Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pallady, Richard

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940999Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 43 — Pallady, Richard1895Wyatt Angelicus van Sandau Papworth

PALLADY, RICHARD (fl. 1533–1555), architect of the original Somerset House, Strand, was educated at Eton College, whence he was, in 1533, elected to a scholarship at King's College, Cambridge, but he does not appear to have taken a degree. In 1548–9, conjointly with Francis Foxhal, he purchased of the crown, for 1,522l. 16s. 3d., the chantry of Aston, near Birmingham, with the manor of Ingon, Warwickshire, and other property. He became ‘overseer of the works of the Duke of Somerset in the Strand,’ London, which were commenced in 1546. The functions of the ‘overseer’ seem to have embraced at this period those of both architect and surveyor, and hence it is safe to credit Pallady with the design of Somerset House. The suggestion that John of Padua [q. v.] was responsible rests on no good authority. The works there were interrupted by the Duke's loss of power on 14 Oct. 1549, but were subsequently revived, and were still in operation in 1556. Meanwhile, in October 1549, Pallady was, with other servants and friends of the duke, committed to the Tower; but he was liberated on 25 Jan. following, on entering into his recognisance in a thousand marks to be forthcoming before the lords of the council upon reasonable warning, to answer such charges as should be brought against him. In 1554 and 1555 he was involved in litigation respecting the tithes of Warton in Lancashire, of which he had a lease from the dean and chapter of Worcester.

His wife's name was Anne. ‘The Confession of Anne Pallady as to Coxe's resort to Lady Waldegrave,’ dated 1561, is in the Public Record Office (cf. Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1547–80, p. 174).

[Harwood's Alumni Eton. 4to, 1797, p. 154; Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. 8vo, 1858, i. 125; Strype's Mem. ii. App. p. 92, and Life of Sir T. Smith, p. 42; Tytler's Edward VI and Mary I, pp. 272, 275; Ducatus Lancastriæ, i. 269, 298, 302; Dep.-Keeper Publ. Records, 8th Rep. App. ii. 7.]

W. P.-h.