The Architecture of Thomas Wisedell

Feb 2, 1824 – Born at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England.

ca. 1828-1834 – Home-schooled

1834-1835 – Attended Mrs. Clark’s school, Newport, Isle of Wight

1836          – Attended Horsington School, Somerset, England.

1837-1839 – Returned to Newport, Isle of Wight to finish formal education

1839-1844 – Articled to Thomas Hellyer of Ryde, Isle of Wight. List of known works by Heller.

• 1840-1846 – Church of the Holy Trinity, Ryde, Isle of Wight.  First stone laid October 14, 1841. -Consecrated Oct. 28, 1845.  (Extant. Currently used as a community center)
• 1841-1842 – Unknown house at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, England.
• 1841-1842 – Unknown house at Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire, England.
• 1841-1843 – Church of St. John the Evangelist, Oakfield, Ryde, Isle of Wight, England. Heller donated the font cover. (Extant)
• 1841-1842 – Pier-head, Ryde, Isle of Wight, England (With James Langdon, Builder) (Demolished)
• 1843-1844 – Restored and rebuilt Church of the Holy Cross, Binstead, Isle of Wight, England. (Extant but altered)
• 1843-1846 – Church of St. James, Seacroft, Leeds, England. (Extant)

1842-1844 – While working for Thomas Hellyer, Withers sent several drawings to the Cambridge-Camden Society which were noted for their “elegance and accuracy.” A few are listed below.

• Drawing of Stained-Glass Window from Binstead Church, Isle of Wight.
• Drawing of Norman-era sculpture of a Holy Dove from Binstead Church, Isle of Wight.
• Detail of lancet windows and mouldings from Quarr Abbey, near Ryde, Isle of Wight.
• Detail of ruins of Quarr Abbey, near Ryde, Isle of Wight.
• Detailed drawings of carved Bench-ends from Church of St. Mary, Bradford Abass, Dorset.
• Drawing of Decorated Window from Sherborne Abbey, Dorset.
• Drawing of Decorated Window from St Edmund’s Church, Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight.
• Drawing of Couple-Lancet Window with mouldings and details, St Edmund’s Church, Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight.
• Drawing of a Brass of a Knight, ca. 1350, Culbourne, Isle of Wight.

March 5, 1844 – Elected as a member of the Cambridge-Camden Society.

1844 – Withers toured England the European continent.

1845-1846 – Spent time in Lancaster working with architect and historian Edmund Sharpe (1809-1877) as a draftsman, primarily assisting in numerous publications on Gothic architecture.

• Sharpe, Edmund, Architectural Parallels: or the Progress of Ecclesiastical Architecture in England, through the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries (London, John Van Voorst, 1848) and Supplement to “Architectural Parallels” (London, John Van Voorst, 1848).
• Sharpe, Edmund, Decorated Windows: A Series of Illustrations of the Window Tracery of the Decorated Style of Ecclesiastical Architecture (London, John Van Voorst, 1849).
• Sharpe, Edmund,  A Treatise on the Rise and Progress of Decorated Window Tracery in England (London, John Van Voorst, 1849). 
• One of Withers’ illustrations from the 1840’s was later used in Edmund Sharpe’s The Architectural History of St. Mary’s Church, New Shoreham (Chichester: William Hayley Mason, 1861).

1845 – Published papers and drawings which appeared in Quarterly Papers on Architecture vol. 4 (1845), edited by John Weale. 

• “Architectural Antiquities of the Church of the Holy Cross, Binstead, and St. Mary’s Church, Carisbrook, Isle of Wight, from drawings and measurements by R. J. Withers, Architect, with six illustrative plates.”
• “Examples of Encaustic Tiles from Beaulieu Abbey, by R. J. Withers, Architect with four illustrative plates”

1846 – Moved to Sherborne, Dorset and began his architectural practice (Parents and younger brother Frederick Clarke Withers, had moved from Shepton Mallet to Sherborne in 1839).

1847-1848 – Church of St. Nicholas, Hilfield, Dorset, England – Restoration and addition to early 14^th century church. Withers added new chancel. (Extant)

1848-1849 – New chancel, All Saints’ Church, Poyntington, Somerset, England. (Extant)

1848-1849 – Schoolhouse, Poyntington, Somerset, England (might be his first design) (Extant but altered.  Building originally was designed with cloak room on the north side that was later altered and expanded).

1848-1849 – Restoration and rebuilding of 13^th-18^th century St. Martin’s Church, Lillington, Dorset, England. – Except for the 15^th century tower, most of the church was rebuilt by Withers. (Extant)

1848 – Competition entry for the Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England. (Unbuilt.  Built to the designs of Mallinson and Healey of Bradford). Design exhibited in 1850.

