Kirk and Parry were an architectural and civil engineering practice in Sleaford that specialised in the design of public buildings, housing and the construction of Railways. The practice was initially founded by Charles Kirk (senior) (1791–1847). Thomas Parry, (1818-1879) was an articled clerk to Charles Kirk. Parry married Henrietta, daughter of Charles Kirk in 1841 and formed a partnership with Charles Kirk. Following the death of Charles Kirk in 1847, his son, Charles Kirk (junior) (1825-1902), then became a partner with Thomas Parry. Charles Kirk Junior was the architect in the practice and Parry probably acted as an administrator. Thomas Parry was a Liberal Party politician from who sat in the House of Commons for three short periods between 1865 and 1874. By 1903 the firm had changed its name to Kirk, Knight and Co. This article surveys the work of Kirk and Parry and its successor firm, from 1847 until it ceased trading in 1906.
Sleaford Corn Exchange 1859. Sleaford Corn Exchange occupied the 19 Market Place. It was built by Kirk & Parry in 1857 and comprised the main exchange building at ground floor level, an extensive basement butter market and other ancillary accommodation. It was demolished in 1964.
Northgate Almshouses, Northgate Street, Sleaford. Built as an extension for the Carre’s Almhouse in 1857.
The Old Trustee Saving Bank, Northgate Street, Sleaford. Built adjacent to the Northgate Almshouses, possibly in 1857.
Alvey’s School, Eastgate, Sleaford, Lincolnshire. 1851. Stone faced with shaped gables.
St Botolphs Primary School, Sleaford.
Cowley’s School, Donington, Lincolnshire Single storied ranges added in 1861 in Tudor style,
Kirby La Thorpe Primary School
Quarrington Primary School, 1867
Westholme House, Sleaford. Built for Thomas Parry to deigns by Charles Kirk (junior), c1847.
The Manor House, Sleaford. A concoction of Victorian masonry and medieval stone fragments, which presumably had been gathered by Charles Kirk during his church restoration. It has been listed as Grade II*
Lafford Terrace. Eastgate. A speculative terrace built by Kirk and Parry in 1856, which later became the Kesteven County Council Offices.
No. 21. Northgate. Formerly the lodge to Westhome. Stone house described as "French Gothic" in style.
Sleaford Vicarage. Red brick extension of 1861.
Dr Bissell’s House, Sleaford Market Place 1853.
Hunsingore. St John the Baptist Yorkshire. Built in 1867-8 by Kirk and Parry of Sleaford, Lincolnshire at the cost of Joseph Dent of Ribston Hall.
St Botolph, Quarrington. The tower was built about 1325 and apart from the replacement of four pinnacles in 1887 restoration has been minimal. The Perpendicular styled font dates from the late 14th-century; however its cover is dated 1856. The raised quinquangular apse with its unusual style was designed and built by Charles Kirk (1825-1902), in 1862. Charles Kirk He was a devout churchman and churchwarden of Quarrington and the tall candlesticks commemorate him.
St.Andrew's church, Burton Pedwardine, Lincolnshire. A small fragment of a much larger 14th century church that collapsed in 1802. Charles Kirk built this church in 1870 incorporating some of the medieval masonry.
St. Thomas a Becket, Northaw
Some churches restored by Kirk and Parry
Stroxton, Lincolnshire. Rebuilt chancel (1874-5)
St Martin, Ancaster, Lincolnshire. (1859) Restoration work to North Arcade.
Holy Trinity, Barrow on Humber
All Saint’s, Coleby, Lincolnshire
St.Mary's church, Marston, Lincs. Restored by Charles Kirk in 1880
Commercial and Industrial Buildings
Old Savings Bank, Northgate, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Kirk and Parry’s Offices and Builders Yard, Sleaford
Spit of Grain Martello Tower, Kent 1856.
‘’The Martello tower, off the Spit Isle of Grain, erected by Messrs. Kirk and Parry, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, is completed....(for)... the Ordnance authority at Sheerness. The tower has been nearly two years in erection..... The peculiar construction of this tower gives it the facility of firing the guns (which are to be of the largest calibre) on traversing centre pivots, ...(into the).....Thames and Medway ...this tower forms a crossfire with the Sheerness Battery guns, sufficient to sink any ships attempting to pass. The tower is struck from seven different centres, in order to get stability to the available parts. The average thickness of the solid masonry is 12 feet. The outer dimensions are 63 feet by 71 feet, underneath is a barrack room capable of accommodating 30 gunners, and an officers private room. The basement story contains the following rooms; viz, ordnance store, provision store, barrack store, regimental store and magazine, the latter being encased with an entire coat of asphalte. ........ The estimated cost of this tower is about £14,000,.....The extreme height of the tower is 41 feet 6 inches. From the exposed situation of the tower, which is subject to the sea and weather, great difficulties were experienced during the winter months in proceeding with the work.’’
By the 1850’s Kirk and Parry had become a major firm of Building Contractors. Amongst the projects for which they were responsible were Lincoln Prison (1869-72), Whitehaven Docks (1865) and the Scarborough Aquarium (1878)
It is noted that Kirk and Parry were active as railway contractors in the Derby, Leeds, Liverpool and London areas. Specific stations for which they acted as contractors for were Liverpool Central
The Lincoln to Honington Junction railway for Great Northern Railway. This opened in 1867.
Sleaford to Ruskington Railway also built for the Great Northern Railway, which opened in 1882.
Scarborough and Whitby Railway in 1872
Steam Power Flour Mill, Jermyn Street Sleaford. Powered 15 Milstones.
Parry was proprietor of the colliery in Strafford, near Barnsley, Yorkshire.
Bracebridge Brickworks, Lincoln.c.1872. Kirk and Parry appear to have initially developed the Bracebridge Brickworks to supply bricks for the Lincoln to Honington Junction Railway but may have developed it before it became the Bracebridge Brick Company.
