Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Thomas Walford | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1832 | Died: | 15 October 1908 | Bio Notes: | James Thomas Walford was born about 1832, the son of James Thomas Walford, engineer and his wife Mary Waud. flourished from 1868 to 1906. In 1868 he appears to have been in practice with John Donkin at 3 Queen’s Square, Westminster. At this time he is described as architect and surveyor. Donkin, who held the post of architect to the Bedford Estate, later moved to Bournemouth, where he was in practice in 1882. At this point the partnership was presumably dissolved. By 1885 Walford had formed another partnership in London with T Pollard.
In 1871 Walford entered the competition for The Criterion, in which fifteen architects were invited to submit designs for building a large tavern and restaurant on a plot of land at Piccadilly. Although Walford's design was not premiated, the writer in the 'Builder' thought that it might have merited being placed above the one that was put in 4th position. His designs were described as being Italian in style 'with French modifications'.
Between 1873 and 1885 Walford undertook a series of alterations for Mr F Gorringe to his shop premises in Buckingham Palace Road, Pimlico and for his premises in Brewer Street, Soho. It is interesting to note that Walford had an office in Buckingham Palace Road during the 1880s. In 1883 he designed a series of villas for Mr David Brown in his private park, Harrow-on-the Hill, which were illustrated in the ‘Builder’, where they were described as ‘chalet residences’. Another villa described as a ‘Bijou residence, Hitcham Vale, Taplow’ appeared in the Builder two years later.
The plans for the church in Portobello were reputedly provided free of charge. Walford may have been had a seaside summer villa in the area from about 1903 until 1907 as a ‘J Walford’ is recorded at 29 Joppa Road in these years (but does not appear in the 1907-08 Post Office Directory).
Walford formed a partnership with Eric Thompson in London in about 1904. This lasted until at least 1911.
Walford died in Portobello on 15 October 1908, aged 76.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 3, Queen's Terrace, London, England | Private/business(?) | 1868 * | | | | 82, Buckingham Palace Road, London, England | Business(?) | 1883 | | | | 29, Joppa Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1903(?) | 1908 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
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 | | Thompson & Walford | c. 1904 | 1908 | Partner | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1903 | St John the Evangelist RC Church | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Church and furnishings |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory | 1868 | Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory | | London, Wyman | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 25 March 1871 | | | p220 | | Builder | 23 August 1873 | | | | | Builder | 22 July 1877 | | | | | Builder | 29 September 1877 | | | | | Builder | 30 July 1881 | | | | | Builder | 20 August 1881 | | | | | Builder | 26 May 1883 | | | | | Builder | 30 June 1883 | | | | | Builder | 23 February 1884 | | | | | Builder | 26 September 1885 | | | | | Builder | 3 March 1993 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Gray Marshall & Associates who undertook restoration work on the church | Research by Jocelyn Cunliffe | | |
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