Architect Joseph Goddard's designs donated to temple

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Architect Joseph Goddard designed Leicester's most famous landmark the Clock TowerImage source, ISKCON/LEICESTER MERCURY
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Joseph Goddard designed Leicester's most famous landmark, the Clock Tower, in 1868

The family of a Victorian architect who designed some of Leicester's most famous landmarks have handed over his archives to a Hindu temple.

Joseph Goddard designed the Clock Tower in 1868 and the old Midland Bank building on Granby Street in 1872.

More than 100 artefacts, some a 160-years-old, have been donated to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

It said his "amazing contribution" of designs will go on display.

Updates on this story and more from Leicestershire

Great grandchild Tony Goddard, also an architect, said: "The Goddard family are delighted that the archive of their papers and drawings, a record of the family's architectural endeavours over the past 160 years, are to finally find a long term home in one of Joseph Goddard's best known buildings."

Picture of the front of the Grade II listed building on Granby Street, LeicesterImage source, ISKCON
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The old Midland Bank building on Granby Street is now the Hare Krishna Temple, run by ISKCON

The banking counter in the Grade II listed building on Granby Street, LeicesterImage source, ISKCON
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The Grade II listed building, which cost £7662 to build in 1874, had enormous hammer beams forming a lantern roof

Joseph Goddard's book on his design of the former bank building on Granby Street, Leicester
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ISKCON said Mr Goddard's book on his design of the former bank building will be part of the exhibition at the temple

ISKCON, which took over the ownership of the Gothic-style former bank building in 2011, converted it into the Hare Krishna Temple.

Pradyumna Pradipgajjar, of ISKCON Leicester, said: "We thought let's create a heritage room dedicated to the work of Joseph Goddard, so the public can learn about his amazing contribution."

The Grade II listed building, which is on Historic England's heritage at risk register, external, is used as a place of worship with a range of community activities and workshops and a restaurant.

Front of the Grade II listed building on Granby Street, LeicesterImage source, ISKCON
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Part of the 142-year-old building is under repair

Mr Goddard also designed Thomas Cook's offices in LeicesterImage source, LEICESTER MERCURY
Image caption,

Mr Goddard also designed Thomas Cook's offices in Leicester

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Joseph Goddard

Architect Joseph GoddardImage source, ISKCON
  • Mr Goddard, born in 1840, often worked in a Gothic-style in the 1860s and '70s

  • He played an important part in introducing Victorian gothic to Leicester in his design of the Clock Tower

  • The old Midland Bank building, which opened in 1874, marked the high point and end of his use of Gothic for secular work

  • He later designed banks in a more restrained domestic revival and Queen Ann-style

Source: University of Leicester

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