michael and All Angels Church	Little Leigh, Cheshire 53.2790°N 2.5783°W / 53.2790; -2.5783 (St Werburgh's Church, Chester)		1878–79	A new church in orange brick with lancet windows and a spire over the central space.[25][26]	II
Our Lady's Church	Parbold, Lancashire 53.5913°N 2.7639°W / 53.5913; -2.7639 (Our Lady's Church, Parbold)		1878–84	A new church with a steeple, costing £12,000 (equivalent to £1,580,000 in 2023).[27][28][29]	II
Trident House	31–33 Dale Street, Liverpool, Merseyside 53.4079°N 2.9894°W / 53.4079; -2.9894 (Trident House, Liverpool)		1879	Built for the Liverpool Reform Club, it has since been used as shops and offices. It was remodelled in the late 20th century.[30][31]	II
The Tower	Rainhill, Merseyside 53.4055°N 2.7539°W / 53.4055; -2.7539 (The Tower, Rainhill)		1879–80	A house extended by Kirby. Later Tower College School.[32]
Mere Hall	Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.3797°N 3.0616°W / 53.3797; -3.0616 (Mere Hall, Birkenhead)		1879–82	A new house built for Sir John Gray Hill, a marine lawyer; since divided into flats. The lodge, and the gatepiers and adjoining walls are also each listed at Grade II.[33][34][35][36]	II
Dene Wellhouse	Great Budworth, Cheshire 53.2928°N 2.5090°W / 53.2928; -2.5090 (Dene Wellhouse, Great Budworth)		1880	For Rowland Egerton-Warburton of Arley Hall.[9][37]	II
Midland Bank	Llanrwst, Conwy, Wales 53.1409°N 3.7992°W / 53.1409; -3.7992 (Midland Bank, Llanrwst)		1880	Built to house a bank, (then the North and South Wales Bank), a public hall, and a magistrates' court.[38]
Rathmore	Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.3844°N 3.0661°W / 53.3844; -3.0661 (Rathmore, Birkenhead)		c. 1880s	A new house.[33][39]	II
Venice Chambers	Lord Street, Liverpool, Merseyside 53.4054°N 2.9874°W / 53.4054; -2.9874 (Venice Chambers, Liverpool)		1882	With a Gothic parapet and decorative brickwork.[40]
Arnot Street Schools	Walton, Liverpool, Merseyside 53.4426°N 2.9697°W / 53.4426; -2.9697 (Arnot Street Schools, Walton)		1884–94	A long range of red brick buildings.[41][42]	II
Church of St Thomas Aquinas and St Stephen Harding	Market Drayton, Shropshire 52.9041°N 2.4802°W / 52.9041; -2.4802 (Church of St Thomas Aquinas and St Stephen Harding, Market Drayton)		1886	New church in yellow brick with stripes of red brick.[43][44]
St Cross Church	Appleton Thorn, Cheshire 53.3503°N 2.5456°W / 53.3503; -2.5456 (St Cross Church, Appleton Thorn)		1886–87	Built for Rowland Egerton-Warburton of Arley Hall.[45][46]	II
Saint Francis Xavier's Church	Liverpool, Merseyside 53.4132°N 2.9698°W / 53.4132; -2.9698 (Saint Francis Xavier's Church, Liverpool)		1888	Kirby added the Sodality Chapel to the church of 1842 by Joseph John Scoles. It is "virtually an independent building" and described as a "showpiece".[47][48]	II*
Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea	Seacombe, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside 53.4114°N 3.0264°W / 53.4114; -3.0264 (Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Seacombe)		1888–89	A new church in red and buff stone.[49][50]	II
St Lawrence's Church	Birkenhead, Merseyside		1889–90	Stood in Beckwith Street; now demolished.[51]
12 Hanover Street	Liverpool, Merseyside 53.4025°N 2.9858°W / 53.4025; -2.9858 (12 Hanover Street, Liverpool)		1889–90	A curved block in red brick and terracotta built for Ellis and Company, consisting of ground floor offices with warehouses above, and incorporating a warehouse of 1863 in Argyle Street.[52]
Rainbow House	Walton, Liverpool, Merseyside 53.4426°N 2.9703°W / 53.4426; -2.9703 (Rainbow House, Walton)		c. 1890	Built as school board offices, later a nursery school.[53]	II
Providence Cottage	Great Budworth, Cheshire 53.2944°N 2.5046°W / 53.2944; -2.5046 (Providence Cottage, Great Budworth)		1891	For Rowland Egerton-Warburton of Arley Hall.[54][55]	II
Church Hall	Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Manchester 53.4648°N 2.2309°W / 53.4648; -2.2309 (Church Hall, Manchester)		1892	Brick hall, later converted into a public house.[56]
St John's Church	High Legh, Cheshire 53.3531°N 2.4518°W / 53.3531; -2.4518 (St John's Church, High Legh)		1893	A virtually new timber-framed church built to replace a chapel by Thomas Harrison that had been destroyed by fire.[57][58]	II
Sacred Heart Church	Chorley, Lancashire 53.6495°N 2.6213°W / 53.6495; -2.6213 (Sacred Heart Church, Chorley)		1894	A new church in red and yellow sandstone.[59][60]	II
