Henry Bell (architect)

The Custom House in King's Lynn, one of Bell's most famous designs

Henry Bell (1647–1711) was an English architect, a contemporary of Christopher Wren.

Bell was born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. He was the son of a wealthy merchant family.^[1] He designed many buildings in West Norfolk including the Custom House in King's Lynn and All Saints Church in North Runcton.^[2]

All Saint Parish church, North Runcton, Norfolk

He served twice as Mayor of King's Lynn,^[3] he was well educated and travelled through Europe. In 1676 he met Robert Hooke, who shared with him his experiences of rebuilding London following the Great Fire. This knowledge had a bearing on his future work, as the design of North Runcton Church shows similarities with those employed by Wren, for example St Mary-at-Hill.^[4]

He died in 1711, two years before All Saints Church was completed.

References

Further reading

• • "Henry Bell of King's Lynn", Architectural History, Vol. 4, (1961), pp. 41–62.
  • Geoffrey Webb, "Henry Bell of King's Lynn", The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, Vol. 47, No. 268 (Jul., 1925), pp. 24–33
  • James Stevens Curl, A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape, 2000 (entry for "Bell, Henry").