Henry Bell (architect)

The Custom House in King's Lynn, one of Bell's most famous designs

Henry Bell (1647–1711) was an English architect, a contemporary of Christopher Wren.

Bell was born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. He was the son of a wealthy merchant family.^[1] He designed many buildings in West Norfolk including the Custom House in King's Lynn and All Saints Church in North Runcton.^[2]

All Saint Parish church, North Runcton, Norfolk

He served twice as Mayor of King's Lynn,^[3] he was well educated and travelled through Europe. In 1676 he met Robert Hooke, who shared with him his experiences of rebuilding London following the Great Fire. This knowledge had a bearing on his future work, as the design of North Runcton Church shows similarities with those employed by Wren, for example St Mary-at-Hill.^[4]

He died in 1711, two years before All Saints Church was completed.

References

1. "Famous people connected with North Runcton", North Runcton Website
2. "Famous people connected with North Runcton", North Runcton Website
3. "Famous people connected with North Runcton", North Runcton Website
4. "Famous people connected with North Runcton", North Runcton Website

Further reading

• • "Henry Bell of King's Lynn", Architectural History, Vol. 4, (1961), pp. 41–62.
  • Geoffrey Webb, "Henry Bell of King's Lynn", The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, Vol. 47, No. 268 (Jul., 1925), pp. 24–33
  • James Stevens Curl, A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape, 2000 (entry for "Bell, Henry").