- Selected:
SEEDS, JOHN
- Born: 1881 Died: 1966
Architect, of Belfast. John Seeds, a younger son of Robert Seeds, house and land agent, of 4 Grasmere Terrace, Hopefield, Belfast, was born in Belfast on 8 June 1881 and was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and, from September 1894 until July 1896, at the newly-founded Campbell College, Belfast.(1) His architectural training is not recorded. He appears to have established an independent practice in Belfast by 1907(2) and by 1909 had an office at 7 Donegall Square West (in the Scottish Provident Buildings), where he was to remain for the rest of his career. His output, as reflected in the pages of the Irish Builder, consisted chiefly of domestic and commercial work and Congregational churches. He was assessor of the Enniskillen Masonic Hall competition in 1930.(3) In the same year he delivered an address on town and country planning to the Womens' Citizens Union in Belfast.(4) He retired in 1961 and died on 18 November 1966.(5) He was unmarried at the time of the 1911 census.
Seeds had a lifelong interest in Irish antiquities and in 1934 was appointed the RIBA's representative on the ancient monuments advisory committee for Northern Ireland. Commenting on the appointment, the Irish Builder noted that he had made surveys of three ruined churches at Loughinisland, Co. Down, published in the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, and of the abbeys of Killydonnell and Balleghan in Co. Donegal, and had 'continued his researches in the Hebrides where he goes nearly every summer in his yacht'.(6) As a member of the advisory committee's Georgian subcommittee he made a survey of Georgian architecture in the six counties. A collection of photographs and other documents relating to his survey is in the Monuments and Buildings Record of the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment.(7) He was also a member of the Northern Ireland committee of the National Trust.
Seeds's pupils included THOMAS CALLENDER.
RIBA: elected fellow, 1928.(8)
RSUA: member for over 60 years at the time of his death in 1966 or 1967;(9) president, 1926, 1927;(10) representative of the society on the Architects' Registration Council of the United Kingdom, 1939;(11) representative of the society on the Northern Ireland Planning Advisory Board from 1942.(12)
Addresses: Work: 7 Donegall Square West, 1909(13) onwards.
Home: 67 Cavehill Road, Clifton, Belfast, 1911; 24 Downview Avenue, Belfast, 1957(14) until death.
See WORKS.
References
All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 (RIBA 2001), II, 577.
(1) Information from Keith Haines, Campbell College archivist. According to this source, he had an elder brother, James Seeds (11879-1954) who was an estate agent.
(2) Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 97.
(3) IB 72, 29 Mar 1930, 287; 74, 31 Dec 1932, 1158; Architect & Building News 124, 25 Apr 1930, 525.
(3) IB 72, 22 Nov 1930, 1038.
(4) RSUA Year Book (1968), 78.
(5) See note 1, above.
(6) IB 76, 10 Mar 1934, 185.
(7) Seeds Collection, Y92237/ARC (on loan from PRONI).
(8) RIBA Kalendar 1957-1958, 479.
(9) See note 3, above.
(10) According to list of past office bearers in RSUA Jubilee Year Book 1951-1952, 5, Seeds was president in 1927 only, but see IB 68, 20 Feb 1926, 138 and IB 70, 21 Jan 1928, 75, also IB 81, 2 Sep 1939, 744.
(11) IB 81, 24 Jun 1939, 540.
(12) Belinda Jupp, introduction to Seeds Collection list, see note 6 above.
(13) IB 51, 25 Dec 1909, 818.
(14) See note 5, above.
