Webb, Philip, 1831-1915

Born in Oxford, 1831; educated at private school, Aynho, Northamptonshire; apprentice to the architect John Billing, Reading, 1849-1852; joined architect's office, Wolverhampton, 1852; assistant to the architect George Edmund Street, Oxford, [1852-1858]; became a close friend of William Morris, also an assistant to Street, Edward Burne-Jones and Charles Faulkner, 1856; moved to London with Street's office, 1856; established independent practice at Great Ormond Street, [1858]; with Morris designed the Red House, Bexley Heath, Kent; founder member of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co, 1861 (later Morris and Co); specialised in the design of animals, metal work and furniture; work included St Martin's Church, Scarborough, the Victoria and Albert Museum, house at Arisaig, Inverness; with Morris and Faulkner founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), 1877; wintered in Italy, 1884-1885, involved with the restoration and excavation of buildings in Italy, became a close friend of Giacomo Boni; retired to Worth, Sussex, 1901; died, 1915. George Wardle was a member of the Committee of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Commendatore Giacomo Boni (1859-1925) was an Italian architect and archaeologist. He was Director of the excavations in the Roman Forum and on the Palatine, Member of the Superior Council of Antiquities and Fine Arts, Minister of Public Instruction and Royal Commissioner for the Monuments of Rome.

From the guide to the WEBB, Philip Speakman (1831-1915), 1882-1907, (Courtauld Institute of Art)