WOOD, JOHN (c. 1705-1754), British architect, was born about 1705, probably in Yorkshire. He settled in Bath in 1727, and is known as "Wood of Bath." He paid several earlier visits to Bath for the purpose of constructing roads. As an architect he was particularly successful in his designs for streets or groups of houses, and became well known as a follower of the Palladian school. His designs in Bath include Queen's square ; Prior park, built for Ralph Allen; and the Royal crescent, designed by him self, but built under the direction of his son. The Bristol (1740 43) and Liverpool (1748-55) exchanges were also designed by Wood, and he restored Llandaff cathedral. His best work is, how
ever, to be seen in Bath*, where his classical style harmonized with the spirit of the town as he found it. He died on May 23, 1754. Many of his designs were carried out after his death by his son John (d. 1782), who also, in addition to many groups of houses, built the Hot bath and the Royal Private baths.
The elder Wood wrote Choir Ganre (Stonehenge, 1747) ; Essay Towards a Description of Bath (2 vols., 1742; reprinted, 1749 and 1765) ; and several other works on architecture.