Background
Pickford was born in Warwickshire in 1734 but he moved as child to London when his father died.
Pickford was born in Warwickshire in 1734 but he moved as child to London when his father died.
Pickford at one time had offices in both London and Derby. The architect moved to Derby in circa 1760, where he was the agent of Foremarke Hall architect David Hiorne of Warwick. The house he designed for himself, Number 41 Friar Gate, is now the Pickford"s House Museum and also a Grade I listed building.
Pickford worked extensively throughout the Midland counties of England, primarily designing town and country houses in the Palladian style.
In early 2013 Derby City Council and Derby Civic Society announced they would erect a Blue Plaque as a memorial on Pickford"s House in Derby.
A significant number of his friends and clients were members of the influential Lunar Society, including the potter Josiah Wedgwood, the painter Joseph Wright of Derby, and the inventors Matthew Boulton and John Whitehurst.