Kelly & Birchall

Kelly & Birchall

Company type	Architectural firm
Industry	Architecture
Founded	1886
Defunct	1904
Headquarters	Leeds , England
Products	Church designs in Italianate and Gothic Revival styles

Kelly & Birchall, an architectural firm formed by Edward Birchall (1839 – 6 March 1903) and John Kelly (1840–1904), operated in Leeds, England, from 1886 until 1904. The practice specialised in church designs, predominantly employing the Italianate and Gothic Revival architectural styles.

Works

The collaboration between Edward Birchall, who had been practising in Leeds since the early 1860s, and John Kelly, previously in partnership with Richard Life Adams (1840–83), commenced in 1886.

Among their initial undertakings was St Mary of Bethany Church located in New Wortley, Leeds. This project was originally initiated by Adams & Kelly but reached completion under Kelly & Birchall. Constructed in 1885 at a cost of £5,600 and featuring a spire rising to 135 feet, the church was demolished in 1975. Several other works by the firm in Leeds have also been lost: All Hallows Church, erected in 1876 with a budget of £10,585, was destroyed by fire in 1970 although its vicarage building remains intact; St Francis of Assisi Church on Manor Road, Holbeck (1896) was closed and subsequently demolished in 1979.

Among their surviving notable projects are the Grade II listed St Luke's Church on Gibbon Road, Kingston upon Thames (1886–87), as well as the Grade II* listed St Patrick's Church located in Soho Square, London (1891–93).

In Leeds, they were responsible for designing the Central Higher Grade School (later known as Leeds Higher Grade School) situated on Woodhouse Lane. This structure was constructed in 1889 with an attic added in 1890 by William Landless, who served as clerk of works for the firm. The building underwent conversion into council offices between 1994 and 1995.

Following the partnership period, John Kelly designed several distinguished churches including All Saints' Church in Petersham (a Grade II listed building now converted into a private home), St Agatha's Roman Catholic Church in Kingston upon Thames, and Sacred Heart Church in Teddington. These churches are noted for their Italianate style blended with Romanesque elements and prominent campaniles.

Approaching retirement, Kelly was shortlisted but ultimately did not win the commission for Leeds Cathedral. Subsequently, he founded John Kelly & Sons on Oxford Street in London. During this later phase of his career, he designed St Alban and St Stephen Church in St Albans. After his death in 1904, his son Claude Kelly assumed control of the practice. The design of Grade II listed St Peter's Church in Aldrington is attributed to Claude but is believed to have involved John Kelly as well.

Edward Birchall is also credited with designing Tylney Hall in Hampshire (1879), a Grade II listed country residence that currently functions as a hotel. Moreover, he created the Carlton Hill Friends Meeting House (1868) in Leeds—the main Quaker meeting house there—which partially became a clothing factory from 1921 onwards. The building was refurbished by Leeds Metropolitan University in 2007 and renamed Old Broadcasting House. A blue plaque marks both Birchall’s association and the building’s historical significance.

See also

• Adams & Kelly