The John Thompson saga starts in about 1820 when his father (also called John Thompson) came to Peterborough to carry our restorations to Peterborough Cathedral. With his stonework skill and his associate, Francis Ruddle’s woodworking skills the firm gradually took off. He died in 1853 and John Thompson (Jr) took over and by 1860 he was constructing major buildings and restoring Cathedrals. At its peak the firm employed over a 1000 men. His success was such that he was Mayor of Peterborough four times! After his death the firm was carried on by his sons, so the John Thompson story involves more than just one man.
In later years the firm of John Thompson (and associated companies) specialised in the provision of Church artefacts and furniture such as: altars, pews, lecterns, screens, war memorials, grave goods, organ cases, pulpits, clergy seats, desks, stools and alter rails, many fine examples of this work can be found in St Johns Church in Peterborough. The firm also built private houses and continued to build major projects but to a smaller scale (from about 1914) until in 1931 the firm went into voluntary liquidation and finally ceased trading in 1938.
A quote from The Architect and Contract Reporter for 10th February 1888 says of the firm's work:
‘It is not only the structural work which is undertaken, but sculpture in wood and stone. Everything is done to ensure purity of style. Casts, photographs and drawings of the finest models are obtained, and the workshops at Peterborough are undoubtedly a most excellent art school’.
The Peterborough archive houses the John Thompson archive, consisting of over 1400 photographs plus other documents. These clearly demonstrate the very special work of John Thompson and his associates.
Projects include:
Restorations of Cathedrals
- Peterborough (Central Tower and West Front)
- Lincoln
- Rochester
- Chester
- Winchester (carried out major restorations including working with a diver to underpin the main walls which were about to collapse).
- Hereford
- Ripon
- Litchfield
- Bangor
- Coventry (before it became a Cathedral)
Restoration of Churches
- St Johns Peterborough
- Paris: construction of the tower and spire to the American Cathedral
- Orton Longville Church
- Cromer Church: extending the Nave.
Plus many others
New Build Churches
- St Marks Peterborough
- Tower of St Mary’s Church Peterborough
- St Barnibus church Peterborough
- St Pauls Church Peterborough
These are just the Peterborough churches, there are at least 50 others spread throughout the country
Secular Projects
- Glasgow University (two phases)
- Selwyn College Cambridge
- St Peters Training College Peterborough 1863
- Extensions to the Infirmary (now Peterborough Museum)
- Royal College of Music Kensington
- Kings School Peterborough
- Lonely Anzac Memorial
(Research work done by Andrew Cole)
