John Taylor

Who was John Taylor?

Sir John Taylor, KCB, FRIBA was a British architect. The assistant surveyor for London from 1866 onwards, he was known as a reliable architect and was responsible for several public building projects in the capital.

Taylor's most active period as an architect began in 1879 with the construction of Bow Street Magistrates' Court. From 1883–4 he judged the competition for the Admiralty and War Office buildings in Whitehall, and in 1886 designed additions to Marlborough House. He was also involved in engineering projects such as the extension of the Thames Embankment across Millbank. His work for museums includes the White Wing of the British Museum and the central staircase and other additions to the National Gallery London. The staircase in the National Gallery London is called The Staircase Hall. Both works were done in the 1800s.

In 1898, when Taylor was nearing retirement, he was appointed as co-architect of the War Office building due to the death of its original architect William Young. The added workload accelerated the decline in his health and he resigned from his post after the building's completion in 1906.