Joseph Pickford: Enlightenment Architect with Dr Maxwell Craven

Warwickshire-born Joseph Pickford had an active career which lasted only 22 years before over-work carried him off suddenly at his Derby home in July 1782. 

Since Edward Saunders wrote his biography of this remarkably prolific London-trained architect, much more of his oeuvre and activities has emerged, including his involvement with Lunar Society luminaries Erasmus Darwin, Matthew Boulton, John Whitehurst and Josiah Wedgwood as well as his friendship with Lord Ferrers, Peter Burdett and Joseph Wright. Further research has also given us insights into the development of his style, his methods of working, his craftsmen and collaborators like landscaper William Emes and the Wyatts.

About Dr. Maxwell Craven

Dr. Maxwell Craven was born in London, educated in the West Country, at the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester and brought up in North Wales and south west Herefordshire. He came to Derby first in 1966, took his degree at Nottingham University, which he followed by qualifying as a teacher in 1974 and then studying for an MPhil in Roman Prosopography at Leicester, the latter whilst working as Keeper of Education at Derby Museum. He spent 18 years as Keeper of Antiquities, and was instrumental; in suggesting the purchase of Pickford’s House for adaption as a Museum of the Enlightenment and it was, from its acquisition in 1984 until 1988 part of the Antiquities department when it made a separate entity. He oversaw the re-display of the Archaeology Gallery in 1984, and curated exhibitions on Derby Clockmaking, Robert Bakewell, and Derbyshire Country Houses. He undertook three archaeological excavations for the Museum and liaised closely with Professor Martin Biddle during the long excavations at Repton. In 1982 he was appointed Derby Cathedral Archaeologist. He lectured widely during this period, published the first edition of his monograph on John Whitehurst FRS in 1996 but was made redundant by the City Council in 1998.

He then spent a decade writing a twice weekly heritage page for the Derby Telegraph and working (as he still does) as a part time valuer at Bamfords Auctioneers and writing heritage statements for historic buildings.

He wrote his first book about Derby with senior colleague Roy Hughes in 1980 and has since written over thirty others, mainly about Derby but three about Roman History, most recently Magnus Maximus: A Forgotten Roman Emperor and his Legacy (2023). He also writes family histories to order. The University of Derby in 2013 awarded him a DLitt. With Derby Museum geologist Michael Stanley he wrote The Derbyshire Country House in 1982, which ran to three editions, and his new Lost Houses of Derbyshire is due out in April from Amberley. He has contributed to various learned journals on architectural history, as well as having written for numerous magazines, including Country Life, Derbyshire Life and Country Images.

Maxwell Craven lives in Derby with his wife, Carole, who drives him everywhere, dispenses excellent advice and frequently collaborates on the creation of magazine articles and they have a daughter, who also makes her living writing. He became AMA in 1986, was made MBE and elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1999 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2015. He was twice chairman of the Friends of Derby Museum after 1998, is currently chairman of the Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee and has twice served as chairman of Derby Conservation and Heritage Advisory Committee.

Suitable for adults. Booking essential.

Suggested donation £5 / FREE to Derby Museums Friends.

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