 The firm was a " provincial architectural practice " in the strict use of the term ; sited as it was in a town some distance from any major city . Its output was almost entirely located in North West England , particularly in Lancashire and in the southern part of what is now Cumbria . Nevertheless , the practice did achieve national recognition , especially in the later part of the 19th century , and in particular for its churches . A contemporary opinion of the practice was given by the German architect and critic Hermann Muthesius who was present in England between 1896 and 1904 . He commented on English architecture and architects , and in his book Die neuere kirchliche Baukunst in England ( 1901 ) he placed the works of Austin and Paley on a par with Bodley and Garner , James Brooks , J. D. Sedding , Norman Shaw , and George Gilbert Scott , junior . He was particularly impressed by St Peter , Lancaster , and by the village churches designed by the practice . Writing in 1969 the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner said " this Lancaster dynasty of architects did more work in the county , and for a time more outstanding work , than any other " . Referring to the late Victorian churches designed by the practice , Pevsner stated that they were " of the highest European standard of their years " . Of the partners , Pevsner had highest regard for Hubert Austin , whom he called a " genius " , saying that it was he " it seems , who was responsible for the firm 's masterpieces " . The title of the introduction to the book by Brandwood et al. entitled The Architecture of Sharpe , Paley and Austin is " A practice like no other " . 
