“The Architect of Canterbury” - Benjamin Mountfort at 200

The architect, Benjamin Mountfort, was born 200 years ago on 13 March 1825. By the time of his death in 1898 he had become New Zealand’s most significant Gothic Revival architect and the one who, more than any other, shaped the architectural character of Victorian Christchurch. From the time of his arrival in Lyttelton on 16 December 1850 he never swerved from his commitment to Gothic Revival design principles whether building in timber, stone, brick, or even mud. Although often constrained by the limited resources available in colonial Canterbury, his designs reflect his desire to transcend these limitations to create buildings that would link the new world to the architectural traditions of the old while making a significant contribution to the international spread of the Gothic Revival style.

This illustrated lecture will examine the architect’s background and training, his reasons for emigrating to New Zealand and Canterbury in particular. It will discuss some of his best-known buildings as well as highlighting some that are more obscure but worth seeking out. It will also assess the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on Mountfort’s legacy and will argue that, two hundred years after his birth, his contribution to New Zealand architecture continues to be relevant in the twenty-first century.

Dr Ian Lochhead taught Art History at the University of Canterbury from 1981 to 2014. His book, A Dream of Spires: Benjamin Mountfort and the Gothic Revival, was published by Canterbury University Press in 1999.