- Selected:
POWELL, CHARLES B.
- Born: 1881/82 Died: 1956?
Architect, of Dublin. According to the 1911 census of Ireland, Charles B. Powell was born in Co. Dublin in 1881 or 1882, a younger son of HENRY POWELL and his wife Ellen McCormack(1) and a younger brother of HENRY EDWARD POWELL.& #160; He would have been at most an infant when his father died in 1882. He appears to have attended Blackrock College,(2) but details of his architectural training are not recorded; Henry Powell's family connections with John Hardman, the younger, and EDWARD WELBY PUGIN ,(3) suggest GEORGE COPPINGER ASHLIN as a likely master. In a talk which he gave in 1907 on 'The Education of the Ideal Architect', Charles Powell recommended 'a six-years' apprenticeship to an earnest master' undertaken at the age of fourteen or fifteen, followed by four or five years 'spent in the close superintendence of good building work under the control of a competent architect, to learn the methods and practice of the several trades'. He was strongly opposed to examinations, asserting that 'No man can examine another in such an art as this…the most magnificent and perfect of all'.(4) His views may reflect his own experience. Although he was a member of the AAI from 1899 until 1911, he was not affiliated to any professional body subsequently. His family connections would have recommended him to the ecclesiastical clients who provided him with most of his commissions, including at least one in England, for St Mary's Catholic church in St Helen's, Lancashire. He was the favoured architect of the Dublin Jesuits, who in 1911 commissioned him to design their University Hostel in Hatch Street, a Gothic building in bright red brick, rising conspicuously above the neighbouring terraces.
Information about Powell's personal life is hard to come by; he seems to have been a man of self-effacing and reclusive habits, living until about 1940 with his widowed mother. He worked from his home in Rathmines, and is not named in the directories at all. He is remembered by Leo Earley as a long-haired and bearded old man, living alone in a detached house on Maxwell Road, Rathmines, with two dogs 'who protected him fervently'.(5) Riding round Dublin on a bicycle, his bearded figure was known as 'God on a bike'.(6) According to Williams, he died in 1956,(7) although his last work to be recorded in the Irish Builder, an addition to Rosary House, Harold's Cross, dates from 1957,(8) while his churches at Rathangan and Caragh, Co. Kildare, were not opened until 1958.and 1960 respectively.(9)
AAI:(10) elected member, 1899; awarded Institute Prize for design for a technical school, 1902;(11) reads paper, 'The Education of the Ideal Architect', to AAI Design Club, 1907;(12) ceased membership, 1911.
Addresses: 16 Windsor Road, Rathmines, <=1896>=1900; 107 Upper Rathmines<=1903-1933; 59 Maxwell Road, Rathmines, <=1937->=1940.
See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY.
References
All information in this entry not otherwise attributed is from Thoms' and Post Office directories. C.B. Powell may be the 'Mr J. Powell' who appears in a group photograph of members of the AAI circa 1900 reproduced in IB 69, 15 Oct 1927, 759.
(1) 1911 census, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000154618/ (last visited Mar 2009); her surname is inferred from the fact that she was living with an unmarried sister called Agnes McCormack. as living at Salem House, Maxwell Road, in 1950.
(2) He was one of those present at the Blackrock College Union annual dinner in Nov 1907, see Irish Times, 22 Nov 1907.
(3) John Hardman was Henry Powell's uncle, and E.W. Pugin's sister Anne was married to his brotherJohn Hardman Powell (information from Mrs S.Houle).
(4) IB 49, 30 Nov 1907, 814.
(5) Notes on the Powells given to Nicola Gordon-Bowe by Leo Earley; Earley says that Powell, who 'had been one of the architects for Whitefriar Street Church', lived in 'Maxwell House, Maxwell Road - a detached house with its own grounds'. However there is no such house in the directories; Mrs Powell was living at No. 59 until 1940 or 1941, and a William Powell was living at Salem House, Maxwell Road, in 1950.
(6) J. Williams, Companion Guide to Architecture in Ireland 1837-1921 (1994), 135.
(7) J. Williams, op. cit., p. 419.
(8) IB 99, 2 Nov 1957, 871.
(9) Leinster Leader, 7 Jun 1958.
(10) Information from AAI Green Books unless otherwise indicated.
(11) IB 44, 16 Jan 1902, 1004.
(12) See note 2, above.
39 work entries listed in chronological order for POWELL, CHARLES B.
