Henry Percy Adams

Henry Percy Adams, FRIBA, was a Ipswich-born English architect. Who later joined Stephen Salter London practice and after Charles Holden and Lionel Pearson joined. Adams, Holden & Pearson was then one of the most successful practices in the early 1900s.

Known as Henry or H.Percy Adams, but a few early reference sources call him 'Harry'.^[2]

Early life

He was born in 1865. His father was Webster Adams (a Surgeon in Ipswich),^[3] 1841–1900) and his mother was Alice Heal (1840–1888).^[2] He was educated at Epsom College with his older brother, Webster Angell Adams (1864–1895).^[4] He left Epsom in 1879 and moved to Gould House, Dedham, Essex^[3] and then later, he articled under Brightwen Binyon (1846–1909) a locally known architect in Ipswich.^[5] Henry was also a painter and exhibiting member of Ipswich Fine Art Club. Where he exhibited in 1886 a watercolour 'Old Windmill', and then two monochrome sketches 'St. Martin's church, Cologne' and finally, 'Tomb of Sir Walter Scott'. The architectural artist then exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888.^[3]

Also in 1888, he joined the architectural office of Stephen Salter (1825–1896) at 19 Hanover Square, London. He also won Drawing Prize RIBA in 1888.^[6]
On 22 May 1890, he married Cicillia Clara Staddon (1865–1891) in Ipswich, Suffolk. Then in 1891, Cecil Clare Adams was born.^[2] Sadly, Cecil's mother dies after giving birth.^[1]
In 1896, Henry marries Alice Mildred Mathieson (Aunt of Sir Frederick Ashton).^[7] He won the Donaldson Medal (for Architecture)^[8] and Godwin Bursary (established by George Godwin) in 1897.^[6]
Then another son, Percy Webster Adams is born in 1900 in St Pancras. Then in 1901, Basil Mallandaine Adams is born and then followed lastly by Kathleen Mildred Adams (who later married Cameron Percy Newell (1895–) ).^[7]
Then in 1913, Henry took over Stephen Salter's architectural practice. Then Charles Holden, (originally his assistant in 1899 and then later his Chief designer) and Lionel Godfrey Pearson (1879–1953, who had attended Liverpool University School of Architecture), both joined the practice in 1904. The practice then changed name to Adams, Holden, and Pearson.

Major works

• 1897–98 South wing of Bedford General Hospital, with a separate ward designed specifically for children, known as the 'Victoria Ward'^[9]
• 1898 – Staircase Hall, Madresfield Court Worcestershire^[10]
• 1900–1905 Chapel at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. Co-designed with W. L. Newcombe.^[11]
• 1900 – Dorking New Infirmary in Surrey^[12]
• 1901 – The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne^[12]
• 1901 – Unsuccessful competition design entry for Royal Infirmary, Glasgow^[13]
• 1903 – General Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, Kent^[12]
• 1903 – King Edward VII Sanatorium, Midhurst, Surrey (Closed in 2006 and awaiting conversion into apartments)^[14]
• 1903 – Bedford County Hospital, Bedfordshire^[12]
• 1904 – Beyoğlu Seaman's Hospital, Istanbul. Founded during the Crimean War by the British Foreign Office. It has a tower that provides a clear sightline of any incoming ships^[15]
• 1906 – Woman's Hospital in Soho, London^[12]
• 1907/1908 Unsuccessfully bid for the County Hall, London design^[16]
• 1909 – House Semon, (now known as 'Rignall's Wood'), Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire for Gertrude Jekyll^[17]
• 1910 – Bristol Royal Infirmary New Ward & Pavilions, Gloucestershire (with Charles Holden)^[12]
• 1910 – Savoy Place, before the (Institution of Electrical Engineers) (IEE) moved in, alterations to the building were carried out by H Percy Adams and Charles Holden. This included renovation of the entrance hall, the lecture theatre and the creation of a library from the long room on the first floor^[18]

Percy Webster Adams (1900–)

Adam's son Percy Webster Adams (1900–) also a FRIBA member. In 1921, the Hospital Board of Exeter commissioned Adams to design Torbay Hospital, but it did not start until 1925. When 'Hengrave House' was purchased from Major P. Kitson, and funds were given by Mrs Ella Rowcroft and her sister Violet Wills (of the Wills Tobacco family later Dame of the British Empire in 1937).^[19] In 1923, Percy designed Islington War memorial Arch^[20] He then became a Partner in 1925, of Adams, Holden and Pearson (Architectural Practise).^[6] One of the practise's specialities was Hospital design.^[19] In 1929, he designed Southend Hospital.^[21] In the late 1950s, he altered the façade and added the top storey and entrance to Savoy Place, where his father had worked on in 1910.^[18] Percy W. Adams married Gwendoline Wright.^[7]

Thomas Francis Armstrong (1889–1971)

Thomas Francis Armstrong was born in Portobello Road on 13 June 1889. He was a pupil of Henry Percy Adams from 1907. From 1911 until 1923, he moved to Bombay and started work as an Agency Engineer in the Public Works Department of the Government of the District. In 1924, he returned to Britain and took a post as technical assistant (1st class grade B) with the London County Council. In 1925, he went into private practice in Kent. Then elected LRIBA (Licentiate of RIBA) on 5 March 1934.^[22]

References