Joseph Potter (1756–1842), was an English architect and builder from
Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom. Potter had a considerable practice in Staffordshire and its neighbouring counties in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Potter lived in Pipehill, south-west of Lichfield, and had his office in St John's Street. Joseph Potter's son Joseph Potter Jnr. took over his father's practice after his death and went on to design many of his own buildings in the late nineteenth century.
Biography
Early in Joseph Potter's career as an architect, he was employed by
James Wyatt (a prominent architect at the time) to supervise the alterations to
Lichfield Cathedral in 1788–93 and
Hereford Cathedral in 1790–93. In this period he also worked under Wyatt in the repair to
St Michael's Church,
Coventry (now St Michael's Cathedral) in 1794 and the rebuilding of
Plas Newydd, Anglesey for the 1st Marquess of Anglesey. At Plas Newydd it is thought Potter is solely responsible for the design and build of the gothic chapel.[1]
Potter became the established architect at
Lichfield Cathedral, overseeing repairs to the south-west spire in 1794, the restoration of the vaults in the north transept in 1795–97 and restoration of the west face of the cathedral in 1820–22. Potter was the
county surveyor of Staffordshire for 45 years until his death in 1842. Potter was also an engineer for the Grand Trunk Canal Company.[1]
Potter had three sons who all carried on the family profession. Robert Potter (c. 1795–1854) was the eldest son; he became an architect and went on to design numerous buildings. Joseph Potter Jnr. (c. 1797–1875) took over his fathers practice after his death and went on to design many buildings including the
Guildhall and
Clock Tower in
Lichfield. James Potter (c. 1801–1857) the youngest son became a civil engineer working mainly on canals and railways. Other architects Thomas Johnson and
James Fowler of Louth were pupils of Joseph Potter and were influenced by his methods.[1]