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Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MOUNT ARGUS, PASSIONIST MONASTERY |
Date: | 1909;1912 |
Nature: | Entrace gateway?, 1909. Tenders invited, Jul 1909. New library being fitted up, 1912. Contractor: Bolger and Doyle. |
Refs: | Irish Times, 15 Jul 1909; IB 54, 6 Jul 1912, 405. |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MARY STREET, NO. 019-21 (TODD, BURNS & CO.) |
Date: | 1910 |
Nature: | New warerooms. Original contractor: T. Pemberton, 23 Charlemont St; subsequently J. & P. Good. |
Refs: | IB 52, 28 May 1910, 338; IA & C 1, 25 Feb 1911, 60 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ISLANDBRIDGE, NEPTUNE ROWING CLUB |
Date: | 1910-11 |
Nature: | New. Contractor: Pat Shortall, Temple St. (City Architect approves design for extension by unknown architect, Jun or Jul 1924, see Irish Times, 17 Jul 1924). |
Refs: | IB 52, 2 Apr,9 Jul 1910, 217,443; IA & C 1, 4 Mar 1911, 79 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HATCH STREET LOWER, NO. 028A (JESUIT RESIDENTIAL HALL) |
Date: | 1910-13 |
Nature: | New building to accommodate 70 university students, Dean & other officials, also chapel, on site formerly occupied by premises of Donovan & Sons. Contractor: W. Connolly & Son, Dominick St Upr. Cost: £25,000. |
Refs: |
IB 52, 24 Dec 1910, 791; 53, 15 Apr 1911, 229,245; 54, 8 Jun,26 Oct 1912, 337,601; 55, 4 Jan 1913, 12(illus.); IA & C 1, 11 Mar 1911, 88; Building News 100, 21 Apr 1911, 559; Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 527. |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DONNYBROOK, BEECHHILL, ST MARY'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL GROUND |
Date: | 1911 |
Nature: | Sports pavilion. |
Refs: |
Irish Times, 18 Sep 1911. |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ST AUGUSTINE STREET, NO. 036 |
Date: | 1911 |
Nature: | Premises being rebuilt. |
Refs: | IA & C 1, 11 Mar 1911, 88 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, GOATSTOWN, MOUNT ANNVILLE ROAD, MOUNT ANVILLE, CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART |
Date: | 1912 |
Nature: | Alts. & adds. Architect 'Mr A. Powell, Rathmines'. Contractor: Bolger & Doyle. |
Refs: | IB 54, 25 May 1912, 319 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DENMARK ST GREAT, NO. 005 (IRISH MESSENGER OF THE SACRED HEART) |
Date: | 1913 |
Nature: | Extension to office. Contractor: M.J. Greene, Donnybrook. |
Refs: | IB 55, 2 Aug,8 Nov 1913, 501,714IB |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, RATHFARNHAM CASTLE |
Date: | 1913 |
Nature: | Alts. & extension, for Jesuits. |
Refs: | IB 55, 7 Jun 1913, 365 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WHITEFRIAR STREET, CARMELITE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL (RC) |
Date: | 1914 |
Nature: | Works at same. Contractor: P. Shortall, Upper Temple St. |
Refs: | IB 56, 20 Jun 1914, 392 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DENMARK ST GREAT, BELVEDERE COLLEGE |
Date: | 1914 |
Nature: | New sanitary annexe over passage adjoining same. |
Refs: | IB 56, 10 Oct 1914, 578 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DENMARK ST LITTLE, NO. 035 |
Date: | 1914 |
Nature: | Rebuilding. |
Refs: | IB 56, 4 Jul 1914, 419 |
Building: | CO. TIPPERARY, ROSCREA, CONVENT OF MERCY |
Date: | 1914 |
Nature: | Repairs. Contractor: Kelly & Sons, Dublin. |
Refs: | IB 56, 24 Oct 1914, 602 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, AUNGIER STREET, CARMELITE PRIORY (CALCED) |
Date: | 1914-16 |
Nature: | New entrance & new priory buildings, for Very Rev. J.L McCabe, Prior.Tenders invited Apr 1914. Cost of entrance: £4,000. Cost of priory: £9,000. Contractor: Patrick Shortall, Temple St. Foreman: Price. Workmanship supervised throught by M.J. Cullen, CE. |
