William Harris
Architect & Surveyor
(b.1809, Bristol - d., c.1866, London)
Harris’ career is a bit of an enigma having been born, trained and lived in Bristol until the late 1840s but seemingly having carried out little work in the city itself. With the exception of an entry within Colvin’s Dictionary of British Architects, this is possibly why Harris has been over-looked by Bristol’s architectural historians.(1)
Harris was the son of James, a carpenter of York Place, Lower College Green.(2) In 1824 Harris was apprenticed to James Foster (Junior).(3) It is unclear whether Harris completed his full term as he was admitted as a Burgess by virtue of his father(4) however, he had set up on his own account by the mid-1830s. In 1835, Harris moved from Trinity Street to 7 Park Street and remained here until his relocation to London in c.1847/48.(5)
In 1836, Harris unsuccessfully applied to be a City Surveyor but was secured this position in 1840.(6) In preparation he collected a number of testimonials which were published in The Bristol Times and Mirror and provide an unusual insight into his previous commissions.(7) The testimonies reveal that Harris was responsible in 1835 for the design of the entrance lodges for the Bristol Zoological Gardens(8) (now Bristol Zoo). Whilst in 1836 he designed a school attached to Hope Chapel in Hotwells, before altering and rebuilding the Chapel itself in 1837. A testimony from Andrew Allen of Clifton states that Harris was responsible for works relating to his new house, which the 1841 Census suggests was No.13 West Mall (now no.26). The remaining testimonials relate to Harris’ extensive works in the Cornish towns of Helston, Penzance and Bodmin from c.1836-1840. Colvin’s entry for Harris also records these works but the testimonial suggests that Harris’ involvement relates to more buildings, within these towns than that are presently accredited to him.(9) During this period Harris also designed alterations for Penrose House in Cornwall although these were not executed.(10)
Harris’ involvement in Cornwall appears to have limited his opportunities in Bristol with advertisements often relating to Harris acting as almost an agent for letting or disposing of various properties within Bristol.(11) However, he was busy and tried to recruit a pupil in 1837 although there is no official record of him having taken anyone taken on.(12)
In contrast to his fellow District Surveyors (Armstrong, Pope and Fripp) most of Harris’ private practice work appears to either tails off during his appointment or remains undocumented. However, during this period, he is known to have restored St Mary’s Church in Chepstow, Monmouthshire and St Mary the Virgin in Christon, Somerset.(13)
Harris resigned from his position as No.3 District Surveyor in 1847,(14) at which time the surveyors were reduced from four to three (Armstrong, Fripp and Pope remaining in their posts). Shortly after his resignation, Harris relocated to London(15) for reasons unknown, but continued to find work in Cornwall, designing the Truro Workhouse in 1849.(16) However, his removal to London (first to Kensington(17) and later in Croydon18) does not appear to have been revitalised his career and there is little available information on him.
Harris is absent from his immediate families entry within the 1861 Census and does not appear elsewhere however, his wife is only recorded as widowed by the 1871 Census. An exact date for the death of Harris is unclear but this may have been in 1866.(19) Harris’ eldest son William Albert Harris became a successful surveyor for Fire Insurance in London and later Cheshire.(20)
Harris was the son of James, a carpenter of York Place, Lower College Green.(2) In 1824 Harris was apprenticed to James Foster (Junior).(3) It is unclear whether Harris completed his full term as he was admitted as a Burgess by virtue of his father(4) however, he had set up on his own account by the mid-1830s. In 1835, Harris moved from Trinity Street to 7 Park Street and remained here until his relocation to London in c.1847/48.(5)
In 1836, Harris unsuccessfully applied to be a City Surveyor but was secured this position in 1840.(6) In preparation he collected a number of testimonials which were published in The Bristol Times and Mirror and provide an unusual insight into his previous commissions.(7) The testimonies reveal that Harris was responsible in 1835 for the design of the entrance lodges for the Bristol Zoological Gardens(8) (now Bristol Zoo). Whilst in 1836 he designed a school attached to Hope Chapel in Hotwells, before altering and rebuilding the Chapel itself in 1837. A testimony from Andrew Allen of Clifton states that Harris was responsible for works relating to his new house, which the 1841 Census suggests was No.13 West Mall (now no.26). The remaining testimonials relate to Harris’ extensive works in the Cornish towns of Helston, Penzance and Bodmin from c.1836-1840. Colvin’s entry for Harris also records these works but the testimonial suggests that Harris’ involvement relates to more buildings, within these towns than that are presently accredited to him.(9) During this period Harris also designed alterations for Penrose House in Cornwall although these were not executed.(10)
Harris’ involvement in Cornwall appears to have limited his opportunities in Bristol with advertisements often relating to Harris acting as almost an agent for letting or disposing of various properties within Bristol.(11) However, he was busy and tried to recruit a pupil in 1837 although there is no official record of him having taken anyone taken on.(12)
In contrast to his fellow District Surveyors (Armstrong, Pope and Fripp) most of Harris’ private practice work appears to either tails off during his appointment or remains undocumented. However, during this period, he is known to have restored St Mary’s Church in Chepstow, Monmouthshire and St Mary the Virgin in Christon, Somerset.(13)
Harris resigned from his position as No.3 District Surveyor in 1847,(14) at which time the surveyors were reduced from four to three (Armstrong, Fripp and Pope remaining in their posts). Shortly after his resignation, Harris relocated to London(15) for reasons unknown, but continued to find work in Cornwall, designing the Truro Workhouse in 1849.(16) However, his removal to London (first to Kensington(17) and later in Croydon18) does not appear to have been revitalised his career and there is little available information on him.
Harris is absent from his immediate families entry within the 1861 Census and does not appear elsewhere however, his wife is only recorded as widowed by the 1871 Census. An exact date for the death of Harris is unclear but this may have been in 1866.(19) Harris’ eldest son William Albert Harris became a successful surveyor for Fire Insurance in London and later Cheshire.(20)