1848-1849 – Repairs to 14^th and 15^th cent. Parish Church of St. Andrews, Trent, Somerset (now Dorset), England. (Extant)  Withers rebuilt to pinnacles on the tower, rebuilt the window tracery and redecorated the floor of the sanctuary with Minton tiles.

May 1849 – Elected as an associate member of the Institute of British Architects.

1849 – Some of Withers’ drawings of brasses published in The Monumental Brasses of England (London: G. Bell, 1849) by Rev. Charles Boutell, M.A.

1849-1850 – Restoration and rebuilding of 15th cent. Church of St. Andrew, Leigh, Dorset, England. Work was not carried out and in 1853-1854 architect and builder R. H. Shout of Yeovil was given the commission. (Unbuilt)

1849-1850 – Restoration and rebuilding of 15^th cent. St. Mary’s Church, Melbury-Bubb, Dorset, England. Work was not carried out and in 1853-1854 architect and builder R. H. Shout of Yeovil was given the commission. (Unbuilt)

1849-1850 – Farmhouse at Hermitage, Dorset, England.  Commissioned by St. John’s Almshouse at Sherborne, Somerset, England. (Unknown but possibly the “Common Farm” near St. Mary’s Church, Hermitage)

1849 – Unbuilt competition entry for St. Thomas’ Church, Newport, Isle of Wight – Built to the designs of S.W. Dawes of Cheltenham.

1850 – Withers moved from Sherborne to London with his younger brother, Frederick Clarke Withers and briefly worked in the office of Thomas Henry Wyatt and the London Improvement Commission. Possibly worked with Wyatt until 1854. The two bothers lived at 23 Harrington St, London.

1850 – Exhibited five drawings at the Cambridge-Camden Society Exhibition.

1850-1852 – Alterations to Holy Trinity Church, Hulme, Manchester, England. (Demolished 1953).  Originally designed by George Gilbert Scott and S. Moffatt in 1841-43.  Withers redesigned the crossing (lantern) of the nave and transept to become the new chancel.  Old chancel was located in the apse which continued to serve as the sanctuary.

1851-1853 – R. J. Withers lived at Winchester Street, Adelphi, London.

February 1852 – Frederick Clarke Withers immigrates to the United States to work in the office of Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux.

1853 – Address listed as 70 Tachbrook St., Pimlico, London

1854 – Created drawings to be displayed in the Medieval Court of the rebuilt Chrystal Palace at Sydenham (Medieval court designed by Matthew Digby Wyatt).

April 20, 1854 – Marries Catherine Vaux, youngest sister of Calvert Vaux at the Croydon Parish Church.

1854-1855 – Lived at 6 St. John Street, Adelphi, London.

1855-1868 – Lived and worked at 51 Doughty St., London. Arguably his most important commissions date from this period.

ca. 1855 – Rebuilding St. Mary’s Church, Llanfair-Nant-y-Gof, Pembrokeshire, Wales (Extant). This church is attributed to Withers though there is no evidence to support that claim. https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/230/

1855-1857 – Rebuilding of St. Cynwyl’s Church, Aberporth, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1855-1856 – Rebuilding St. Mary’s Church, Llanfair-Nant-Gwyn, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Extant)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCp-m35Ts1g

1856-1857 – Church-house, Llanfair Nant-Gwyn, Wales. (Extant) Two story building with stables and coach-house on the ground and school room and living space on the second floor.

1855-1856 – Rebuilding of St. James Church, Buttermere, Wiltshire, England.  New church constructed reusing much material as possible from the original, 13^th century church.  (Extant) Consecrated May, 1856.  Withers also designed two new stained-glass windows.

1856 – Mission church for St. James, Buttermere to be located on Kepple Island in the Falkland Islands (was probably not built).

1856 – Competition designs for the National Schools, Ludlow, Shropshire, England. (unbuilt)

1856-1859 – St. Tygwydd Church, Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales (Demolished in 2000 though foundations still remain)

1856 – Consulted committee at the Ecclesiastical Society about cast-iron coffin ornaments.

1856 – Exhibited designs for St. James, Butterworth; St. Mary’s, Llanfair-Nant-Gwyn; St. Cynwyl’s Church, Aberporth; St Tygwydd Church, Llandygwydd at the annual Exhibition of the Ecclesiastical Society.

1856 – Address listed as 6 John St., Adelphi, London.

1856-1857 – St. Peter’s Chapel-school, Westmancote, Worcestershire. (Extant, but altered into a private residence)

Nov. 3, 1856 – Birth of a daughter while living at 3 Winchester St., Pimlico, London.