Refs: | Clonliffe College Archive, MS p1/2; IB 56, 14 Mar,11 Apr 1914, 167,230; 57, 19 Jun 1915, 287; 58, 26 Feb 1916, 85; Irish Times, 8 Apr 1914; Freeman's Journal, 8 Apr 1914; B 106, 17 Apr 1914, ?; Building News 108, 23 Jun 1915, 737; A. Corbett, Whitefriars Street Church Guide |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, SANDFORD ROAD (RANELAGH), MILLTOWN PARK |
Date: | 1915 |
Nature: | Works at same, for Jesuit Fathers. Contractor: M.J. Greene, Donnybrook. |
Refs: | IB 57, 28 Aug 1915, 379 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, BLACKROCK, SION HILL, ST CATHERINE'S DOMINICAN CONVENT |
Date: | 1915 |
Nature: | New buildings begun, consisting of enlargement of ground floor, add. to refectory, larders, sculleries, dairy, boiler house. Contractor: M.J. Greene, Donnybrook. |
Refs: | IB 57, 19 Jun 1915, 285; Building News 108, 30 Jun 1915, 768 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, TEMPLEOGUE ROAD, TERENURE COLLEGE |
Date: | 1919 |
Nature: | Improvements. Contractor: P. Watchorn, Crumlin. |
Refs: | IB 61, 8 Feb 1919, 64 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GLOUCESTER PLACE, STORE |
Date: | 1919 |
Nature: | Large store for co-operative trading, for Rev. T. Finlay. Contractor: P. Watchorn, Crumlin. |
Refs: | IB 61, 5 Apr 1919, 163 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, JERVIS STREET, NO. 024-29 (TODD, BURNS & CO.) |
Date: | 1920 |
Nature: | New workshop (£2,500), add. to furniture depot. Comploeted by Nov 1920. Contractor: P.J. Watchorn, Adelaide Road. |
Refs: |
IB 62, 28 Aug,23 Oct 1920, 561,670; Irish Times, 4 Nov 1920. |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, AUNGIER STREET, CARMELITE CHURCH (RC) |
Date: | 1920 |
Nature: | Restoration of exterior in progress. Contractor: M.J. Greene, Donnybrook. |
Refs: | IB 62, 28 Aug 1920, 561 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CIRCULAR ROAD SOUTH (RIALTO), NATIONAL SCHOOL |
Date: | 1920-21 |
Nature: | New. Contractor: W. & A. Roberts, Grand Canal St. |
Refs: | IB 62, 23 Oct 1920, 670; 63, 19 Nov 1921, 749 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HIGHFIELD ROAD (RATHGAR), NO. 071 (ARDEEVIN) |
Date: | 1923 |
Nature: | Structural alts. By 'G.B. Powell'. |
Refs: | IB 65, 25 Aug 1923, 655 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ST STEPHEN'S GREEN, NO. 047-49 (DOMINICAN HALL CONVENT) |
Date: | 1924 |
Nature: | Extension. Contractor: Watchorn & Sons, Crumlin. |
Refs: | IB 66, 18 Oct 1924, 905 |
Building: | ENGLAND, ST HELENS (LANCASHIRE), NORTH ROAD, LOWE HOUSE, CHURCH OF ST MARY (RC) |
Date: | 1924-1930 |
Nature: | Large new church with W tower and dome over crossing; 'an ill-advised mixture of Byzantine and Gothic' (Pevsner). For Fr. Reginald Riley, SJ. |
Refs: |
Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England: South Lancashire (1969), 51,384; exterior illus. in Holy Cross & St Mary's, Lower House, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000154618/ (last visited Mar 2009). |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, MOUNT MERRION, MOUNT MERRION PARK HOUSING DEVELOPMENT |
Date: | 1928 |
Nature: | Competition entrant; his design for Class C house 'recommended for further consideration'. Competition promoted by Housing corporation of Great Britain, Ltd. |
Refs: | IB 70, 18 Aug 1928, 717 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, SANDFORD ROAD (RANELAGH), MILLTOWN PARK |
Date: | 1929 |
Nature: | Reconstruction. Contractor: P.J. Fearon & Co., Ranelagh. |
Refs: | IB 71, 28 Sep 1929, 876 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CRUMLIN ROAD, RETREAT HOUSE |
Date: | 1930 |
Nature: | Alts. for Rev. Fr. Thomas. |
Refs: | IB 72, 5 Jul 1930, 604 |
Building: | CO. TIPPERARY, ROCKWELL COLLEGE (CASHEL) |
Date: | 1932 |
Nature: | New wing. Contractor: John Hearne, South Parade, Waterford. |
Refs: | IB 74, 22 Oct 1932, 948 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, SANDFORD ROAD (RANELAGH), MILLTOWN PARK |