Shakespeare Cottage	Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside		1896	A reproduction of Shakespeare's Birthplace, demolished in 1938.[61]
St Hildeburgh's Church	Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside 53.3909°N 3.1837°W / 53.3909; -3.1837 (St Hildeburgh's Church, Hoylake)		1897–99	A new church in brick and terracotta.[62][63]	II
York Dispensary	York, North Yorkshire 53.9614°N 1.0844°W / 53.9614; -1.0844 (The York Dispensary)		1897–99	Built as a dispensary, and as offices for a solicitors' practice.[64]	II
49–53 Corniche Road	Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside 53.3544°N 2.9936°W / 53.3544; -2.9936 (49–53 Corniche Road, Port Sunlight)		1899	A row of three brick houses.[65]	II
40–50 Primrose Hill	Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside 53.3574°N 3.0001°W / 53.3574; -3.0001 (40–50 Primrose Hill, Port Sunlight)		1899	A terrace of six brick houses.[66]	II
Holy Name of Jesus Church	Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.3846°N 3.0556°W / 53.3846; -3.0556 (Holy Name of Jesus Church, Oxton)		1899–1900	A church in the grounds of Kirby's house.[67]
St Joseph's Church	Tranmere, Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.3787°N 3.0308°W / 53.3787; -3.0308 (St Joseph's Church, Tranmere)		1899–1900	A long church in red brick.[68]	II
Shrewsbury Cathedral	Shrewsbury, Shropshire 52.7053°N 2.7540°W / 52.7053; -2.7540 (Shrewsbury Cathedral)		1901	Kirby added a southeast chapel, and in 1906–07, a west porch.[69][70]	II*
Barclay's Bank	Parliament Street, York, North Yorkshire 53.9584°N 1.0808°W / 53.9584; -1.0808 (Barclay's Bank, York)		1901	Has since been altered.[71]	II
St Michael and St James' Church	Haunton, Staffordshire 52.6949°N 1.6502°W / 52.6949; -1.6502 (St Michael's Church, Haunton)		1901–02	A new church in stone, with a timber-framed bellcote and porch.[72][73]	II
St Wilfrid's Church	Preston, Lancashire 53.7573°N 2.7028°W / 53.7573; -2.7028 (St Wilfrid's Church, Preston)		1902	Kirby added a baptistry.[74][75]	II*
Church of St Peter and St Francis	Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales 53.3331°N 3.3991°W / 53.3331; -3.3991 (Church of St Peter and St Francis, Prestatyn)		1903	Kirby designed the red brick church, and the adjoining presbytery, both of which are listed at Grade II.[76][77][78]	II
St Vincent de Paul's Church	Altrincham, Greater Manchester 53.3864°N 2.3560°W / 53.3864; -2.3560 (St Vincent de Paul's Church, Altrincham)		1904–05	A red brick church with furnishings in alabaster and marble.[79][80]	II
Queen Victoria Monument	Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.39359°N 3.01602°W / 53.39359; -3.01602 (Queen Victoria Monument, Birkenhead)		1905	Built in the centre of the square to commemorate Queen Victoria.[81][82]	II
Our Lady and the Apostles' Church	Stockport, Greater Manchester 53.4026°N 2.1613°W / 53.4026; -2.1613 (Our Lady and the Apostles' Church, Stockport)		1905	A new church in red brick. The attached presbytery is also by Kirby.[83]
Manor Road School	Liscard, Wirral, Merseyside		1905	[84]
Edward VII Memorial Clock Tower	Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.38919°N 3.02092°W / 53.38919; -3.02092 (Edward VII Memorial Clock Tower, Birkenhead)		1911	Paid for by public subscription as a memorial to Edward VII.[85]	II
St Michael and the Holy Angels' Church	West Bromwich, West Midlands 52.5187°N 1.9949°W / 52.5187; -1.9949 (St Michael and the Holy Angels' Church, West Bromwich)		1911	Kirby added the tower and spire to the church built in 1875–77.[86]	II
St John the Baptist's Church	Meols, Wirral, Merseyside 53.4016°N 3.1617°W / 53.4016; -3.1617 (St John the Baptist's Church, Meols)		1911–13	A church with the chancel incomplete, and the tower unbuilt.[62]
Chapter house Birkenhead Priory	Birkenhead, Merseyside 53.3900°N 3.0115°W / 53.3900; -3.0115 (Birkenhead Priory)		1913–14	Kirby designed a room in the chapter house that serves as a clubhouse and chapel for the Friends of the former HMS Conway.[87][88]	II*

References

1. Records of Edmund Kirby & Sons architects and surveyors, Liverpool, Liverpool Record Office, archived from the original on 9 May 2012, retrieved 24 March 2008
2. About us, Edmund Kirby, archived from the original on 10 March 2008, retrieved 24 March 2008
3. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 51.
4. Listed Buildings, Historic England, retrieved 29 March 2015
5. Hartwell et al. 2011, pp. 513–514.
6. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 481.