1856-1857 – Restored and enlarged 13^th century All Saints’ Church, Warlington, Surry, England. (Extant)

1856-1860 – Guildhall, grammar school and market building, Cardigan, Cardinganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1856-1860 – Slaughterhouse, Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales – Construction began in 1858. (Extant. Altered and currently used as the Theatr Mwlden, Cardigan)

1856-1865 – School, Vicarage and Parsonage as well as the restoration of 14^th cent. Church of St James, Great Saling, Baintree, Essex, England. (Vicarage, parsonage and church are extant.  Schoolhouse is demolished)

1856-1858 – Restoration of 15^th century Church of St Mary & St. Christopher, Panfield, Baintree, Essex, England.  (Extant)

1857-1858 – School and master’s house, Penbryn, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extent but altered into a house in the 1930’s and given the name “Bryntelor”)

1857-1865 – Church of St. Llwchairn, New Quay, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1857-1858 – Remodeled existing school to become a boys’ school, designed a new girls’ school, Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales – Girls’ School currently being used as St. Tygwydd’s Church. (Extant, but altered)

1857-1858 – Carriage House, Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1857-1858 – Church Cottage, 4 Parcgweydd Hill, Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Attributed – Extant)

1857-1861 – Rebuilt St. Teilo’s Church, Cilrheyden, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Mostly demolished).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X7Rk_P9lzU

1857-1858 – Restoration of Church of St. John the Baptist, Great Amwell, Herts, England. (Extant)

1858-1860 – Church of St. Helen, Little Cawthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1858 – Competition design for the Wakefield Church Institution, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. (unbuilt)  Competition attracted 31 contestants.  A. B. Higham of Wakefield was declared the winner.

1858-1859 – Lavers & Barraud, Painted Glass Works, cor. Endell and Betterton Sts., London.  (Extant but altered)

1858-1860 – Rebuilt St. David’s Church, Llanllawer, Pembrokeshire, Wales (Extant, but abandoned and in a state of ruins)

1858-1860 – Unbuilt plans for the rebuilding of St. Michael’s Church, Llanvihangle Penbedw, Pembrokeshire, Wales. – Withers’ plans were not used and J. C. Davis of Cardigan was hired instead. (Extant, but abandoned and in a state of ruins).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItURotxig3Q

1858 – Chancel fittings for St. Michael’s Church, Tremain, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)  Withers designed the choir stalls and lectern.  Church originally built 1846-48 to the designs of John Jones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCmpr71I6yg&t=317s

1859-1863 – Parsonage for Rev. J. Hudson, Newcastle, Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.  Pictured in Modern Examples of Churches, Chapels and Mansions (1866). (Unknown but probably not built)

1859-1860 – Remodeled St. Cynllo Church, Llangoedmor, Cardinganshire, Wales.  Church was originally constructed in 1830. Withers added the vestry and new porch and new fenestration and rebuilt the chancel arch. (Extant)

1859-1862 – Schoolhouse, Llanarth, Cardinganshire. (Unknown but possibly the Llanarth Church Hall)

1859 – Unbuilt plans for the Cardigan Gas Works.

1859-1861 – Wellington Building, cor. Wellington and Exeter Sts., London. (Extant but altered. Now connected to the Lyceum Theatre)

1859-1861 – Rebuilt Church of St. David, Llanllawer, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Extant but in a state of ruin)

1859-1863 – Rebuilt nave, Church of the Holy Savior, Narraghmore, County Kildare, Ireland. (Extant)  https://archdrawing.ireland.anglican.org/items/show/3056

1859-1860 – Restored All Saint’s Church, Warlingham, Surrey, England. (Extant)

1859-1861 – Alterations and additions to Parsonage, Shedfield, Hampshire, England. (Extant)

1860 – “The Maiden Window,” St. Thomas Church, Newport, Isle of Wight.  Executed by Lavers & Barraud.  (Extant) https://newportminster.org/heritage/windows/ 

1860-1862 – St. Mary’s College, Harlow.  Cornerstone laid July 2, 1861 with Withers in attendance. (Demolished) Formerly located near St. John’s the Baptist Church in an area that has been redeveloped as “The Joselyns.” 

1860-1862 – Restored and enlarged St. John the Baptist, Rathconnell, Westmeath, Ireland. Original Church built 1798.  Closed 1963.  (Extant but in a state of ruin.)

1860-1862 – Restoration of St. John’s Church, Clerkenwell, London (Extant but in a state of ruins)

1860-1862 – Restored and enlarged Tullyallen Church, County Louth, Ireland. (Unknown)

1860-1862 – Restored and rebuilt St. Nicholas Church, Monington, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Extant)

1860-1862 – Restored and rebuilt St. Dogfael Church, Meline, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Extant)

1860-1862 – Rebuilt St. Teilo’s Church, Cilheyden, Pembrokeshire, Wales.  (Plans for restoring the church from 1857 were discarded and plans for a replacement church were created in 1861) Illustrated in The Church Builder, vol. 2, no. 8 (Oct. 1863): pp. 149-152.  Reopened April 29, 1862. (Mostly demolished) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X7Rk_P9lzU

1860 – Monument to Lysimachus Parker placed under the west window at St. Helen’s Church, Little Cawthorpe, Lincolnshire. (Extant)

1861-1862 – Chapel-school, Castell, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Unknown) The Ecclesiologist vol. 19 (1861): pp. 112, 126-127.

