Bryan Thomas (architect) explained

Bryan Thomas
Birth Date:1928 11, df=y
Birth Place:India
Nationality:British
Alma Mater:Architectural Association School of Architecture
Years Active:1957–2019
Spouse:
    Children:4
    Significant Buildings:House at Beth Chatto Gardens

    Bryan Keith Thomas (28 November 1928 – 19 December 2023) was an English architect in Essex, known for domestic architecture in that county such as the house at Beth Chatto Gardens in Elmstead Market. His church architecture included Church of England, Christian Scientist and Quaker places of worship.

    Early life

    Bryan Keith Thomas was born in British India on 28 November 1928.[1] He spent his early years between India and Felixstowe, Suffolk, where he attended preparatory school.[2]

    Career

    Thomas trained at the Architectural Association from 1945 to 1950 before working with David Stern and subsequently with the modernist architect Wells Coates and his partner Michael Lyell. As his family were centred around Colchester and the Mersea Island, he moved to north Essex in 1955[2] where he established his own practice in Colchester in 1957.[3]

    Thomas's domestic architecture includes the house at Beth Chatto Gardens (1960), the House on the Heath, Fordham Heath (1967, extended 1974),[4] as well as a number of other houses in Essex. Due to the length of time that Thomas practised, he returned to a number of his houses to update or expand them such as one in Fingringhoe that he originally designed in 1964.[5]

    His church architecture included a Friends meeting room for the Quakers (1968),[3] St Andrew and St Peter Church, Alresford (1975–76), First Church of Christ Scientist, Colchester (1975–77),[6] and Christ Church, Ireton Road, Colchester (1978).

    In addition, he designed rides and restaurants for Alton Towers, leisure complexes at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, shelters for the elderly and schools such as St Osyth Church of England Primary School.[2] He received a commendation in The Sunday Times British Homes Award in 2013,[5] before retiring at age 91 in 2019.

    Personal life

    Thomas' first marriage was to Pauline Venton, with whom he had four sons. His second wife, Wendy Foster, died in 2021. Thomas died on 19 December 2023, at the age of 95.[7] [1]

    Notable works

    Notable works by Thomas include:

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: About Bryan Keith Thomas, A.R.I.B.A. A.A.Dipl. (Hons) - 28 Nov 1928 to 19th Dec 2023 . Wivenhoe's History . 24 February 2024.
    2. Web site: Wivenhoe: Bryan shows no signs of slowing down. 18 December 2008. Daily Gazette. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20190504054729/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/3987230.wivenhoe-bryan-shows-no-signs-of-slowing-down/. 4 May 2019. 4 May 2019. live.
    3. Web site: About. 12 May 2014. Bryan Thomas. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502161808/https://www.bryanthomas.org.uk/about/. 2 May 2019. 2 May 2019. live.
    4. http://www.bryanthomas.org.uk/house-at-fordham-heath-1967/ House at Fordham Heath 1967.
    5. Web site: Bryan Thomas. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502161957/https://www.themodernhouse.com/directory-of-architects-and-designers/bryan-thomas/. 2 May 2019. 2 May 2019. The Modern House. live.
    6. Bettley, James & Nikolaus Pevsner (2007). The Buildings of England Essex. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. pp. 88 & 270. .
    7. News: Dodds . James . Bryan Thomas obituary . 17 February 2024 . The Guardian . 16 February 2024 . 17 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217145647/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/feb/16/bryan-thomas-obituary . live .
    8. https://books.google.com/books?id=z3FN4VL5lEwC&pg=PA343 Bettley & Pevsner, p. 343.
    9. Book: Gray, Catriona.. Sixties House. Decades of Design. 2016. Conran Octopus. London. 978-1-84091-699-7. 127.
    10. https://books.google.com/books?id=z3FN4VL5lEwC&pg=PA341 Bettley & Pevsner, p. 341.
    11. https://books.google.com/books?id=z3FN4VL5lEwC&pg=PA88 Bettley & Pevsner, p. 88.
    12. https://books.google.com/books?id=z3FN4VL5lEwC&pg=PA270 Bettley & Pevsner, p. 270.
    13. Web site: Protestant nonconformity. British History Online. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502180019/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/essex/vol9/pp339-351. 2 May 2019. 3 May 2019. live.
    14. Web site: Churches. British History Online. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502164309/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/essex/vol9/pp309-336. 2 May 2019. 3 May 2019. live.
    15. Web site: Bryan Thomas. Parks & Gardens. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20240217204111/https://www.parksandgardens.org/people/bryan-thomas. 17 February 2024. 3 May 2019. live.

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