7. Hartwell et al. 2011, pp. 274–275.
8. Historic England, "Dee House, Cheshire (1375862)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011
9. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 378.
10. Hubbard 1986, p. 415.
11. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 596.
12. Historic England, "Sacred Heart Church, Hindsford (1375835)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
13. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 244.
14. Historic England, "Church of St Werburgh, Cheshire (1375835)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011
15. Hartwell, Hyde & Pevsner 2004, pp. 219–220.
16. St Gregory the Great, Farnworth, GENUKI, retrieved 4 December 2011
17. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 534.
18. Historic England, "Roman Catholic Church of St Anne, Ormskirk (1197066)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
19. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 489.
20. Historic England, "St Anselm's Junior School (Redcourt), Claughton (1201567)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
21. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 643.
22. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 660.
23. Historic England, "Methodist Church, Forest Street, Weaverham (1228376)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
24. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 517.
25. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 432.
26. Historic England, "Church of St St Michael and All Angels, Little Leigh (1228367)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
27. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017), "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", MeasuringWorth, retrieved 7 May 2024
28. Hartwell & Pevsner 2009, p. 496.
29. Historic England, "Church of the Our Lady and All Souls, Parbold (1231022)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
30. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 319.
31. Historic England, "Trident House, Liverpool (1129997)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
32. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, pp. 548–549.
33. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 154.
34. Historic England, "Mere Hall, Birkenhead (1291909)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011
35. Historic England, "Gatepiers and adjoining walls to east of Mere Hall, Birkenhead (1201560)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
36. Historic England, "Lodge to Mere Hall, Birkenhead (1291911)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
37. Historic England, "Dene Wellhouse, Great Budworth (1139126)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011
38. Hubbard 1986, p. 237.
39. Historic England, "Rathmore, Birkenhead (1291876)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011
40. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 327.
41. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, p. 491.
42. Historic England, "County Primary School, Liverpool (1246239)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
43. Newman & Pevsner 2006, p. 395.
44. History, St Thomas and St Stephen, Market Drayton, retrieved 4 December 2011
45. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, pp. 628–629.
46. Historic England, "Church of St Cross Church, Appleton (1139338)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
47. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, pp. 418–419.
48. Historic England, "Roman Catholic Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Liverpool (1361668)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
49. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 652.
50. Historic England, "Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Seacombe (1258191)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
51. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 137.
52. Pollard & Pevsner 2006, pp. 324–325.
53. Historic England, "Rainbow House, Walton Liverpool (1392988)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
54. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 377.
55. Historic England, "Providence Cottage, Great Budworth (1139150)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011
56. Hartwell, Hyde & Pevsner 2004, p. 420.
57. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 399.
58. Historic England, "Church of St John, High Legh (1139514)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
59. Hartwell & Pevsner 2009, pp. 215–216.
60. Historic England, "Church of the Sacred Heart, Chorley (1203720)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
61. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 539.
62. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 405.
63. Historic England, "Church of St Hildeburgh, Hoylake (1259792)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
64. Historic England, "Number 8 and Gray's Dispensary, York (1257867)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
65. Historic England, "49–53 Corniche Road, Port Sunlight (1183991)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
66. Historic England, "40–50 Primrose Hill, Port Sunlight (1185398)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
67. Hartwell et al. 2011, pp. 156–157.
68. Hartwell et al. 2011, pp. 160–161.
69. Newman & Pevsner 2006, p. 533.
70. Historic England, "Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Peter, Shrewsbury (1270562)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
71. Historic England, "Barclay's Bank, York (1257027)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
72. Pevsner 1974, p. 143.
73. Historic England, "Roman Catholic Church St Michael and St James, Haunton (1038810)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
74. Hartwell & Pevsner 2009, pp. 512–513.
75. Historic England, "Church St Wilfrid, Preston (1207254)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 December 2011
76. Hubbard 1986, p. 418.
77. Cadw, "Roman Catholic Church of SS Peter and Frances (25745)", National Historic Assets of Wales, retrieved 11 April 2019
78. Cadw, "Presbytery of the Roman Catholic Church of SS Peter and Frances (25746)", National Historic Assets of Wales, retrieved 11 April 2019
79. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 99.
80. Parish History, Parish of St Vincent de Paul, Altrincham, retrieved 2 December 2011
81. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 146.
82. Historic England, "Queen Victoria Monument, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead (1201581)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011
83. Hartwell et al. 2011, pp. 596–597.
84. Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 654.
85. Historic England, "Edward VII Memorial Clock Tower, Birkenhead (1217901)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
86. Historic England, "Church of St Michael and the Holy Angels, West Bromwich (1342667)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 December 2011
87. Hartwell et al. 2011, pp. 135–136.
88. Historic England, "Chapter house chapel at Birkenhead Priory (1375893)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 December 2011

Bibliography

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• Hubbard, Edward (1986), Clwyd, The Buildings of Wales, London: Penguin, ISBN 0-14-071052-3
• Newman, John; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2006), Shropshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-12083-4
• Pevsner, Nikolaus (1974), Staffordshire, The Buildings of England, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-071046-9
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