1861-1862 – School and Master’s house, cor. Church and High Sts., Burgh-le-Marsh, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant but altered) Currently the home of the public library.

1861-1862 – Rebuilt Church of St Mary, West Torrington, Lincolnshire, England. Reopened July 3, 1862. (Extant with plans to convert it into a private house)

1861 – “Palace Rooms” for F. Hellewell, Kensington, London, England.

1861-1862 – Vicarage house and office, Llanarth, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1861-1863 – Rev. W. Forbes Capel House, Cranleigh, England. (Unknown)

1861-1863 – Completion of Tower-Villa, Anerley Grove, London (possibly extant) Probably the house on the corner of Belvedere Road and Anerley Grove (House was begun by another architect and completed by Withers)

1861-1863 – Rebuilding of chancel, 14^th cent. parish church of St. Oswald, Rand, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1861-1862 – Alterations to the nave at St. John’s Church, Clerkenwell, London. (Mostly demolished)

1861-1862 – Restoration of 15^th cent. (with 18^th century interior) St. Ethelburga, Bishop’s Gate, London.  Reopened Nov. 27, 1862. (Mostly destroyed) Currently known as St. Ethelburga’s Center for Reconciliation and Peace. https://stethelburgas.org/who-we-are/our-story/

1861-1864 – Restoration of the 12^th– 15^th cent. Church of St. Brynach, Nevern, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Reopened May 26, 1864. (Extant)

1861-1863 – Parsonage and/or Vicarage, Garton-in-Holderness, Yorkshire, England (Extant).  Illustrated in The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal vol. 30 (May 1, 1867): p121; pl. 10.

1861-1864 – Rebuilding of the Llanychllwydog Church, Gwaun Valley, west of Pontfaen, Pembrokeshire, Wales.  Reopened Nov. 2, 1864. (Extant but converted to a private residence)

1861-1862 – Partial Restoration of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Tetney, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant) Reopened Sept. 11, 1862.

1862 – Designed the cover illustration for The Church Builder, a new quarterly journal published by The Incorporated Church Building Society.

1862 – Coped tomb for churchyard, St. Swithin, Baumber, Lincolnshire, England.  Also designed a mural-tablet for same person inside the church. (Extant)

1862-1863 – Parsonage (or possible the rectory), Liss, Hampshire. (Extant) https://themovemarket.com/tools/propertyprices/the-old-rectory-farnham-road-liss-gu33-6ju

1862-1863 – Parsonage for Henfynyw, Aberayron, Cardiganshire, Wales. (extant)

1862-1863 – Rectory, Asterby, East Lindsay, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1862 – Published drawings of iron hinges from the Church of St. Lawrence and All Saints, Eastwood, Essex and All Saints Church, Sutton, Essex.  “Ancient Iron Work,” The Civil Engineer and Architects’ Journal vol. 25 (June 1, 1862): p. 157, pl. 12.

1862-1863 – Remodeled with additions to rectory house at South Repps, Norfolk, England. (Extant)

1862-1863 – New Roof and replacement of clerestory windows, Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Belton, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1862-1866 – Schoolhouse, Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, Wales. (Extant but altered)

1862-1863 – Interior repairs and painting, 13 Seymour St., London. (Demolished)

1862-1865 – Restoration of 15^th cent. church of Wiggenhall St. German, St. Germain, Lynn, Norfolk, England.  Interior pictured in Modern Examples of Churches, Chapels and Mansions (1866) and The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal vol. 26 (June 1, 1863): pp. 154-155. (Extant)

1862-1867 – Church of The Resurrection, Brussels, Belgium. (Extant but altered. Now a nightclub).  Illustrated in The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal vol. 28 (July 1, 1865): p. 196 and in Modern Examples of Churches, Chapels and Mansions (1866).

1862 – Crozier (pastoral staff) for Bishop Thomas N. Staley of Honolulu – Designed with ebony, ivory and silver and executed by Mr. Keith.  “The Subordinate and Decorative Arts,” The Building News vol. 10 (June 26, 1863): p. 487.  Exhibited at the International Exhibition (1862)- See “The International Exhibition,” The London Standard (Nov. 15, 1862): p. 5.