Date: | 1932-33 |
Nature: | Extension, for Jesuit Fathers. Contractor: M.J. Greene, Donnybrook.. Cost: £20,000. |
Refs: | IB 74, 2 Jul 1932, 616; 75, 20 May 1933, 430 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CROWN ALLEY, NO. 010-13 (ANDREW PERCY & CO.) |
Date: | 1933 |
Nature: | By 'R.B Powell', for Andrew Percy & Co., Fownes St. Contractor: Clifton & Cooper, 26-7 Upr Gardiner St. |
Refs: | IB 75, 29 Jul 1933, 654 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, SANDFORD ROAD (RANELAGH), MILLTOWN PARK |
Date: | 1938 |
Nature: | Extension, for Jesuit Fathers. Consulting engineeer: W.L. Scott, M.Inst.CE, Artillery Row, London. |
Refs: | IB 80, 16 Apr 1938, 322 |
Building: | CO. CARLOW, TULLOW, CHURCH OF THE HOLY ROSARY (RC) |
Date: | 1941-42 |
Nature: | Addition of side aisles, for Rev. James Foynes. |
Refs: |
John McEvoy, ed., The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD (Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 2000), 24(illus.). |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, RATHFARNHAM CASTLE |
Date: | 1953;1956 |
Nature: | Extension to S lodge, 1953, and N lodge, 1956. For Jesuits. |
Refs: | IB 95, 12 Sep 1953, 953; 98, 11 Aug 1956, 729 |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PORTOBELLO HARBOUR, EVER- READY (IRELAND) LTD |
Date: | 1954 |
Nature: | Extension to factory. |
Refs: | IB 96, 5 Jun 1954, 555 |
Building: | CO. CARLOW, ARDATTIN (TULLOW), CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (RC) |
Date: | 1954-56 |
Nature: | New church. First sod turned, Apr 1954. ' Blessed, May? 1956. Cost: £30,000. Contractor: D. & J. Carberry, Carlow & Athy. Attr. to Powell in McEvoy, op. cit., below. |
Refs: |
IB 96, 2 Jun 1956, 513; John McEvoy, ed., The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD (Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 2000), 25(illus.). |
Building: | CO. KILDARE, ALLENWOOD, CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (RC) |
Date: | 1954a |
Nature: | New Gothic church for Rev. Edward O'Byrne, PP. Opened by Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, Aug 1954. Contractor: A. J. Cross, Drimsree, Allenwood. Cost: £70,000. |
Refs: |
IB 96, 28 Aug 1954, 839; John McEvoy, ed., The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD (Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 2000), 105(illus.). |
Building: | CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HAROLD'S CROSS, ROSARY HOUSE |
Date: | 1957 |
Nature: | Addition, for Very Rev. K. Brady, PP. |
Refs: | IB 99, 2 Nov 1957, 871 |
Building: | CO. KILDARE, RATHANGAN, CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION & ST PATRICK (RC) |
Date: | 1958a |
Nature: | New Romasque church, for Rev. Peadar MacSuibhne. Concrete construction. Opened by Bishop Keogh, 7 Jun 1958. Builder: Andrew Cross, Drimsree, Rathangan. |
Refs: |
Leinster Leader, 7 Jun 1958; John McEvoy, ed., The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD (Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 2000),110(illus.), 110(illus.); Co. Kildare Online Electronic History, http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2009/01/new_church_at_rathangan_1958.asp (last visited Jun 2009). |
Building: | CO. KILDARE, CARAGH, CHURCH OF OUR LADY & ST JOSEPH (RC) |
Date: | 1960a |
Nature: | New Romanesque church, for Rev. Jeremiah Bennett, PP. Opened by Bishop Thomas Keogh, May 1960. Builder: Andrew Cross,Rathangan. |
Refs: |
John McEvoy, ed., The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD (Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 2000), 118(illus.). |
Author | Title | Date | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Powell, Charles B. | 'The education of the ideal architect' | 1907 | IB 49, 30 Nov 1907, 814. (Paper read to Design Club of AAI.) |