Henry Rumley
Architect & Surveyor
(b.1792, Nunney, Somerset - d.1855, Birmingham)
Henry's father Hugh relocated his family to Bristol from Nunney, Somerset in c.1796 and thereafter resided in Back Street. Hugh may have been as a builder but he is recorded as a materials dealer in a court case of 1796(1); a trade which he continued until his death in 1812. Hugh's relict Hannah remarried Isiah Davis (d.1816) an engineer also of Back Street.
In 1806, Henry was apprenticed to cabinet maker Charles Cummins.(2) He gained his status as a free Burgess through this apprenticeship, but not until 1830; a year when many architects were admitted.(3) In the interim Henry had formed an architectural partnership with Johnson William Turnbull (from c.1815 until 1819).(4) The partnership undertook several surveys of church property/lands(5), but there are no accredited buildings by the pair.(6)
Henry's known works in the 1820s are sparse. However, in 1822-24 he was in possession of unfinished houses on Great George Street and land in Charlotte Street.(7) The details of which suggests his possible involvement in the design of the Royal Colonnade and the villas of The Deanery and No.19 Charlotte Street, which were completed in c.1825-27 by builder, Fredrick Samson Thomas.(8)
In 1825-26 Henry worked for Thomas Smith Esq, probably on his house of Castellau, near Llantrisant, Wales.(9) Henry is also listed within the Lewin Mead Chapel 1825-26 accounts (for plans and commission) in erection of school buildings (likely, the Sunday School of Unitarian Chapel and Tower House. Grade II. 1202352).(10)
1829 saw Henry's first known attempt at Gothic architecture with the design of Lady Huntingdon's Chapel on Lodge Street (demolished).(11) He also promoted building cottage ornes on Windmill Hill, but the actual houses were far from cottage ornes in style. Those that remain, although possibly altered are Nos. 1-5 Eldon Terrace, Bedminster. He was also probably responsible for Richmond Terrace, Bedminster (demolished).(12)
Henry's career appears to have flourished in the early-to-mid 1830. probably coinciding with his involvement in the redesign of the north and western sides of Queen Square, following their destruction from political rioting in 1831. Henry renewed his lease on the newly built No.46 (Phoenix House) as his residence and offices and kept No.5 as an investment. Henry also expanded his practice, taking on three apprentices between 1834-1836 and employing Edwin Honychurch.(13)
Aside from his work on Queen Square, Henry's work mostly involved housing and a few non-secular projects and utilises a mix of polite and gothic styles. His house designs of this period range from simple pairs of houses (106 & 108 Redcliffe Terrace, York Road, Bristol)[14) to large villas; the polite styled Hutton House, Hutton, Somerset (c.1833)[15] and the gothic styled Grove Villa, Wells Road, Bristol (c.1834 - demolished in the 1890s). During this period Henry also designed Frenchay Church (c.1832-34), Keynsham Baptist Chapel (c.1834)[16] and a Protestant School Room in Whitchurch, Bristol (1837)[17].
From the 1830s, Henry also appears more frequently as an expert witness in matters relating to property and land, including in 1831, the value of the land being considered for the Clifton Suspension Bridge.(18) However, by December 1837, Henry had entered into bankruptcy. The cause for his bankruptcy is unknown but possibly relates to the failure in selling Hutton House, a country villa he advertised for sale in 1833 but which had remained unsold by 1837. Henry's possessions were sold and he surrendered No.46 Queen Square but kept hold of No.5 until 1843, whilst he removed his family to Horfield, Bristol. Henry received his certificate in 1838 but his bankruptcy wasn't fully resolved until 1843.
Henry's work in the 1840s begins with small housing projects (1840 - possibly 87 & 88 Whiteladies Road(19) and housing near the Cotton Factory/Feeder)[20]. Henry unsuccessfully applied for the position of a City Surveyor in 1836 and 1840.(21) In this year he undertook further refurbishments on the home of Thomas Smith (Castellau)[22], internal alterations to All Saints Church, Corn Street (c.1841-43)[23] and oversaw a new altar piece for St Pauls, Bedminster (1843)[24].
By the mid-1840s, Henry's career was beginning to regain momentum and the design of Aberdeen Terrace, Aberdeen Road was likely a reflection of this.(25) Prior to his bankruptcy, Henry had promoted a large tract of land between Whiteladies and Cotham Hill called West Clifton(26) and Aberdeen Terrace completed the last development of this area. Henry sold the concept of Aberdeen Terrace to William Dyer, a builder whom he'd collaborate on with in 1832 for No.'s 116 & 118 Redcliffe Crescent on York Road.(27)
During this period, Henry also proceeded to design several civic buildings including new outpatient rooms for the Bristol Infirmary, several schools/schoolrooms and extended Gideon Chapel. He also supplemented his work through architectural drawing classes at the Mechanical Institute and at the Bristol Atheneum(28). From c.1847, Henry was engaged as the acting architect for Thomas Hooper and overseeing the c.200 tradesmen working on the refurbishment of Kings Weston House, owned by the Miles family.(29)
Except for Salem Chapel, Lower Ashley Road (c.1852) and St Mathews School, Kingdown (c.1854), Henry's work of the early 1850s appears to mostly involve small terraces, concentrated to the south of the river. However, in 1853 he promoted a large tract of land intended for houses and villas called 'Bushey Leaze' in Knowle but it unclear whether any part of this was ever realised.(30)
S. D. Major's Illustrated Handbook for Bristol and Clifton (1872) attributed Unity Chapel, Unity Street, St Phillips to 'Mr Rumbly'; the chapel, erected in 1854 was paid for by Major Tireman, who part-funded a replacement Unity Chapel on Unity Street in 1862. The 1854 chapel is appears almost identical to Salem Chapel and was likely amongst the last work by Henry.