1863-1865 – Restoration of addition to St. Llwchaiarn’s Church, Llanllwchaiarn, Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Reopened May 11, 1865. (Extant) https://www.jlb2011.co.uk/walespic/churches/llanllwch1.htm

1863-1864 – Joseph Clougher house and shop, 18 High St., Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant but altered)

1863-1864 – Unknown house at Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales (Building News, vol. 10, Aug. 28, 1863, p. 675 – possibly 23 High Street)

1863 – Crozier (pastoral staff) for Dr. William George Tozer, the Bishop of Africa (Image and description in The Builder, vol. 49, July 18, 1885). See also, Illustrated London News vol. 42 (May 23, 1863): p. 578

1863-1864 – Remodeling St. Cynon’s Church, Capel Cynon, Cardiganshire. (Extant) (Withers’ plans may not have been used)

1863-1865 – Rebuilding of St. Dogfael Church, Meline, Pembrokeshire, Wales.  Reopened July 12. 1865. (Extant) –Church owned a copy of The Book of Common Prayer illustrated by Owen Jones.

1863-1865 – Alterations to Dratyton House and Chapel, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, England. (Demolished 1955) This project is attributed to Withers.

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 Thomas Henry Wyatt.  Wyatt won the commission and the church was constructed to his designs 1865-67.

1863-1870 – Street plan for the Park Town Estate, Battersea, London. Withers laid out thirteen streets for the first phase the Battersea development.

1863-1864 – Elmswell Rectory, Woolpit, Suffolk, England.  Illustrated in The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal vol. 30 (May 1, 1867): p121; pl. 10. (Extant)

1863-1864 – Restoration and chancel renovations of the Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist, Elmswell, Woopit, Suffolk, England.  Withers returned to the church in 1872 to do a complete restoration of the chancel. (Extant)

1863-1865 – School with teacher’s residence, Elmswell, Woopit, Suffolk, England. (Demolished 1990)

1863-1878 – Restoration of St. Patrick’s Church, Pencarreg, Carmarthenshire. (Extant)

1864 – Elected as Fellow to the Royal Institute of British Architects.

1864-1865 – Rebuilding of St. David’s Church, Blaenporth, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant) Also added bay window in 1867.

1864-1866 – English Protestant Church, 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 residence) Described in Rev. J. Brame, M.A., Thoughts and Suggestions on Mission-Chapels, Rooms, etc. (London: William Skeffington, 1868): pp. 32-33.

1864 – New paving and stalls for the chancel, St. Peter’s, Friesthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant but altered)

1864-1866 – Rebuilding of St. David’s, Henfynyn, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Reopened June 21, 1866. (Extant)

1865-1866, 1872 – Schoolhouse, Shouldham, Norfolk, England. (Extant but altered) Withers was also responsible for the retaining wall and the 1872 addition.

1865 – Brass Candlesticks for St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Munster Square, London, England. (Unknown but probably extant)

1865-1866 – Proposed Church of St. Michael and All Angels Church, Coltman Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire. England. (Unbuilt)  Sheahan, James Joseph, History of the Town and Port of Kingston-upon-Hull, 2^nd ed. (Beverly, Eng.: John Green, 1866): p. 539. (Chancel was intended to have Salviati mosaics)

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

1865-1869 – Refitting with minor alterations, St. James’ Church, James Town, Island of St. Helena. (Extant but altered)

1865-1866 – Schoolhouse for parish of St. Philip, Clerkenwell, London, England. Located on the NW corner of King’s Cross Road and Gwynne Place. Illustrated in The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal vol. 28 (Oct. 1, 1865): p. 285; pl. 30. (Demolished)

1866-1867 – New parsonage for St. Philip’s Church, Clerkenwell, London, England. (Unknown)

1866-1867 – Partial rebuilding of St. Andrew’s Church, Moylegrove, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (closed, but extant)

1866 – Brass lectern, St. James’ Church, Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1866-1867 – Chapel-school, Howe Bridge, Lancashire, England. (unknown and probably demolished)

1866-1868 – Remodeling and rebuilding of All Saint’s Church, West Barkwith, Lincolnshire, England. Reopened March 4, 1868. (Demolished 1983)

1866-1867, 1875 – Restored the nave at 14^th-15^th century St Mary’s Church, Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire, England.  Reopened Nov. 20, 1867. Withers returned to this church in 1875 to restore the chancel. (Extant)

1866-1869 – Church of St. Andrew, Westgate, Weardale, England. (Extant) Withers donated the communion table.

1866-1867 – Vicarage, Llanbadarn Fawr, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1866-1867 – Vicarage, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1866-1867 – Vicarage, Nantcwnlle, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Unknown)

1866-1867 – Parsonage, Tremain, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant – off A487 about 1 mile west of St. Michael’s Church)

1866-1869 – Church of St. Gabriel, Chrisp-street, Bromley-by-Bow, Middlesex, England. (demolished) Illustrated in The Architect vol. 7 (March 30, 1872). (An almost identical church was built ca. 1882 at Bowes Park by a different architect)

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

1867 – Unbuilt project for the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Alloa, Scotland.  Built to the designs of Robert Rowan Anderson, Architect.

1867 – R.J. Withers donated 1857 edition of Villas and Cottages by Calvert Vaux to the RIBA.

