Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pritchett, James Pigott
PRITCHETT, JAMES PIGOTT (1789–1868), architect, born at St. Petrox, Pembrokeshire, on 14 Oct. 1789, and baptised there on 4 Jan. 1790, was fourth son of Charles Pigott Pritchett, fellow of King's College, Cambridge, rector of St. Petrox and Stackpole Elidor, Pembrokeshire, prebendary of St. David's, and domestic chaplain to the Earl of Cawdor, by Anne, daughter of Roger Rogers of Westerton-in-Ludchurch, Pembrokeshire; Delabere Pritchett, sub-chanter of St. David's Cathedral, was his grandfather. Pritchett, adopting the profession of an architect, was articled to Mr. Medland in Southwark, and afterwards worked for two years in the office of Daniel Asher Alexander [q. v.], architect of the London Dock Company. After spending a short time in the barrack office under the government, Pritchett set up for himself in London in 1812, but in 1813 removed to York, entering into partnership with Mr. Watson of that city. For the remainder of his life Pritchett resided in York, he and Watson having a very extensive practice, amounting almost to a monopoly, of architectural work in Yorkshire. At York itself he built the deanery, St. Peter's School (now the school of art), the Savings Bank, Lady Hewley's Hospital, Lendal and Salem Chapels, &c. Elsewhere he built the asylum at Wakefield, the court-house and gaol at Beverley, and acted as surveyor and architect on the extensive estates of three successive Earls Fitzwilliam. Pritchett was a prominent member of the congregationalist body at York, and was identified with a great many philanthropic and religious movements there. He died at York on 23 May, and was buried in the cemetery there on 27 May 1868. He married, first, at Beckenham, Kent, on 6 Aug. 1786, Peggy Maria, daughter of Robert Terry, by whom he had three sons and one daughter, Maria Margaret. The latter married John Middleton of York, and was mother of John Henry Middleton, architect, late director of the South Kensington Museum. Pritchett married, on 6 Jan. 1829, his second wife, Caroline, daughter of John Benson, solicitor, of Thorne, near York, by whom he had three sons and two daughters, of whom the eldest son, James Pigott Pritchett, adopted his father's profession at Darlington.
[Builder, 6 June 1868; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Pedigree of Pritchett by G. Milner-Gibson-Cullum and James P. Pritchett, with family notes by the latter (London, 1892).]