Robert Curwen ARIBA Architect

[radstockjeff]

I am currently undertaking some research into Robert Curwen ARIBA who was responsible for the design, amongst other buildings, of a number of Wesleyan Methodist Church buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ashbrooke Church in Sunderland is a particulrly good example

I am particularly interested in his work for Methodist Churches but also a general overview of his life  and work.

Does anyone know of any definitive biographical details of him and where I could search further.

I have contacted the Methodist Church but with little result to date.

My particular reason for interest in him is that he designed two churches in the local Methodist circuit (North East Somerset and Bath) one of which was recently considered (unsuccessfully) for Listing.

Any help or leads on this would as usual be gratefully accepted.

[stanmapstone]

Just a bit from , Dr Michael Johnson. The Architecture of Sunderland, 1700-1914 . The History Press. Kindle Edition.

Curwen had been trained in Liverpool by C.O. Ellison before moving to London. He was the
winner of the limited competition for The Leys School in Cambridge, which was built by the Wesleyans,


St John’s Wesleyan Church in Ashbrooke Road, which opened in 1888 was the most expensive church ever built in the town – at £17,000

.
Stan

[radstockjeff]

Thanks Stan. Next time we are up in Sunderland I want to pay a visit to St Johns and get some piccies.
I looked up Robert Curwen on the RIBA Directory of Architects but unfortunately there was no record of any of his buildings.

I think at least four of his buildings are Listed. I am looking for the other ones!

[stanmapstone]

In the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Friday 02 July 1886
There is a notice about the contract for building the Ashbrooke Chapel, and the address for Robert Curwen is Palmerston Buildings, Old Broad Street, London E.C

Stan

[stanmapstone]

From various newspaper reports, He was the architect for the  Chapel at Thornbury, Gloucestershire, 1876, his address then was 23, South Castle Street, Liverpool. The English Wesleyan Chapel, Conway, 1880. Punshon Memorial Church, Colwyn Bay 1882. The Bristol Children's Hospital, 1883.  The Wesleyan Chapel Redfield, 1883. Weslyan Chapel and Sunday School, Williton, 1884. Wesleyan Chapel, Watford, 1888. The Wesleyan Chapel, Chard, 1895. Chapel and School, Lower Weston, Bath, 1890. The T.C. Hinksman Memorial School, Preston, 1899.
He died October 3rd 1915, aged 66.

Stan

[trish1120]

Do you have this?
Is this the sort of info you are looking for?

1881 Census
7 Bedford Road, Aston, Middlesex
Robert CURWEN, 31, Head, Mar. Architect, born Freewood (Fleetwood), Lancashire
Ann C. Curwen, 25, Wife, born Bristol
Robert B. Curwen, 4
Constance M. Curwen, 1
Infant Curwen
Ada C. May, 18
Ellen Yates, 27
Elizabeth King, 18
Alice J. Wilson, 43
(not transcribed)


He married Ann Constance BOWYER 24 Feb 1876, Clifton, Gloucestershire.

1871 he is Boarding in Kennington, London and unmarried, occp Architect.

His Parents were Robert/Alice and his Father was a Timber Merchant.   

Last Census available he is a Retired Architect A R I B A.

Trish

[trish1120]

His Daug Marjorie was an Artist;
Royal Academy of Arts site ;

MARJORIE Curwen
RA Schools graduate
Born: 1882
RA Schools student from 28 July 1903 to July 1908
Gender: Female


His Daug Constance married 1900 in the Wesleyan Church, Hampstead

[radstockjeff]

Thanks for all the responses so far.
Please keep them coming!

[stanmapstone]

According to the National Probate Calendar, his effects were £42 10s 10d, probate to his widow Ann Constance Curwen.

Stan