Basic Biographical Details Name: | Francis Thomas Verity | Designation: | | Born: | 1864 | Died: | 14 August 1937 | Bio Notes: | Francis Thomas Verity was born in Kensington in 1864, the son of the theatre architect Thomas Verity. The younger Verity was educated at Cranleigh School, Surrey and studied at the South Kensington Schools under the art master A F Brophy from 1881 before being articled to his father in 1883. While there he studied at University College under Professor Hayter Lewis and at the Architectural Association. In 1887 he entered the Royal Academy Schools, where the art master, Richard Phené Spiers encouraged him to attend the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He undertook a tour of Italy, Germany and France. Although he never officially enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux Arts he entered the atelier of Blouet, headed at that time by Jean Louis Pascal, where, like Burnet before him, he became strongly influenced by Henri-Paul Nénot, architect of the new Sorbonne. On his return in 1889 he won the Tite Prize, passed the qualifying exam and was admitted ARIBA on 3 June 1889, his proposers being his father, Spiers and Arthur Cates.
In 1891 his father died and he became sole partner, inheriting his father's post of Surveyor of Theatres to the Lord Chamberlain and being admitted FRIBA as early as July 1896. He was the architect of many distinguished theatres and London office and apartment blocks, all of which strongly reflected his Beaux-Arts schooling, their style strongly influencing the work of his pupils, Albert Richardson and Charles Lovett Gill. On the accession of Edward VII he was commissioned to redecorate the state apartments at Buckingham Palace, and in the same year (1901) as a result of administrative changes he became architect to the Lord Chamberlin's Department.
Verity was awarded the RIBA's London Architecture Medal in 1923. He was also a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. His wife, Abbie May Leonard, was American.
Verity took his son-in-law Samuel Beverley into partnership in 1930. Born in Australia in 1896, Beverley had joined his office in 1922 and been his chief assistant since the mid-1920s. They became European advisory architects to the Paramount Cinematograph Company and to the Union Cinema Company, the former appointment bringing commissions for large Paramount cinemas in Tottenham Court Road, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Glasgow and Paris.
Verity died in Bournemouth on 14 August 1937. The practice was continued by Beverley who died in 1959, and by his son-in-law, Sir Anthony Denny Bt. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | London, England | Business | | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Thomas Verity | 1883 | | Apprentice | | | Verity & Beverley | 1930 | 1937 | Partner | |
Employees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Arthur Cates | 3 June 1889 | for Associateship | | Richard Phené Spiers | 3 June 1889 | for Associateship | | Thomas Verity | 3 June 1889 | for Associateship |
RIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Robert Hunter Cameron | 3 March 1919 | for Associateship |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Gray, A Stuart | 1985 | Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical Dictionary | | | | | Grove Dictionary of Art | | Grove Dictionary of Art | | | | | Pike, W T | | London | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Architects Journal | 7 January 1925 | | | Article by A Trystan Edwards | | Architects Journal | 26 August 1937 | | | Obituary | | Builder | 20 September 1937 | | | Obituary | | RIBA Journal | 11 September 1937 | v44 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p1008 - obituary | | RIBA Journal | 16 October 1937 | v44 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p1071 - obituary by H S Goodhart-Rendel |
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