Bradshaw & Gass

English firm of Architects founded in 1862 by Jonas James Bradshaw (1837-1912). The style Bradshaw Gass & Hope was adopted after J.J. Bradshaw’s death and refers to the remaining partners John Bradshaw Gass and Arthur John Hope.

The firm’s principle office was in Bolton, but branch offices were set up in Edinburgh and London when major projects were undertaken there. Although Bradshaw was capable of designing fine Gothic Revival houses, he mainly produced industrial buildings. The technical challenges of early iron and concrete framed factories led Bradshaw to employ his own engineers and quantity surveyors and thus found one of the first multidisciplinary practices.

In the early twentieth century, Bradshaw Gass & Hope gained national prominence after winning a number of architectural competitions; the firm built seven town halls between 1928 and 1939 and extended Bolton Town Hall. During this period, Bradshaw Gass & Hope attracted many architecture students; half a dozen of these students would later head council architects departments across the country. Until the 1960s most of the firms work was in the Classical idiom. Bradshaw Gass & Hope still exists today.