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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | | | Place of training | | Dumfriesshire, Scotland | Private | 1799 | | Place of birth | | 18, Westbourne Park Villas, London, England | Private/business | c. 1850 | 1877 | At least these years |
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 | | William Burn | Before 1839 | | Apprentice | Uncertain. |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Richard Armstrong (junior) | c. 1860(?) | | Apprentice | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Gittings, Robert | 1978 | Young Thomas Hardy | | Hardmonsworth: Penguin | | | Mackley, Alan | | Haveringland Hall | | Bibiographic details to be checked | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Country Life | 12 March 1981 | Part III | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | DMW Archive | Richard Armstrong notes by Peter Hughes | | Letters dated 9 October 2006 and 19 September 2007 |
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