1855 – Cork Opera House (The Athenaeum), Cork
Architect: Sir John Benson / C.J. Phipps
The building, originally called ‘The Athenaeum’, was finished by early 1855. It hosted its first performance on 29 January 1855,
C.J. Phipps (1835-97)
Born in Bath, his first major work was the rebuilding of Theatre Royal, Bath in 1862/3, after the old theatre had been destroyed by fire. Moving to London, he quickly established himself as the leading theatrical architect. He designed and directed the building of several London theatres, and was responsible for over forty theatres in the provinces. He also designed Leinster Hall in Dublin (opened in 1886 and closed in 1895), the Star and Garter Hotel at Richmond (demolished in 1919) and the Savoy Turkish Bath. Phipps was chosen to design the Royal Institute of British Architects’ own premises at 9 Conduit Street. The building is still there, though no longer occupied by the RIBA (now in Portland Place) and is considered by some to reflect the influence of the architect’s native town.
Phipps died May 25, 1897, aged 62. Though ill with afflictions of heart and kidneys, he continued active in the theatre right to the last. He had felt sufficiently strong to run down to Dover to inspect the building of one of his theatres, took a severe chill, and died three days later. Less than three weeks before his death, his last London theatre, Her Majesty’s, had opened in the Haymarket.
He was admitted ARIBA on 23 January 1860, his proposers being George Gilbert Scott, Edward I Anson and John Whichcord all of London; and FRIBA on 12 February 1866 his proposers being Scott, Edward William Godwin and William Burges. In his later years his theatre practice was damaged by the fire at the Theatre Royal Exeter where smoke had not been sufficiently considered and he lost ground to Frank Matcham. He died at Meiklenburgh Square 25 May 1897; his practice was continued by his son-in-law Arthur Blomfield Jackson.
1868 – Gaiety Theatre, The Strand, London
Architect: C.J. Phipps
Deesigned by the theatre architect C.J. Phipps, who also designed the 1871 Gaiety Theatre in Dublin,
1871 – Gaiety Theatre, South King Street, Dublin
Architect: Charles Ashworth / C.J. Phipps
Recently given a new glass and steel canopy overhanging a much widened footpath on a mainly pedestrianised street,
1877 – Design for The Church of The Sacre ‘Coeur, Montmarte, Paris
Architect: R. Phene Spier & C.J. Phipps
Unsuccessful design published in The Architect, December 26th 1877. Designed as a political and cultural monument,
1881 – No. 1 Portland Place, London
Architect: C.J. Phipps
“The illustration represents an important building just completed, from the designs of Mr. C. J. Phipps,
1881 – Royal Princess Theatre, Oxford Street, London
Architect: C.J. Phipps
The Pricess’s Theatre between Winsley Street and Wells Street, Oxford Street. The theatre was demolished in 1931 to make way for a large Woolworth store,
1881 – Savoy Theatre, Victoria Embankment, London
Architect: C.J. Phipps
Richard D’Oyly Carte bought the site of the former Savoy Palace (later the Savoy Hospital) in 1880 to build the Savoy Theatre specifically for the production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas,
1881 – Theatre Royal, Arthur St., Belfast
Architect: Lanyon, Lynn & Lanyon / C.J. Phipps
Originally constructed by Lanyon, Lynn & Lanyon in 1871 with carving by the Fitzpatrick Brothers.
1886 – Leinster Hall, Hawkin’s Street, Dublin
Architect: C.J. Phipps
Constructed by 1886 as the Leinster Hall after a fire in 1879 destroyed the Theatre Royal on this site.
1896 – Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall, London
Architect: C.J. Phipps
The Her Majesty’s Theatre adjacent, which still stands, is only indicated in these elevations. The architect was Charles John Phipps also,