51 work entries listed in chronological order for SEEDS, JOHN
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Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, TENNENT STREET, J. WHITE MEMORIAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
Date: | 1903;1928-30 |
Nature: | New church 'in the style of the Classic Renaissance'. Red brick with Giffnock stone dressings. Contract price: £1,800. FS laid late Summer, 1903. Gallery added 1930. |
Refs: | B 85, 10 Oct 1908, 368; IB 70, 4 Aug 1928, 672; 72. 15 Mar 1930, 251 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE PARK, NO. 016 & 18 (WOOLSEY VILLAS) |
Date: | 1907 |
Nature: | Addition of roughcast gabled central bays to pair of semi-detached houses of 1871 |
Refs: | Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 97 |
Building: | CO. ARMAGH, PORTADOWN, THOMAS STREET, HOUSES & SHOPS (004) |
Date: | 1909 |
Nature: | 8 houses & shops in Thomas St completed; 4 designed by J. Seeds (Contractor: Collen Bros.), 4 by J.W. Walby (Contractor: R. Lutton). |
Refs: | IB 51, 24 Jul 1909, 469 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MILLFIELD, NO. 064-84 (FARMERS' YARD) |
Date: | 1909 |
Nature: | New farmers' yard, with stabling for 60 horses and vehicles, dining room, stores, 'little short of a farmers' paradise'. For Mssrs. Kelly, Millfield, Belfast. |
Refs: | IB 51, 29 May 1909, 341; Marcus Patton, Central Belfast: an historical gazetteer (UAHS, 1993), 236 |
Building: | CO. DOWN, BALLYNAHINCH, DROMARA ROAD, INDEPENDENT CHURCH |
Date: | 1909-1910 |
Nature: | New church opposite Montalto demesne. Red brick with Giffnock stone dressings. FS laid 20 Oct 1909. Completed Sep? 1910. Replaced iron structure destroyed by heavy snowstorm in 1908. Builder: Thomas McKelvey, Ballynahinch (£1000) |
Refs: | IB 51, 23 Jan,29 May,13 Nov 1909, 49,341,725; 52, 1 Oct,12 Nov 1910, 615,700 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, CURRAN ROAD, CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
Date: | 1909-1910 |
Nature: | Tenders invited Dec 1909. Completed by Oct 1910. Belfast brick & Giffnoch stone. Builder: Hewett & Clark, Ballyhackamore. Cost: £930. |
Refs: | IB 51, 11,25 Dec 1909, 790,818; 52, 30 Apr,1 Oct 1910, 281,613(illus.); B 97, 25 Dec 1909, 704 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, POUND STREET, GETTY MISSION HALL |
Date: | 1910 |
Nature: | Tenders invited for repairs, alts. & adds. |
Refs: | IB 52, 19 Mar,30 Apr 1910, 182,277 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, LANCASTER STREET, GRACEY BROS. |
Date: | 1911 |
Nature: | New business premises, stores. Contractor: C. & W. McQuoid, Roden St. |
Refs: | IA & C 1, 4 Mar 1911, 74; IB 53, 4,18 Mar 1911, 146,178 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BEERSBRIDGE ROAD, BELFAST CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY |
Date: | 1913 |
Nature: | Taenders invited for erecting new premises. |
Refs: | IB 55, 11 Oct 1913, 656 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DOWNVIEW AVENUE, HOUSE |
Date: | 1919 |
Nature: | Tenders invited for erecting villa. |
Refs: | IB 61, 20 Dec 1919, 578 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HAWTHORNDEN ROAD, KNOCK RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB |
Date: | 1919 |
Nature: | Tenders invited for erecting memorial stand and pavilion. |
Refs: | IB 61, 13 Sep 1919, 394 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, SYDENHAM ROAD, FACTORY |
Date: | 1920 |
Nature: | Tenders invited for erection of same. |
Refs: | IB 62, 3 Jan 1920, 18 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, NEWFORGE LANE, NO. 029 (THE CRAGS) |
Date: | 1920 |
Nature: | 'A fine grey roughcast house in a plain Arts & Crafts style' |