1867 – Inspected the Church of St. Gregory, Castlemorton, Worcestershire, England. Church was later restored in 1879-1880 by Ewan Christian, architect of London. (Extant). http://bcharchive.org.uk/churches/st-gregorys.html

1867-1868 – St. Paul’s Church, Cassop-cum-Quarrington (Quarrington Hill), Durham, England Opened Jan 30, 1868. Originally designed with tower that was never constructed (Demolished 1993) (Vicarage may have been designed by Withers) Stone entrance to churchyard still extant.  https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1884-0209-48-149

1867-1868 – St. Mary’s Church, Coxhoe, Durham, England.  Consecrated May 14, 1868. (Extant)

1867-1869 – Church of St. Margaret, Habrough, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1867-1868 – Schoolhouse, Lower Lane, Mackworth, Derbyshire, England. (Extant, now a private residence)

1867-1868 – Alterations to Vicarage, Longdon, Worcestershire, England. (Extant – now the curate’s residence)

1867-1870 – Rebuilding of St. Peter’s Church, Lampeter-Pont-Stephen, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1867-1868 – Repaired and refitted the chancel at the 12^th – 15^th century Church of St. Mary the Virgin, East Barkwith, Lincolnshire, England.  Various architects were involved, each handling a different part of the church. (Extant)

1867-1868 – Alterations to All Saint’s Church, York-Street, Lambeth, London, England. (Demolished 1899-1901)

1867-1869 – Replaced south porch at St. James’ Church, Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant) Withers had designed a brass lectern for the church in 1866.

1867-1868 – Rebuilt St. Edith’s Church, North Reston, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant) Original building from 11^th 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.

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

1867 – Fittings designed for chapel at Zanzibar, Tanzania for Bishop William 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.) 

1867-1868 – Parochial School, Shouldham, Norfolk. (Extant but altered) Currently the Chalk and Cheese B&B.

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

1867-1869 – Rectory for Church of All Saints, Shouldham, Norfolk, England. (Extant) Attributed

1867-1868 – Addition to parsonage, Barton Bendish, Norfolk, England. (Extant)

1867-1868 – Addition to parsonage, East Barkwith, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1867-1868 – Addition to parsonage, West Torrington, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1867-1868 – School, Atherton, Lancashire, England. (unknown)

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

1867 – Restored the classical porch at St. John’s Church, Newport, Tipperary, Ireland. (Extant)

1867-1869 – National School, Runcton-Holme, Norfolk, England. (Extant).

1867-1869; 1874-1875 – Restoration of St. Mary’s Church, Edlesborough, Bucks, England. (Extant) http://www.edlesboroughchurch.org.uk/new-page-1

1868-1869 – Restored and partially rebuilt Church of St. Leonard, Warwick, Cumberland, England, with new chancel arch, three new windows. Reopened in August 1869.  Illustrated in The Architect vol. 7 (April 27, 1872). (Extant)

1868-1869 – Vicarage, Church of St. Leonard, Warwick, Cumberland, England. (Unknown but possibly the building which is currently the Westgate Manor B&B)

1868-1869 – Building at 23 High St., Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Attributed – may have been built as same time as 18 High Street)

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

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

1869-1884 – Lived and worked at 11 Adams St., Adelphi, London.

1869-1870 – Installation of memorial chancel and stone (reredos?) as well as minor alterations to accommodate more seating at the Church of St. Philips, Granville-square, Clerkenwell, London. (demolished)

1870-1871 – Stained glass windows designed for Church of St. David, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales. (Extant)

1870-1881 – Restoration of 15^th century Church of St. Petroc, Bodmin, Cornwall, England. (Extant)

1870-1871 – Schoolhouse, Reedham, Norfolk, England. (Extant but altered)

1870-1872 – Rebuilt of St. Michael’s Church, Egwyswen (Whitechurch), Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Extant)

1870-1871 – Rebuilt Church of St Michael, Llanfihangel Abergwesyn, Breconshire, England. (Demolished 1964)

1870-1874 – Restored and repaired Church of St Michael, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant) Withers replaced the doors and windows and added a new porch and sacristy.

1870-1872 – Lengthened chancel, St. Paul’s Church, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, England.  Church was originally built by Thomas Clundy and consecrated in 1843.  (Extant) Reredos by Withers were illustrated in John Wright’s Some Notable Altars in the Church of England and the American Episcopal Church (New York: McMillan & Co., 1908): p. 80; plate.  For a fuller description, see The Architect vol. 5 (March 11, 1871): p. 132. (Commission led to building of St. Mary’s, Pimlico)

1870-1872 – Clergy-house, St. Paul’s Church, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, England. (Extant) Illustrated in The Architect vol. 7 (April 27, 1872) with plans and elevation.