Ill-heath forced the closure of Henry's practice in March 1855(31) and he removed to family living in Birmingham but died in April of that year and was buried at Holy Trinity, Bordesley, Birmingham.
In 1806, Henry was apprenticed to cabinet maker Charles Cummins.(2) He gained his status as a free Burgess through this apprenticeship, but not until 1830; a year when many architects were admitted.(3) In the interim Henry had formed an architectural partnership with Johnson William Turnbull (from c.1815 until 1819).(4) The partnership undertook several surveys of church property/lands(5), but there are no accredited buildings by the pair.(6)
Henry's known works in the 1820s are sparse. However, in 1822-24 he was in possession of unfinished houses on Great George Street and land in Charlotte Street.(7) The details of which suggests his possible involvement in the design of the Royal Colonnade and the villas of The Deanery and No.19 Charlotte Street, which were completed in c.1825-27 by builder, Fredrick Samson Thomas.(8)
In 1825-26 Henry worked for Thomas Smith Esq, probably on his house of Castellau, near Llantrisant, Wales.(9) Henry is also listed within the Lewin Mead Chapel 1825-26 accounts (for plans and commission) in erection of school buildings (likely, the Sunday School of Unitarian Chapel and Tower House. Grade II. 1202352).(10)
1829 saw Henry's first known attempt at Gothic architecture with the design of Lady Huntingdon's Chapel on Lodge Street (demolished).(11) He also promoted building cottage ornes on Windmill Hill, but the actual houses were far from cottage ornes in style. Those that remain, although possibly altered are Nos. 1-5 Eldon Terrace, Bedminster. He was also probably responsible for Richmond Terrace, Bedminster (demolished).(12)
Henry's career appears to have flourished in the early-to-mid 1830. probably coinciding with his involvement in the redesign of the north and western sides of Queen Square, following their destruction from political rioting in 1831. Henry renewed his lease on the newly built No.46 (Phoenix House) as his residence and offices and kept No.5 as an investment. Henry also expanded his practice, taking on three apprentices between 1834-1836 and employing Edwin Honychurch.(13)
Aside from his work on Queen Square, Henry's work mostly involved housing and a few non-secular projects and utilises a mix of polite and gothic styles. His house designs of this period range from simple pairs of houses (106 & 108 Redcliffe Terrace, York Road, Bristol)[14) to large villas; the polite styled Hutton House, Hutton, Somerset (c.1833)[15] and the gothic styled Grove Villa, Wells Road, Bristol (c.1834 - demolished in the 1890s). During this period Henry also designed Frenchay Church (c.1832-34), Keynsham Baptist Chapel (c.1834)[16] and a Protestant School Room in Whitchurch, Bristol (1837)[17].
From the 1830s, Henry also appears more frequently as an expert witness in matters relating to property and land, including in 1831, the value of the land being considered for the Clifton Suspension Bridge.(18) However, by December 1837, Henry had entered into bankruptcy. The cause for his bankruptcy is unknown but possibly relates to the failure in selling Hutton House, a country villa he advertised for sale in 1833 but which had remained unsold by 1837. Henry's possessions were sold and he surrendered No.46 Queen Square but kept hold of No.5 until 1843, whilst he removed his family to Horfield, Bristol. Henry received his certificate in 1838 but his bankruptcy wasn't fully resolved until 1843.
Henry's work in the 1840s begins with small housing projects (1840 - possibly 87 & 88 Whiteladies Road(19) and housing near the Cotton Factory/Feeder)[20]. Henry unsuccessfully applied for the position of a City Surveyor in 1836 and 1840.(21) In this year he undertook further refurbishments on the home of Thomas Smith (Castellau)[22], internal alterations to All Saints Church, Corn Street (c.1841-43)[23] and oversaw a new altar piece for St Pauls, Bedminster (1843)[24].
By the mid-1840s, Henry's career was beginning to regain momentum and the design of Aberdeen Terrace, Aberdeen Road was likely a reflection of this.(25) Prior to his bankruptcy, Henry had promoted a large tract of land between Whiteladies and Cotham Hill called West Clifton(26) and Aberdeen Terrace completed the last development of this area. Henry sold the concept of Aberdeen Terrace to William Dyer, a builder whom he'd collaborate on with in 1832 for No.'s 116 & 118 Redcliffe Crescent on York Road.(27)
During this period, Henry also proceeded to design several civic buildings including new outpatient rooms for the Bristol Infirmary, several schools/schoolrooms and extended Gideon Chapel. He also supplemented his work through architectural drawing classes at the Mechanical Institute and at the Bristol Atheneum(28). From c.1847, Henry was engaged as the acting architect for Thomas Hooper and overseeing the c.200 tradesmen working on the refurbishment of Kings Weston House, owned by the Miles family.(29)
Except for Salem Chapel, Lower Ashley Road (c.1852) and St Mathews School, Kingdown (c.1854), Henry's work of the early 1850s appears to mostly involve small terraces, concentrated to the south of the river. However, in 1853 he promoted a large tract of land intended for houses and villas called 'Bushey Leaze' in Knowle but it unclear whether any part of this was ever realised.(30)
S. D. Major's Illustrated Handbook for Bristol and Clifton (1872) attributed Unity Chapel, Unity Street, St Phillips to 'Mr Rumbly'; the chapel, erected in 1854 was paid for by Major Tireman, who part-funded a replacement Unity Chapel on Unity Street in 1862. The 1854 chapel is appears almost identical to Salem Chapel and was likely amongst the last work by Henry.
Ill-heath forced the closure of Henry's practice in March 1855(31) and he removed to family living in Birmingham but died in April of that year and was buried at Holy Trinity, Bordesley, Birmingham.