Refs: | Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 141 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DOWNSHIRE AVENUE, HOUSE |
Date: | 1923 |
Nature: | New house, for Mssrs. R. Seeds & Son. Plans approved. |
Refs: | IB 65, 11 Aug 1923, 620 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, LANSDOWNE ROAD, HOUSE |
Date: | 1923 |
Nature: | Extension, for Mr A.H. Muir. Plans approved. |
Refs: | IB 65, 14 Jul 1923, 544 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BALMORAL AVENUE, NO. 083 (KILLEARN) |
Date: | 1923 |
Nature: | Arts & Crafts style house. |
Refs: | Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 31 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BALMORAL AVENUE, HOUSE |
Date: | 1923 |
Nature: | Villa for Mr A.W. Stewart. (Is this no 83?) |
Refs: | IB 65, 15 Dec 1923, 972 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ?, WAREHOUSE (WILSON, JORDAN & ALEXANDER) |
Date: | 1923 |
Nature: | Tenders invited for erection of same. |
Refs: | IB 65, 21 Apr 1923, 301 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, UNIVERSITY STREET, GARAGE (CHAMBERS MOTOR CO.) |
Date: | 1923-24;1926 |
Nature: | Plans approved for new garages. |
Refs: | IB 65, 20 Oct 1923, 812; 66, 26 Jan 1924, 66; 68, 9 Jan 1926, 21 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DOWNVIEW AVENUE, HOUSES (002) |
Date: | 1924 |
Nature: | 2 new villas. |
Refs: | IB 66, 20 Sep 1924, 821 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HARBERTON ESTATE |
Date: | 1924 |
Nature: | JS involved in Malone Road Improvement and building of roads and footpaths, laying sewers, etc, on Lord Harberton's estate at Malone. |
Refs: |
Letters from JS and others, estimates, etc, relating to above, 1924, in PRONI, D971/33/C/6 (see PRONI e-catalogue). |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, AGNES STREET, PREMISES |
Date: | 1924 |
Nature: | Addition. |
Refs: | IB 66, 17 May 1924, 442 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DALTON STREET, PREMISES |
Date: | 1924 |
Nature: | Alts. or reconstruction. |
Refs: | IB 66, 9,23 Aug 1924, 690,739 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ANTRIM ROAD, SHOP & STORES |
Date: | 1924 |
Nature: | New. |
Refs: | IB 66, 12 Jan 1924, 25 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GREAT GEORGE STREET, MILL |
Date: | 1925 |
Nature: | New mill. |
Refs: | IB 67, 16 May 1925, 401 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BROOMHILL PARK, NO. 003 |
Date: | 1925 |
Nature: | Arts & Crafts style house. |
Refs: | IB 67, 27 Jun 1925, 522; Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 36 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HILL STREET, PREMISES |
Date: | 1925 |
Nature: | Adds. |
Refs: | IB 67, 7 Mar 1925, 189 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CORPORATION STREET, PREMISES (MCNEILL LTD) |
Date: | 1926 |
Nature: | Adds. Plans approved. |
Refs: | IB 68, 15 May 1926, 294 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MILLFIELD, STORES |
Date: | 1926 |
Nature: | For Mr J. Kelly. Plans approved. |
Refs: | IB 68, 11 Dec 1926, 921 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, AGNES STREET, PREMISES |
Date: | 1926 |
Nature: | Alts. for Mr J. Kelly. Plans approved by City Surveyor. |
Refs: | IB 68, 7 Aug 1926, 619 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CAVEHILL ROAD, HOUSES (002) |
Date: | 1927 |
Nature: | Two villas, for Mrs E.J. Leith and Miss J.W. Patrick. Plans approved by City Surveyor. |
Refs: | IB 69, 8 Jan 1927, 23 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CAVEHILL ROAD, HOUSE |
Date: | 1927 |
Nature: | Alts. & adds. for Mr S.J. Seeds. Plans approved by City Surveyor. |
Refs: | IB 69, 29 Oct 1927, 801 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HEMSWORTH STREET, STORES |