1871-1873 – Restored and rebuilt All Saint’s Church, Boughton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England. (Extant)

1871– Design for St. John’s Church, Penrhyn-coch, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Unbuilt)

1871-1872 – Rebuilt Church of St. Sulian, Silian, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant, but closed)

1871-1873 – All Hallows’ Village Hospital, Ditchingham, Norfolk. (Extant) Illustrated in The Architect vol. 8 (Aug. 3, 1872) with plans and bird’s-eye view.

1871-1872 – Repaired and remodeled St Tielio’s Church, Llanarth, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1872-1873 – Vicarage, St. Michael’s, Chester-square, London.  House was constructed somewhere on Buckingham Palace Road for Rev. Rowland Hill, vicar of St. Michael’s.  (Unknown) Parsonage was also built at 162 Buckingham Palace Road in 1892.

1872-1874 – Convalescent Home at ……e-road, Hull, England. (Unknown)

1872-1882 – Restoration of 16^th century Holy Trinity Church at Wetheral, Cumberland, England.  Chancel rebuilt by Withers. (Extant) Unknown if lych-gate is by Withers.

1872-1874 – St. John the Divine, Ysbyty-Ystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales (Extant) This church replaced the existing Parish Church which is also still extant.

1872-1874 – Building of a parochial institution for St. Mark’s, Balderton Street, Mayfair, London (Extant, now known as St. Marks Mansion)

1872-1873 – Vicarage-house, St. Michael’s, Chester-square, London.  House was constructed somewhere on Ebury-square for Rev. Rowland Hill, vicar of St. Michael’s. (Unknown)

1872 – Exhibited work at the Church Congress, Leeds, England.

1872-1874 – Parochial institutions for St. James, Notting Hill, London, England. (Unknown)

1872-1874 – Mission Church for St. Mary, Bourne St., Pimlico, London, England. (Extant)

1873 – Exhibited in the International Exhibition at Royal Albert Hall.

1873-1874 – Rebuilt nave (with new chancel rail) and porch, St David’s Church, Llanddewi-Brefi, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant) https://twitter.com/bethenachannel/status/1681560041080356864 https://twitter.com/bethenachannel/status/1681563803794718721

1874-1880 – Church of St. John the Baptist, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant) Illustrated in The Architect vol. 12 (July 18, 1874) and in The Building News (July 17, 1874).

1874 – Drinking Fountain, Hall Place, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England. (Demolished 1954. Currently, there are plans to have the fountain re-erected in its original location). Three other fountains were also to be erected 1n 1874 at London Road, Holbeach Road and on the Hawthorn Bank. It is unknown if any were erected or whether Withers was involved in their design.

1874 – Rearranged the chancel, St. Barnabas, Hackney, London, England. (Extant)

1874-1879 – Restoration of St. Illtyd, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales. (Extant)

1874-1879 – Restoration of the 10^th-15^th century Church of St. James, Avebury, Wiltshire, England.  (Extant) Image and plan published in The Church Builder, vol. no. 53 (1875): pp. 11-13, 15.  Withers reinstalled the 15^th century rood loft and designed a new rood screen.  The rood loft had been removed in the 16^th century and rediscovered during church renovations in 1812.  https://escapetobritain.com/avebury-church-of-st-james/

1874-1883 – Restored of the nave, new roof and other repairs to St. James Church, Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant) Illustrated in The Building News vol. 28 (May 21, 1875): p. 570; multiple illustrations. Also added onto the chancel as a memorial to canon Ainslie in 1882-1883.

1874-1876 – Restored Llanlleonfel Parish Church, west of Garth, Powys, Wales. (Extant, slightly altered)

1874-1875 – Restored the chancel at 14^th-15^th century St Mary’s Church, Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire, England.  (Withers previously restored the nave in 1867)

1875 – Unexecuted restoration of S.S. Cadoc and David, Llangadoc, Carmerthenshire, Wales. (Extant but plans by Withers were not carried out)

1875-1877 – Restoration of Church of St. Lucia, Llanwnen, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant)

1875 – Design for new chancel and organ chamber, St. Mary the Virgin, Littlehampton, Sussex, England.  Pictured in The Architect vol. 14 (July 17, 1875).  Probably remained unbuilt since chancel was added in the 1880’s by a different architect.

1875-1876 – Addition of chancel, vestries and organ chamber to St. James Church, Norlands, Notting Hill, London.  Original church designed by Lewis Villaimy in 1845.  Withers is also credited as one of the architects for this church since it was his additions that actually completed the building. (Extant)

1875-1876 – Parsonage, St. James Church, Buttermere, Wiltshire, England. (Unknown)

1876-1878 – Restoration of parish church of Sts. Mary and Nicholas, Beaumaris, Anglesey, Wales. (Extant) Illustrated in Building News (March 10, 1876)

1877 – Withers wrote a letter calling for the restoration of the Buckingham (aka York) Watergate which had been designed in 1626 by Inigo Jones.

