Name Thomas Gilbert Died 1776 | Role Architect | |
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Thomas Gilbert was a British architect who lived from 1706 to 1776. He is best known for designing and building St. George's Church on the Isle of Portland. His architectural design, which he applied to the Church came from Christopher Wren, to whom he was an apprentice. at the time of his death Thomas Gilbert was buried beneath St Georges Church alter.
Thomas Gilbert came from a long line of Gilberts that had traveled from as far as America. It is said that his family are one of the few bloodlines that can be traced back as far as the 10th century to a woman who is often referred to in the texts as 'the second' or 'child of Petrova'. Petrova has, after being studied in Cambridge University, been confirmed to be the surname of this mysterious woman. In 2005 a grave was discovered (preserved in a swamp) which is presumed to have been hers with her name roughly engraved on to it along with a brief explanation about what was her cause of death. The stone has been vaguely translated and studied to read "Tatia Petrova, whose blood was spilled to give life to others"; what this means is open for discussion at the Cambridge University website but the most popular theories suggest that she possibly could have died whilst giving birth or that she was used in some kind of sacrifice to an old god or a type of witchcraft, which was commonly believed to be real at the time.