Part 1(b) – Projects by Robert Jewell Withers 1863-1868

Churches and Chapels

1863-1865 – Restoration and addition to St. Llwchaiarn’s Church, Llanllwchaiarn, Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales (Extant)

1863           — At the behest of the Earl of Pembroke, five different architects were asked to send drawings completed churches to the Archdiocese of Dublin, Ireland, in consideration for the building of St. Bartholomew’s Church.  The final decision was between R. J. Withers and T.H. Wyatt.  Wyatt won the commission and the church was constructed to his designs 1865-67.

1863-1864 – Remodeling of St. Cynon’s Church, Capel Cynon, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant). Withers’ plans were not carried out.

1863-1865 – Rebuilding of St. Dogfael Church, Meline, Pembrokeshire, Wales (Extant).

1863-1878 – Restoration of St. Patrick’s Church, Pencarreg, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Windows, roof and interior fittings and new vestry were by Withers (Extant).

1864-1865 – Rebuilt St. David’s Church, Blaenporth, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant

1864-1866 – Holy Trinity Church, Bad Wildbad, Wurtemberg, Germany (extant).

1864-1865 – Chapel-school of St. Mary Magdalene, Coatham Lane, Coatham Mundeville, Haughton-le-Skerne, Durham, England (extant, now a private house).

1864 – Chancel renovation, St. John the Divine, Elmswell, Woolpit, Suffolk, England. Withers returned to this church in 1872 to do a complete restoration of the chancel (Extant).

1864-1866 — Restoration of St. Peter’s Church, Friesthorpe, Lincolnshire, England (Extant).

1864-1866 — Rebuild St. David’s, Henfynyw, Pembrokeshire, Wales (Extant).

1865-1866 – Proposed St. Michael’s Church, Hull, Yorkshire (unbuilt)

1865-1866 –Temporary Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Hull, Yorkshire (Demolished). Small wooden church constructed for use until larger church could be constructed.

1865-1869 – Refit with minor alterations, St. James’ Church, James Town, Island of St. Helena (Extant but altered — Withers may have designed the stained glass over the alter entitled “I am the Good Shepherd” which was installed in 1874).

1865-1869 – Partial rebuilding of St. Andrew’s Church, Moylegrove, Pembrokeshire (closed, but extant).

1866-1868 – Remodel All Saint’s Church, West Barkwith, Lincolnshire (Demolished 1983).

1866-1869 – Church of St. Andrew, Westgate-in-Weardale, Durham, England (Extant).

1866-1867—Restoration of the nave at 14th-15th century St Mary’s Church, Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire, England.  (Withers would return to this church in 1875 to restore the chancel) (Extant).

1866-1869 – Church of St. Gabriel, Chrisp-Street, Bromley-by-Bow, Middlesex, England (demolished). Renderings attributed to Thomas Wisedell.

1866-1868 – Christ Church and Vicarage, Ivegill, Cumbria, England (Both extant – vicarage well maintained with a lot of interior details intact)

1867-1868 – St. Paul’s Church, Cassop-cum-Quarrington (Quarrington Hill, Durham, England (Demolished).

1867-1868 – Repair and refit the chancel at the 12th – 15th century Church of St. Mary the Virgin, East Barkwith, Lincolnshire, England (Extant).

1867-1868 – St. Mary’s Church, Coxhoe, Durham, England (Extant)

1867-1868 – Alterations to All Saint’s Church, York-Street, Lambeth, London, England (Demolished)

1867-1868 – Rebuild St. Edith’s Church, North Reston, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England.  Original building from 11th cent. with later Gothic features added.  Church was rebuilt using the exterior walls of the nave and chancel arch on the interior.  Chancel and bell tower were designed by Withers. (Extant)

1867-1868 – Restored and rebuilt parts of the 11th and 12th century All Saints’ Church, Harmston, Lincolnshire, England.  Most of interior and gothic windows were by Withers (Extant).

1867-1871 – New chancel and vestry for the 13th and 14th century Church of All Saints, Shouldham, Norfolk, England. (Extant)

1867-1868 – New reredos for All Saint’s Church, Holton, Lincolnshire (Extant). Mosaics by Salviati Glassworks.

1867-1868 – St. Peter’s Church, Lampeter-Pont-Stephen, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant).

