John Carr (1723-1807)

Architect. Born in York. Lived at Carr Lodge, Horbury

St Peter's Church, Horbury was built in 1793 at a cost of £8,000 by the town's most famous son, architect John Carr, who is buried in the crypt of the Grade I listed building. He designed and paid for the building work as a gift to the people of Horbury.

Carr was a well known architect. He designed, extended and altered many country houses for the nobility and gentry, as well as a number of public buildings many of which are in Yorkshire. These include:-

· Arncliffe Hall, North Yorkshire

· Aston Hall, Rotherham (1775)

· Aukland Castle Park, Durham

· Basildon Park, Berkshire (1776 – 83)

· Bishop's Palace, York, North Yorkshire

· Boynton Hall, East Riding of Yorkshire

· Byram Hall, Castleford, North Yorkshire

· Cannon Hall, Barnsley (1764 - 67)

· Castle Howard, North Yorkshire

· Clifton House, Rotherham (1783 - 84)

· Colwick Hall, Notts (1775)

· Constable Burton Hall, North Yorkshire

· The Crescent, Buxton (1781)

· Denton Hall, Ilkley, North Yorkshire

· Eastwood House, Rotherham

· Escrick Park, North Yorkshire

· Eshald (Old) Hall, Heath, Wakefield

· Everingham Park, East Riding of Yorkshire

· Farnley Hall, Otley, North Yorkshire

· Fillingham Castle, Lincolnshire

· Gledstone Hall, North Yorkshire

· Grantley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire

· Greta Bridge, Durham

· Grimston Garth, East Riding of Yorkshire

· Harewood House, West Yorkshire (1759-71)

· Hazelwood Castle, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire

· Heath Hall, Heath (1754 – 80)

· Holker Hall, Cumbria

· Hornby Castle, North Yorkshire

· Lytham Hall, Lancashire

· Micklegate House, York (1753)

· New Walk, York,

· Plumpton Rocks, North Yorkshire

· Raby Castle, Durham

· Ribston Hall, North Yorkshire

· Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire

· Rokeby Park, Durham

· Sedbury Hall, Richmond, North Yorkshire

· Tabley House, Cheshire (1767)

· Temple Grounds, Richmond, North Yorkshire

· Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire

· Thornes House, Wakefield (1779 – 82)

· Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire

· Wiganthorpe Park, Hovingham, North Yorkshire

· Workington Hall, Cumbria

· Wortley Hall, South Yorkshire

In 1766 as Surveyor to the West Riding, John Carr was put in charge of building a new House of Correction which cost £2770.

Much of his work was in the Palladian style, inspired by the proportional classicism of the great 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio.  The Palladian style is a mix of classical references with an emphasis on symmetry and scale, the carefully worked proportions combine to make the house feel grand.