Ralph Knott

Ralph Knott was born in Chelsea, London, on 3 May 1878, the youngest son of Samuel Knott, a tailor, and his wife, Elizabeth (née White), from Dorset.{{Cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/34352 |title=Knott, Ralph (1878–1929) |author=Anthony Osler McIntyre |date=September 2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/34352 |accessdate=6 July 2010 }} After attending the City of London School he was articled to Woodd and Ainslie, architects.{{Cite news|title=City of London School |work=The Times |page=10 |date=27 April 1908}} He was taught etching by Frank Brangwyn at the Architectural Association and when his articles were finished, joined Sir Aston Webb, in whose office he remained for eight years. Webb was a keen participant in architectural competitions and Knott's etching skill was valued in winning them. He drew the etchings which enabled Webb to win the competition for the Queen Victoria memorial outside Buckingham Palace, also working on the designs of Admiralty Arch and the Victoria and Albert Museum.[https://archive.org/details/notablelondoners00lond/page/12/mode/1up Notable Londoners, an Illustrated Who's Who of Professional and Business Men] (1922), London: London Publishing Agency, page 12; accessed 19 July 2024.

File:Portrait of architect Ralph Knott, 1921.jpg

In 1908 Knott and E. Stone Collins set up their own practice as Knott and Collins, architects. The first substantial commission they applied for was for offices for the London County Council. Despite many very well known names entering, Knott won at the age of 29.{{Cite news|title=The New County Hall For London. Result Of The Architects' Competition |work=The Times |page=13 |date=31 January 1908 }} Designs for the construction were brought to life by the architect and perspectivist Alick Horsnell.{{cite web |url=http://www.ribapix.com/index.php?a=wordsearch&s=item&key=Wczo4OiJob3JzbmVsbCI7&pg=2 |title=Design for the river front of County Hall, Lambeth, London |publisher=Royal Institute of British Architects |work=ribapix.com |year=1914 |accessdate=26 November 2010}} His design was altered significantly before construction began, including the familiar semicircular terrace being moved from the land to the river-side of the building.{{Cite news|title=New County Hall London. Revised Design. Elevation To River. |work=The Times |page=5 |date=20 July 1908}} Construction was held up by the First World War, during which Knott worked on designs for Royal Air Force bases, and partially completed in 1922 (except for the northern third).{{Cite news|title=The New County Hall. A Great Public Building, Thames Embankment Project |work=The Times |page=15 |date=17 July 1922| author=Sir Aston Webb, PRA |authorlink=Aston Webb }} In June 1921 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.{{Cite news|title=News in Brief |work=The Times |page=7 |date=27 June 1921}}

In the years before World War I Knott's work included the design and erection of mansions in the Westminster and Chelsea districts of London. In 1917 Knott was the designer of the Daily Mail £200 cottage, a distinct departure from the more elaborate architecture for which he was known.[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/bk17/p128 Appendix 3: Works by Ralph Knott], BHO British History Online website, Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London; accessed 20 July 2024.

After the opening of the London County Hall, at the southern end of Westminster Bridge, Knott built other notable buildings, including two departmental office blocks at Stormont near Belfast.{{Cite news|title=New Parliament Buildings. Northern Ireland. |work=The Times |page=xv |date=5 December 1922}} In 1925 he designed the pavilion at the City of London School's new athletics grounds in Grove Park. The building was a memorial to the alumni of the school who had perished in the First World War, and he donated his services free of charge.{{Cite news|title=City Of London School. Opening Of War Memorial Pavilion. |work=The Times |page=17 |date=11 July 1925}} He had begun the work on the last part of County Hall in 1928 but it remained uncompleted at his death.{{Cite news|title=The County Hall. Plans For Completion Of Building. |work=The Times |page=9 |date=4 January 1929}}

In 1919 Knott married Ada (née Brown), widow of Sidney James Longden. They had no children. He died suddenly at his Mortlake home in January 1929, aged 50. A bronze plaque to his memory at County Hall was unveiled by the Chairman of the London County Council in June 1932.{{Cite news|title=The Architect Of New County Hall. Bronze Plaque Unveiled |work=The Times |page=8 |date=16 June 1932}}

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• {{Cite web|url=http://www.artandarchitecture.org.uk/images/conway/de3d79c8.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224033335/http://www.artandarchitecture.org.uk/images/conway/de3d79c8.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2012 |title=Memorial to Ralph Knott |work=Art & Architecture |publisher=Courtauld Institute of Art |accessdate=6 July 2010 }}

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Category:1878 births

Category:1929 deaths

Category:20th-century English architects

Category:Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects

Category:People from Chelsea, London

Category:People educated at the City of London School

Category:Architects from London