Charles Underwood
Architect & Surveyor
(b.1790, London - d.1883, Clifton, Bristol)
Charles Underwood's early career remains unclear but stated that he had been a surveyor from c.1806 and by c.1813 he was superintending the construction of buildings in London.(1) By 1818(2), he had relocated to Cheltenham to assist his youngest brother George Allen in the role of a builder(3) on projects such as Trinity Church and the Montpellier Spa.(4)
In 1819, Charles established the 'Cheltenham Stone Works and Building Repository' which was located beyond Wells Walk, near to the Bath turnpike road.(5) Gell and Bradshaw's 1820 Gloucestershire Directory also lists Charles as a builder operating from the Graftons, the same premises as his brothers. He remained in possession of the Stone Works and Building Repository but owing to ill health relinquished its day-to-day business to his brother Henry in April 1821.(6) Whilst in 1822, Charles is listed in Piggott's Gloucestershire Directory as a Building Surveyor.
Possibly to avoid bankruptcy, trustees acting for Charles issues a dividend of his personal effects to his creditors in September 1821(7) but in 1823 he did enter into bankruptcy proceedings(8). His bankruptcy was made more complex by several contracts having been conveyed to his brother Henry, who himself had entered bankruptcy a year earlier.(9) Charles' occupation during his bankruptcy its unclear but he quit Cheltenham for Bath(10), possibly working for his younger brother George Allen.
Charles exited bankruptcy in 1827 and was living in Clifton, Bristol(11). In February 1828, Charles opened an office in Bristol, announcing himself as an architect and surveyor based at No. 5 Exchange Building and residing at No.5 Somerset Place, Clifton.(12) Except for a short period at 4, St Michael's Terrace, St Michaels Hill, he remained a resident of Clifton for the remainder of his life but had offices in various parts of the city centre.
Amongst Charles' first recognised work in Bristol is considered to be the c.1830 terraces of No.'s 104, 106, 108 and 110 Princess Victoria Street, Clifton.(13) Underwood is also accredited with Matford House, Winterbourne (Grade II Listed Building, NHLE: 1128974). However, during the course of my research there is a high probability that Vyvyan Terrace (commenced in c.1831) can also be attributed to Underwood rather than Richard Shackleton Pope.
In 1838 Charles was appointed the company architect for the Bristol Cemetery Company and within this position was responsible for the design of the Arnos Vale Cemetery, including two classical styled mortuary chapels, gate lodges and the register's house. He continued as the company's architect into the 1870s and oversaw Arnos Vale's enlargement of c.13-acres in 1860; recommending plans submitted separately by Hans. F. Price and Messrs Poole and Newman. Ultimately, the Directors chose elements of both these designs and a specification prepared by Underwood.(14)
In 1839 Charles was responsible for the design of St John the Baptist Church in Burley, Hampshire.(15) In geographic terms this building is an isolated example of his work but its inception/funding was in part associated with the Farnell family of Burley Park; the family having previously lived and owned land in Clifton. The church also provides a rare example of Charles working in a gothic style.
In 1840 Charles advertises a specific piece of land located to the north of Brandon Hill and west of Berkley Square and therefore, it is likely that Charles was responsible for the original (northern) half of the now former Bristol Nuffield Hospital at St Mary's, known as Upper Byron Place.(16) The building is currently being converted into student accommodation.
Charles' work into the 1840 is principally focused on domestic architecture located within and close to Clifton and possibly on the Bath Road near to Arnos Vale. From c.1839-1845 Charles advertises various plots of land for detached villas within an area of Clifton called Clifton Park.(17) Charles is also accredited with the c.1843-1845 design of terraces and villas forming Canynge Square (formerly Seymour Place and Cambridge Place); built by builder George Evans, who went bankrupt in 1848.(18) The majority of these houses were designed in Charles preeminent neo-classical style however, in 1846 Charles probably designed the three Italianate villas in Clifton Park now called Clifton Park Lodge and Northcote House.(19)
In 1851, Charles was one of the thirteen founder members of the Bristol Society of Architects and was thought enough of by his peers to serve as their first president.(20) He continued to be an active member in the Society until it folded in 1866 owing to the removal of active members.(21)
In the 1850s, Charles was still working in Clifton and from c.1851-53 is accredited with the design of Worcester Terrace, considered to be one of the finest terraces in Clifton.(22) Departing from domestic architecture, Charles was chosen in 1855-1857 to design the interiors to the Royal West of England Academy whilst the design of the facade was executed by fellow Bristol architect John Henry Hirst.(23)
In contrast to many of his peers there appears no apprentice records for Charles, who never attempted to join the city's Burgess. However, the architect and civil engineer of John Clark(24) (b.1831, Bristol - d.1868) is known to have commenced his career under Charles tutorage whilst Frederick Billings (b.1838, Taunton) was likely another pupil who by the 1860s formed a short-lived partnership with Underwood. During this partnership they were unsuccessful in a competition to design the Macclesfield Cemetery(25) but were awarded the second premium, by the Tranmere Land Society's Estate for laying out their High Tranmere estate of 40 acres into villas.(26) There is no official record of the dissolution of the partnership between Underwood and Billings but it seems likely that this occurred prior to 1863, when Charles designed 'Home Mill' for Salter & Co in Trowbridge.(27)
In 1865 Charles advertised an opportunity to build villas in the spa resort of Llandrindod although it is unclear whether this was ultimately realised.(28) However, plans signed by Charles for Clifton Boy's National School (dated to 1868) are held in the Bristol Record Office.(29) Charles also remained involved into the 1870s with the Bristol Cemetery Company and Arnos Vale but others works in this decade are less clear.(30) By 1881, Charles is shown to be retired and he died at Meridian Place, Clifton in 1883, aged 93; he had no issue.(31)
In 1819, Charles established the 'Cheltenham Stone Works and Building Repository' which was located beyond Wells Walk, near to the Bath turnpike road.(5) Gell and Bradshaw's 1820 Gloucestershire Directory also lists Charles as a builder operating from the Graftons, the same premises as his brothers. He remained in possession of the Stone Works and Building Repository but owing to ill health relinquished its day-to-day business to his brother Henry in April 1821.(6) Whilst in 1822, Charles is listed in Piggott's Gloucestershire Directory as a Building Surveyor.