1867- Restore classical porch at St. John’s Church, Newport, Tipperary, Ireland (Demolished 1964).

1868-1869 – Restoration and partial rebuilding of Church of St. Leonard, Warwick, Cumberland. New chancel arch, three new windows (Extant).

1868-1870 – Restore and redecorate the early 18th century Church of St. Mary-le-Strand, London.  Church originally designed and built by James Gibbs 1714-1717. (Extant).

1868-1869 – Restore and rebuild Church of St. Margaret, Habrough, Lincolnshire (Extant)

1868-1869 — Replacement of south porch at St. James’ Church, Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England (Extant)

1868-1869 – Clerestory addition, Church of St. John the Baptist, Greatham, Hartlepool, Durham (Extant).

Left: Schoolhouse, Mackworth, Derbyshire, England, 1867-1868 (Currently a private residence)
Right: Schoolhouse, Shouldham, Norfolk, England, 1865-1868 (Currently a bed and breakfast)

Schoolhouses

  • 1864-1865 – School, offices and residence for teachers, Elmswell, Woolpit, Suffolk, England (demolished).
  • 1864-1866 – Schoolhouse, Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, Wales (extant, but altered).
  • 1865-1868, 1872 – National School, Shouldham, Norfolk, England (extant but altered). Withers also responsible for the retaining wall and the 1872 addition.
  • 1865-1866 – Schoolhouse for parish of St. Philip, Clerkenwell, London, England (Demolished).
  • 1866-1867 – Chapel-school, Howe Bridge, Lancashire, England (Unknown and probably demolished).
  • 1867-1868 – School, Atherton, Lancashire (unknown).
  • 1867-1868 — National School, School Road, Runcton-Holme, Norfolk, England (Extant).
  • 1867-1868 — National School, Lower Lane, Mackworth, Derbyshire (Extant, now a private residence).

Left: Rectory, Elmswell, Woolpit, Suffolk, England (1863-1864)
Right: Vicarage, Llanbadarn Vawr, Cardiganshire (1866-1868)

Parsonages, Vicarages and Houses

  • 1863-1864 – Joseph Clougher house and shop, 18 High St., Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant but altered)
  • 1863-1864 – Unknown house at Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales (possibly 23 High Street).
  • 1863-1864 – Elmswell Rectory, Woolpit, Suffolk, England (Extant).
  • 1866-1868 – Vicarage, Llanbadarn Fawr, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant).
  • 1866-1867 – Vicarage-house, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant).
  • 1866-1867 – Vicarage-house, Nantcwnlle, Cardiganshire, Wales (Unknown).
  • 1866-1867 – Parsonage-house, Tremaine, Cardiganshire, Wales (Attributed – Extant).
  • 1866-1867 – Vicarage-house, Tremaine, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant).
  • 1867-1868 – Alterations to Vicarage, Longdon, Worcestershire, England (Extant- now home to the curate).
  • 1867-1869 – Rectory for Church of All Saints, Shouldham, Norfolk, England (Extant – Attributed).
  • 1867-1868 – Addition to parsonage, Barton Bendish, Norfolk (Extant).
  • 1867-1868 – Addition to parsonage, East Barkwith, Lincolnshire (Extant).
  • 1867-1868 – Addition to parsonage, West Torrington, Lincolnshire (Extant).
  • 1867-1868 – New parsonage for St. Philip’s Church, Clerkenwell (Unknown).
  • 1867-1868 – Vicarage, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Cardiganshire (Extant).
  • 1868-1869 – Vicarage, Church of St. Leonard, Warwick, Cumberland. (Possibly the building which is currently the Westgate Manor B&B).

Miscellaneous Projects

  • 1863- Pastoral staff for Bishop Thomas N. Staley of Honolulu.
  • 1863- Pastoral Staff for Dr. Tozer, the Bishop of Central Africa.
  • 1865- Brass Candlesticks for St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Munster Square, London.
  • 1866- Brass lectern, St. James’ Church, Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England (Extant).
  • 1867- Fittings designed for chapel at Zanzibar, Tanzania for Bishop Tozer (May have been the building which is currently the Old Church Café though the chapel may have been demolished when Christ Church was constructed in 1879.) 

1866- Brass lectern, St. James’ Church, Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England.


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