Overlooking the ring road, between Darley Lane and Arthur Street, might not be the most auspicious location for one of the county’s most important Catholic churches, but that is where St Mary’s is to be found.
What sets this place of worship apart from others is its maker – the famous architect AWN Pugin (1812-1852).
Known as “God’s Architect”, Pugin was the pioneer of an influential style known as Gothic revival – seen today in countless buildings, mostly churches, throughout the UK.
London-born Pugin was dispirited by the industrialisation and bleak mass production of the Industrial Revolution.
He yearned for a nostalgic style harking back to a medieval Gothic style – celebrating pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and ornate decoration.
Very soon his new style, known as Gothic revival was taking over not just the UK but most of the world.
In a short life – he died at 40 – Pugin’s output was huge including, most famously rebuilding the Houses of Parliament (in collaboration with Charles Barry) after it was destroyed by fire in 1834.
Don’t think that wondrous tower Big Ben is medieval – it is pure Victorian Gothic revival.
Back in Derby, it was the Earl of Shrewsbury who commissioned a twenty something Pugin to build a brand-new church.
But the young architect’s passion for Gothic extended far beyond the building’s outer shell. He wanted everything to be designed in the new style from candlesticks to vestments.
And in order to translate his medieval dreams into reality Pugin needed a band of skilled artisans – foremost of whom was John Hardman (1811–1867).
Hardman was a member of a Birmingham metalworking family who, with Pugin’s encouragement, established the Mediaeval Art Manufactory in 1838 to make church metalwork.
It also specialised in the manufacture of stained-glass windows – essential for Pugin’s burgeoning number of new of churches.
St Mary’s was one of the earliest churches the pair collaborated on, with Hardman supplying the metalwork (including a gilt tabernacle at £25 and six altar candlesticks for £18.18s) as well as the stained glass windows.
You get a very vivid insight into both Hardman and Pugin’s creative vision for the church (greatly altered over the years) by the remarkable original designs we have consigned for saleon Thursday <Aprl 2>.
Hardman would have provided a watercolour of the window to the church dignitaries for approval before making a full-size cartoon, after which the glass was cut, painted and assembled in panels ready for final placement.
St Mary’s was built by another essential member of the Pugin team the master stonemason George Myers who, like Hardman, worked with him for the rest of his career.
For Hardman, Myers and Pugin, St Mary’s provided a calling card showing others what they were capable of creating.
The collection on sale this week includes a treasure trove of unseen ecclesiastical designs from Pugin and Hardman’s worldwide portfolio of churches.
Windows from hundreds of places of worship, from parish churches to cathedrals and synagogues, are represented in the archive which spans an entire century and takes in countries from New York to New Zealand.
Never seen before, they were salvaged after a fire which devastated a large portion of the John Hardman’s company archive at its Newhall Hill studios in Birmingham in 1970.
Also included in the sale, with a guide price of £4,000-£6,000, is a 2m tall brass candlestick by Pugin. Known as a Paschal or Easter candlestick designed to burn for 50 days, its trefid gallery with cabochon set ruby coloured glass stones, rises above three winged angels.
If Pugin was known as “God’s Architect”, then Hardman was his trusted foreman and interior designer.
It is a thrilling offering and, God willing, we hope interest in the window designs will shine from every corner of the globe.
Auction Details
Auction: The Derbyshire Spring Fine Art Auction to include: A single owner collection of works by John Hardman & Co.
Auction date: 2nd April 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