1877-1881 – Withers designed mosaic reredos for the east end of St. Andrew’s Church, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England.  Mosaics made by Antonio Salviatori. (Extant)

1877-1879 – Middle-class school, Salisbury, England.  Also known as “Salisbury School.” (Extant) Founded in 1876 by Rev. William C. Baker (former vicar at Shepton Bellinger).  School was sold to Rev. J. C. Alcock in 1889.  Around 1897, the school was purchased as a charitable trust in the will of Julia Chafyn Grove.  The name was officially changed in 1916 to the Chafyn Grove School. – a complete description of the original building is found in The Builder, vol. 37, no. 1925 (Dec. 29, 1879): p. 1443.

1877-1879 – Restoration of St. Peter’s Church, Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England.  (Extant) Withers also designed a new font in a 14^th century style.

1877-1882 – Repaired and restored St. Bartholomew’s Church, Wiggington, Hertfordshire, England.  (Extant) 14^th Century church that had been enlarged in 1857.

1878-1879, 1881 – Restored and altered, Church of St. Martin, Wootton, Kent, England. (Extant)

1878-1880 – Rebuilt St. Magdalene, Upton Noble, Somerset, England. (Extant) Withers lengthened the nave and chancel.

1879-1882 – St. John’s Church, Penrhyn-coch, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant) This replaced a smaller chapel-school which had been designed by William Butterfield (1862-1863) which is still extant but altered. 

1880-1880 – Town Hall, Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales. (Extant. Currently the Quilt Museum of Wales).  Illustrated in The Building News vol. 42 (May 5, 1882).

1880-1881 or 82 – Withers lived in Streatham, Surrey, England.

1880-1886 – Church of St. Anselm, Madeira Road, Streatham, Surrey, England (destroyed in WWII) Illustrated in The Building News (Sept. 29, 1882).

1880 – New Church at Weelsby, England. (Unidentified and may not have been constructed)

1880-1884 – St John the Divine, 146A, Bedford Hill Road, Balham, Bedford Hill, London (addition by E.H. Elphik, 1899-1900).  (Altered).  Currently used as the Burlington School.  Withers designed the chancel as the original church.

Jan. 31, 1881 – Withers expelled as a member of the RIBA.  Withers’ case was heard by the RIBA at the Jan. 17 meeting and at the January 31 meeting, he was given punishment of “expulsion of a defaulter under by-law XLIV.”

1881-1882 – Board School, Upton Noble, Somerset, England. (Currently used as the Village Hall)

1881-1882 – Repaired 10^th-14^th century Church of St. Mary, Northchurch, Hertfordshire, England. (Extant)

1881-1882 – Chancel, vestry and lady chapel, St. John’s, Sidcup, Kent, England. (Demolished ca. 1899) Original church constructed 1844. 

1881-1883 – Church of St. Gabriel, Notting Hill, London, England. Consecrated in July 25, 1883. (Demolished)

1881 or 82-1894 – Withers lived in Putney, London, England. Office remained at 11 Adams St., Adelphi, London.

1882-1883 – Redecorated St. Cain’s Church, Llangain, Carmarthenshire, Wales. (Extant)

1882-1883 – New Chancel for the 15^th-16^th century St. Mary the Virgin, Batcombe, Somerset, England. (Extant)

1885-1886 – House for Mrs. Osborne, Sandhurst, England. (Unknown)

1886 – Repaired All Saints’ Church, Saltfleetby, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1886-1887 – Repaired and restored 11^th-15^th century Church of St. Mary, North Witham, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1887-1888 – St. Paul’s Church, West Marsh, Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. (Demolished)

1887– New organ case, All Saints, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England. (Extant)

1887-1888 – St. Michael’s Vicarage, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. (demolished 2007) Published in American Architect and Building News (international edition) Feb. 14, 1891.

June 10, 1891 – Robert’s wife Catherine dies at the age of 57.

1891-1892 – New Chancel, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, North Stainley, Yorkshire, England. (Extant) Original church built 1840. https://www.mashamparishes.org/history-of-north-stainley.html

1891 – Withers patented an invention for “locking, biding, or securing” roof tiles.  Could also be applied to battens or boards.

1891-1892 – Church of St. Laurence, Orchard Gardens, West Challow, Berkshire, England. (Extant)

1891-1892 – New chancel, Holy Trinity Church, Charlton, Wantage, Oxfordshire (formerly part of Berkshire), England. (Extant but altered) Church was largely rebuilt in 1906.  Unknown if any work by Withers survives.   http://www.oxfordshirechurches.info/CharltonHolyTrinity.htm

Oct. 7, 1894 – Death of Robert Jewell Withers at age 70. At the time, he was living at 40 Shubert Road, Putney, London.

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Acknowledgement:

• I’d like to thank Bethena for her insights and clarifications in compiling this list.