Basic Biographical Details

Name: Richard Armstrong
Designation:  
Born: 1799
Died: 1875
Bio Notes: Richard Armstrong was in 1799, one of the eight children of Edward Armstrong, solicitor, Dumfries who was for a time Sheriff there. His father married twice, first to Helen Myrtle and secondly to Jane Howe, but Richard Armstrong's mother was Nellie Hay, by whom he was brought up separately from the other members of the Armstrong family.

Richard Armstrong probably had some architectural training, possibly in William Burn's office as his son appears to have worked for a time with Burn's partner David Bryce. Like the Heritors at Darnick, Armstrong was recruited as a clerk of works by Edward Blore for whom he built Haveringland Hall, Norfolk in 1839-42. He married in 1840 (giving his profession as 'builder' on his marriage certificate) and his son Richard Armstrong junior was born at Haveringland Hall in 1842 at which time Richard senior gave his profession as 'architect'.

He subsequently moved to London, setting up independent practice at 18 Westbourne Park Villas c.1850. He continued to live and work there until his death in 1876, and was a neighbour of the young Thomas Hardy who lived at 16 Westbourne Park Villas from 1863 to 1870.

Armstrong was architect for alterations at Haveringland Hall in the 1851 and in the period 1853-57, both this and the earlier programme of work being for Edward Fellowes MP. In 1856-62 Armstrong was engaged by Fellowes's brother Richard (who had taken the name of Benyon) to work on Englefield House, Berkshire.

Armstrong's practice was continued by his son Richard Armstrong Junior after his death in 1875.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate  Place of training
Item 2 of 3Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivate1799 Place of birth
Item 3 of 318, Westbourne Park Villas, London, EnglandPrivate/businessc. 18501877At least these years

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1William BurnBefore 1839 ApprenticeUncertain.

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Richard Armstrong (junior)c. 1860(?) Apprentice 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 81854Englefield House  BerkshireEngland 
Item 2 of 81858St Mary MagdelenNorth Ockendon EssexEnglandRestoration
Item 3 of 81862St Peter's ChurchUfton Nervet, Reading BerkshireEngland 
Item 4 of 81863St Peter's ChurchClapton BerkshireEngland 
Item 5 of 81872Stanstead Hall   England 
Item 6 of 81873All Saints ChurchCranham EssexEngland 
Item 7 of 81877(?)Cottages in the Queen Anne style    Date of drawings? If so, probably by Richard Armstrong's son also Richard.
Item 8 of 8c. 1877(?)Cottages in the Old English style    Date of drawings? If so, probably by Richard Armstrong's son also Richard.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Gittings, Robert1978Young Thomas Hardy Hardmonsworth: Penguin 
Item 2 of 2Mackley, Alan Haveringland Hall Bibiographic details to be checked 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Country Life12 March 1981Part III  

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1DMW ArchiveRichard Armstrong notes by Peter Hughes Letters dated 9 October 2006 and 19 September 2007