Date: | 1927-28 |
Nature: | New stores, for Mr J. Kelly. Plans approved by City Surveyor. |
Refs: | IB 69, 6 Aug 1927, 578; 70, 21 Jan 1928, 69 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD (NEW AVENUE OFF) |
Date: | 1928 |
Nature: | Drainage to houses. |
Refs: | IB 70, 29 Sep 1928, 836 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, UPPER ARTHUR STREET, PREMISES |
Date: | 1928 |
Nature: | Add.s. |
Refs: | IB 70, 4 Aug 1928, 671 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD, NO. 175 |
Date: | 1928 |
Nature: | Roughcast house with hipped roofs and small-paned windows. |
Refs: | Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 111 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD, HOUSE & STORES |
Date: | 1928 |
Nature: | New. (Is this no 175, q.v.?) |
Refs: | IB 70, 27 Oct 1928, 923 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD, HOUSE |
Date: | 1929 |
Nature: | Drainage. |
Refs: | IB 71, 8 Jun 1929, 533 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CORPORATION STREET, CEMENT STORE & WALL |
Date: | 1930 |
Nature: | New cement store and boundary wall. |
Refs: | IB 72, 15 Mar 190, 251 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, BUS STATION |
Date: | 1930 |
Nature: | New bus station, for Mssrs. Catherwood, Belfast. |
Refs: | IB 72, 30 Aug 1930, 756; 74, 19 Nov 1932, 1048 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CORPORATION STREET, PREMISES |
Date: | 1931 |
Nature: | Additional storey. |
Refs: | IB 73, 17 Jan 1931, 66 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HARBERTON PARK, HOUSES (003) |
Date: | 1931 |
Nature: | 3 new houses. |
Refs: | IB 7a3, 10 Oct 1931, 884d |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ANN STREET, SHOPS (002) |
Date: | 1931 |
Nature: | Conversion of 1 shop into 2. |
Refs: | IB 73, 23 May 1931, 465 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CASTLEHILL ROAD, HOUSE |
Date: | 1932 |
Nature: | New house, for H. Anderson. |
Refs: | IB 74, 10 Sep 1932, 818 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DONEGALL STREET, CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
Date: | 1932-34 |
Nature: | Reconstruction of church destroyed by fire in 1931. Lecture hall on ground floor with church above. Portland stone front well set back from street, 2 side wings. Opened 8 Dec 1934. Contractor: McQuoid. £15,000. |
Refs: | Bill of quantities, Oct 1932, in PRONI, D2000/5 (see PRONI e-catalogue); IB 73, 7 Nov,5 Dec 1931, 958,1063; 74, 18 Jun 1932, 568; 75, 22 Apr,15 Jul 1933, 344,586 ; 76, 15 Dec 1934, 1101; Architect & Building News 128, 27 Nov 1931, 268; 132, 11 Nov 1932, 186; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 95 (no. 225, illus.); Marcus Patton, Central Belfast: an historical gazetteer (UAHS, 1993), 128 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, AGNES STREET, PREMISES |
Date: | 1933 |
Nature: | Alts., for John Kelly. |
Refs: | IB 75, 25 Feb 1933, 161 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, POTTINGER'S ENTRY, PREMISES |
Date: | 1934 |
Nature: | Adds. to premises for Northern Ireland Publishing Office. |
Refs: | IB 76, 30 Jun,28 Jul 1934, 557,641 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DOWNVIEW AVENUE, HOUSE |
Date: | 1938 |
Nature: | Addition. |
Refs: | IB 80, 5 Mar 1938, 197 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD, HOUSE |
Date: | 1938 |
Nature: | Alts. & adds. |
Refs: | IB 80, 28 May 1938, 457 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, FREDERICK STREET (& YORK LANE), PREMISES |
Date: | 1938 |
Nature: | Alts. & adds. |
Refs: | IB 80, 5 Feb 1938, 113 |
Building: | CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD, HOUSE |
Date: | 1939 |
Nature: | Addition. |
Refs: | IB 81, 5 Aug 1939, 678 |