John Cunningham

John Cunningham (1799 – 2 October 1873) was a Scottish architect. He designed Lime Street railway station and the original Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool.

Life

Born in 1799 in the Scottish village of Leitholm, Berwickshire, he was the son of a builder to whom he was initially apprenticed. His talent came to the attention of Sir William Purves-Hume-Campbell, 6th Baronet. He designed his first building aged 17, a lodge for the Marchmont Estate.

In 1819, Cunningham was apprenticed to Thomas Brown, Edinburgh's Superintendent of Works, and remained in that city for 10 years. In 1829 he designed Greenlaw Town Hall in the Greek Revival style, using money supplied by Sir William Purves-Hume-Campbell, 6th Baronet.

In 1833, he married Agnes Usher. He had a lifelong interest in geology and fossils, traveling to see the fossil tracks at Storeton as well as being a regular contributor to the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society. Other sons included George Playfair Cunningham (1837-1867) and William Russell Cunningham (1835-1878).

Works

A number of the buildings he designed in Liverpool have since been demolished, but many in Scotland still stand. Some of his works include: Marchmont House (1816) Greenlaw Town Hall (1829) – featured in the 2006 BBC television series Restoration Arrowe Hall (1835) Liverpool Lime Street railway station (1836) Court Hey Hall (1836) Crewe railway station (1837) Christ Church (1843) Philharmonic Hall (1844) According to his obituary, Cunningham was exceedingly proud of this building, reportedly saying: "Well the fact is that for a concert-hall, it is joost perfect!" Liverpool Sailors' Home (1846) Backford Hall (1863) St Andrews Public Halls (1875)