The archive comprises: papers of John Townesend I, 1687-1727; papers of William Townesend, 1702-1729; papers of John Townesend II, 1737-1745; papers of William Townesend, Bursar of Trinity College, Oxford, 1772-1778; papers of William Ives, 1722-1765; papers of Mary Ives, 1759-1785; papers of Thomas Stevens and his wife Mary Townesend, 1779-1804.
Dates
- Creation: 1687-1804
Extent
2.0 Linear metres (55 Shelfmarks)
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, where available, e.g. MS. Don. b. 41, fol. 1].
Full range of shelfmarks:
MSS. Don. b. 41-43, c. 208-229, d. 211-214, e. 216-245
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 6816
Abstract
Accounts of the Townesend family, master masons, mainly concerning their work in Oxford for the University and Oxford colleges, 1687-1804.
Biographical / Historical
John Townesend I (c.1648-1728) was the son of a labourer, Thomas Townesend. He served his apprenticeship under Bartholomew Peisley and in 1674 became a freeman of the city of Oxford. By the 1690s, he was Oxford's leading stonemason and builder. His major commissions were Queen's College Library, the Master's Lodgings at Pembroke College, and the Kitchen Court at Blenheim Palace. He served as Mayor of Oxford, 1720-1721. He married Elizabeth Morrell (d. 1726) in 1672. They had three sons and a daughter. He died 23 May 1728.
William Townesend (1676-1739) was the eldest son of John Townesend I and his wife Elizabeth. He was apprenticed to his father. His major works in Oxford included the construction of Peckwater Quad at Christ Church and the Codrington Library at All Souls College. He was the master-mason responsible for much of Oxford's architectural transformation during the early eighteenth century. He died 22 September 1739.
John Townesend II (1709-1746) was the son of William Townesend and his wife Mary. He inherited the family business from his father. He took over the construction of the Radcliffe Library upon his father's death in 1739.
William Ives (1709-1764) was the son of William Ives, apothecary, and his wife Elizabeth Pearson. He served as Mayor of Oxford, 1738-1739, 1749-1750, and 1763-1764. He married Mary (d. 1783), daughter of William Townesend (1676-1739) and his wife Mary.
William Townesend (c.1738-1785) was the son of John Townesend II and his wife Elizabeth. He served as bursar of Trinity College, Oxford, and rector of Rotherfield Grays, Oxfordshire.
Thomas Stevens (1733-1800) married Mary (d. 1802), daughter of John Townesend II and his wife Elizabeth. He was a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Thomas and Mary Stevens had a son Henry Stevens (1766-1842).
Arrangement
The archive is arranged chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased and catalogued with the generous support of the Friends of the Bodleian, the Hulme Fund and the Oxford Preservation Trust, March 2012.
Topical
Subject
- Ives | Mary | d. 1783 | nee Townesend | wife of William Ives (Person)
- Ives | William | 1709-1764 | mercer (Person)
- Oxford University | All Souls College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Balliol College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Brasenose College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Christ Church | Oxon. (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Corpus Christi College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Exeter College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Jesus College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Lincoln College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Magdalen College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Merton College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | New College (Organisation)
- University of Oxford | Oriel College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Pembroke College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | St John's College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | The Queen's College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Trinity College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | University College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Wadham College (Organisation)
- Oxford University | Worcester College (Organisation)
- University of Oxford (Organisation)
Creator
- Title
- Catalogue of the archive of the Townesend family
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Matthew Neely
- Date
- 2013
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Purchased and catalogued with the generous support of the Friends of the Bodleian, the Hulme Fund and the Oxford Preservation Trust.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk