William Henry Powell (architect)

125 Mount Street, London 1886-87

Old Colonial Building, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 1897 - 1901

William Henry Powell FRIBA (1847 - 7 June 1900) was an architect primarily based in London and South Africa.^[1]

Architectural career[]

He was articled to Joseph Gardner of Folkestone from 1864 to 1867 and remained as his assistant until he moved to be assistant to Sydney Smirke for one year. He later formed a partnership with John Ladds as Ladds and Powell which lasted until around 1890 when he emigrated to South Africa.

In South Africa he set up a practice in Durban. On his death in 1900, his eldest son William continued the practice in Durban.

He was nominated ARIBA in 1873 and FRIBA in 1887.

Personal life[]

He was born in 1847 in Lewes, Sussex, the son of Revd. William Powell (b. 1810) and Matilda Spencer Blaine (1810 - 1891).

He married Clara Welch (1852 - 1920), daughter of J.D. Welch of Herne Hill on 23 April 1873^[2] at St Paul's Church, Herne Hill, and they had four sons:

William Powell (b. 1874)
Sydney Powell (b. 1877)
John Stewart Powell (b. 1885)
Owen Powell (b. 1886)

In 1889 he was cited in a divorce case by Ralph Thomas, a solicitor in practice in Chancery Lane on the grounds of his wife's adultery with Powell.^[3] To escape the ensuing scandal, in 1890 he moved with his family to Ridge Road, Morningside, Durban, South Africa.

Works[]

The Corn Exchange, Bedford 1872-74
Chorley Town Hall, Lancashire 1875
Terrace of shops and flats, 125-9 Mount Street, London 1886-87 Grade II listed^[4]
Durban Club 1890
Public Baths, Field Street, Durban 1891
Durban High School 1894
Victoria Club, Langalibalele Street, Durban, 1895
Victoria Hall, Maritzburg College, 1897
Old Colonial Building, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 1897 - 1901

References[]

^ Brodie, Antonia (20 December 2001). Directory of British Architects 1834-1914: Vol 2 (L-Z). Royal Institute of British Architects. p. 400. ISBN 082645514X.
^ "Marriages". Pall Mall Gazette. England. 25 April 1873. Retrieved 2 May 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Damages in divorce suits". Globe. England. 4 December 1889. Retrieved 2 May 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ Historic England. "125-9 Mount Street W1 (1223669)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

[1] Brodie, Antonia (20 December 2001). Directory of British Architects 1834-1914: Vol 2 (L-Z). Royal Institute of British Architects. p. 400. ISBN 082645514X.

[2] "Marriages". Pall Mall Gazette. England. 25 April 1873. Retrieved 2 May 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[3] "Damages in divorce suits". Globe. England. 4 December 1889. Retrieved 2 May 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[4] Historic England. "125-9 Mount Street W1 (1223669)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

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