Possibly to avoid bankruptcy, trustees acting for Charles issues a dividend of his personal effects to his creditors in September 1821(7) but in 1823 he did enter into bankruptcy proceedings(8). His bankruptcy was made more complex by several contracts having been conveyed to his brother Henry, who himself had entered bankruptcy a year earlier.(9) Charles' occupation during his bankruptcy its unclear but he quit Cheltenham for Bath(10), possibly working for his younger brother George Allen.
Charles exited bankruptcy in 1827 and was living in Clifton, Bristol(11). In February 1828, Charles opened an office in Bristol, announcing himself as an architect and surveyor based at No. 5 Exchange Building and residing at No.5 Somerset Place, Clifton.(12) Except for a short period at 4, St Michael's Terrace, St Michaels Hill, he remained a resident of Clifton for the remainder of his life but had offices in various parts of the city centre.
Amongst Charles' first recognised work in Bristol is considered to be the c.1830 terraces of No.'s 104, 106, 108 and 110 Princess Victoria Street, Clifton.(13) Underwood is also accredited with Matford House, Winterbourne (Grade II Listed Building, NHLE: 1128974). However, during the course of my research there is a high probability that Vyvyan Terrace (commenced in c.1831) can also be attributed to Underwood rather than Richard Shackleton Pope.
In 1838 Charles was appointed the company architect for the Bristol Cemetery Company and within this position was responsible for the design of the Arnos Vale Cemetery, including two classical styled mortuary chapels, gate lodges and the register's house. He continued as the company's architect into the 1870s and oversaw Arnos Vale's enlargement of c.13-acres in 1860; recommending plans submitted separately by Hans. F. Price and Messrs Poole and Newman. Ultimately, the Directors chose elements of both these designs and a specification prepared by Underwood.(14)
In 1839 Charles was responsible for the design of St John the Baptist Church in Burley, Hampshire.(15) In geographic terms this building is an isolated example of his work but its inception/funding was in part associated with the Farnell family of Burley Park; the family having previously lived and owned land in Clifton. The church also provides a rare example of Charles working in a gothic style.
In 1840 Charles advertises a specific piece of land located to the north of Brandon Hill and west of Berkley Square and therefore, it is likely that Charles was responsible for the original (northern) half of the now former Bristol Nuffield Hospital at St Mary's, known as Upper Byron Place.(16) The building is currently being converted into student accommodation.
Charles' work into the 1840 is principally focused on domestic architecture located within and close to Clifton and possibly on the Bath Road near to Arnos Vale. From c.1839-1845 Charles advertises various plots of land for detached villas within an area of Clifton called Clifton Park.(17) Charles is also accredited with the c.1843-1845 design of terraces and villas forming Canynge Square (formerly Seymour Place and Cambridge Place); built by builder George Evans, who went bankrupt in 1848.(18) The majority of these houses were designed in Charles preeminent neo-classical style however, in 1846 Charles probably designed the three Italianate villas in Clifton Park now called Clifton Park Lodge and Northcote House.(19)
In 1851, Charles was one of the thirteen founder members of the Bristol Society of Architects and was thought enough of by his peers to serve as their first president.(20) He continued to be an active member in the Society until it folded in 1866 owing to the removal of active members.(21)
In the 1850s, Charles was still working in Clifton and from c.1851-53 is accredited with the design of Worcester Terrace, considered to be one of the finest terraces in Clifton.(22) Departing from domestic architecture, Charles was chosen in 1855-1857 to design the interiors to the Royal West of England Academy whilst the design of the facade was executed by fellow Bristol architect John Henry Hirst.(23)
In contrast to many of his peers there appears no apprentice records for Charles, who never attempted to join the city's Burgess. However, the architect and civil engineer of John Clark(24) (b.1831, Bristol - d.1868) is known to have commenced his career under Charles tutorage whilst Frederick Billings (b.1838, Taunton) was likely another pupil who by the 1860s formed a short-lived partnership with Underwood. During this partnership they were unsuccessful in a competition to design the Macclesfield Cemetery(25) but were awarded the second premium, by the Tranmere Land Society's Estate for laying out their High Tranmere estate of 40 acres into villas.(26) There is no official record of the dissolution of the partnership between Underwood and Billings but it seems likely that this occurred prior to 1863, when Charles designed 'Home Mill' for Salter & Co in Trowbridge.(27)
In 1865 Charles advertised an opportunity to build villas in the spa resort of Llandrindod although it is unclear whether this was ultimately realised.(28) However, plans signed by Charles for Clifton Boy's National School (dated to 1868) are held in the Bristol Record Office.(29) Charles also remained involved into the 1870s with the Bristol Cemetery Company and Arnos Vale but others works in this decade are less clear.(30) By 1881, Charles is shown to be retired and he died at Meridian Place, Clifton in 1883, aged 93; he had no issue.(31)
