Henry Percy Adams

Henry Percy Adams, FRIBA (1865–1930) was an Ipswich-born English architect. He joined Stephen Salter London's practice and later Charles Holden and Lionel Pearson joined. Adams, Holden & Pearson was then one of the most successful practices in the early 1900s.

Henry Percy Adams
Born	26 October 1865[1] Ipswich, Suffolk[2]
Died	7 April 1930 (aged 64) Westminster, London,
Occupation	Architect
Awards	RIBA Drawing Prize in 1888 Donaldson Medal (for Architecture) (1896) Godwin Bursary (1897)
Practice	Adams, Holden & Pearson
Buildings	Dorking New Infirmary in Surrey

Known as Henry or H.Percy Adams, but a few early reference sources call him 'Harry'.[3]

Early life

Adams's father, Webster Adams (1841–1900), was a surgeon in Ipswich[4] and his mother was Alice Heal (1840–1888).[3] He was educated at Epsom College with his older brother, Webster Angell Adams (1864–1895).[5] He left Epsom in 1879 and moved to Gould House, Dedham, Essex[4] and then later, he articled under Brightwen Binyon (1846–1909) a locally known architect in Ipswich.[6] Henry was also a painter and exhibiting member of Ipswich Fine Art Club. Where he exhibited in 1886 a watercolour 'Old Windmill', and then two monochrome sketches 'St. Martin's church, Cologne' and finally, 'Tomb of Sir Walter Scott'. The architectural artist then exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888.[4]

Also in 1888, he joined the architectural office of Stephen Salter (1825–1896) at 19 Hanover Square, London. He also won Drawing Prize RIBA in 1888.[7]

He won the Donaldson Medal (for Architecture)[8] and Godwin Bursary (established by George Godwin) in 1897.[7]

Then in 1913, Henry took over Stephen Salter's architectural practice. Then Charles Holden, (originally his assistant in 1899 and then later his Chief designer) and Lionel Godfrey Pearson (1879–1953, who had attended Liverpool University School of Architecture), both joined the practice in 1904. The practice then changed name to Adams, Holden, and Pearson.

Major works

• 1897–98 South wing of Bedford General Hospital, with a separate ward designed specifically for children, known as the 'Victoria Ward'[9]
• 1898 – Staircase Hall, Madresfield Court Worcestershire[10]
• 1900–1905 Chapel at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. Co-designed with W. L. Newcombe.[11]
• 1900 – Dorking New Infirmary in Surrey[12]
• 1901 – The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne[12]
• 1901 – Unsuccessful competition design entry for Royal Infirmary, Glasgow[13]
• 1903 – General Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, Kent[12]
• 1903 – King Edward VII Sanatorium, Midhurst, Surrey (Closed in 2006 and awaiting conversion into apartments)[14]
• 1903 – Bedford County Hospital, Bedfordshire[12]
• 1904 – Beyoğlu Seaman's Hospital, Istanbul. Founded during the Crimean War by the British Foreign Office. It has a tower that provides a clear sightline of any incoming ships[15]
• 1906 – Woman's Hospital in Soho, London[12]
• 1907/1908 Unsuccessfully bid for the County Hall, London design[16]
• 1909 – House Semon, (now known as 'Rignall's Wood'), Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire for Gertrude Jekyll[17]
• 1910 – Bristol Royal Infirmary New Ward & Pavilions, Gloucestershire (with Charles Holden)[12]
• 1910 – Savoy Place, before the (Institution of Electrical Engineers) (IEE) moved in, alterations to the building were carried out by H Percy Adams and Charles Holden. This included renovation of the entrance hall, the lecture theatre and the creation of a library from the long room on the first floor[18]

Family Life

On 22 May 1890, he married Cicillia Clara Staddon (1865–1891) in Ipswich, Suffolk. Then in 1891 they had a son[3] but Cicillia died after giving birth.[2]
In 1896 Henry married Alice Mildred Mathieson (Aunt of Sir Frederick Ashton).[19] They had a two sons and a daughter[19]

Adams died on 7 April 1930 at Westminster Hospital in London, aged 64.[20]

References

1. "Architects of Greater Manchester-Henry Percy Adams". manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk. Manchester Victorian Architects.
2. "Family: Harry Percy ADAMS/Cecilia Clara STADDON (F6854)". genealogy.kirkpatrickaustralian.com. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
3. "Family of Harry Percy ADAMS and Cicillia Clara STADDON". www.benedictheal.com. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
4. "ADAMS, (Harry) Percy". www.suffolkpainters.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
5. "1851–1889 / 1855–1889" (PDF). archive.epsomcollege.org.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
6. Sam Smiles (Editor)Going Modern and Being British: Art, Architecture and Design in Devon County, p. 147, at Google Books
7. Brodie, Antonia; Felstead, Alison; Franklin, Jonathan; Pinfield, Leslie; Oldfield, Jane, eds. (1 July 2001). Directory of British Architects, 1834–1914: Vol. 2 (L–Z) (2nd ed.). London: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd. p. 147. ISBN 978-0826455147.
8. "Donaldson Medal". www.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
9. "Tile Gazetteer – Bedfordshire". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
10. Brooks, Alan (6 July 2007). Worcestershire (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England). London: Nikolaus Pevsner. p. 848. ISBN 978-0300112986.
11. "Chapel at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. 1999. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
12. "H. Percy Adams". archiseek.com. 1906. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
13. "DSA Architect Biography Report (October 14, 2013, 4:33 pm)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
14. "King Edward VII – History". www.cityandcountry.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
15. Levine, Lynn A. (2010). Frommer's Istanbul. London: John Wiley & Sons. p. 194. ISBN 978-0470591574.
16. "Competitors and published designs Appendix 2". www.british-history.ac.uk. 1991. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
17. "Title: Letter to G. Jekyll from H. Percy Adams". www.ced.berkeley.edu. 3 March 1909. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
18. "Savoy Place History". Institution of Engineering and Technology. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
19. "Family of Harry Percy ADAMS and Alice Mildred MATHIESON". www.benedictheal.com. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
20. "Mr H Percy Adams - A Designer of Hospitals". The Times (45483). London. 9 April 140. p. 21.