WILLIS, THOMAS *

Builder, of Wexford, who was the contractor for the twin churches at Wexford designed by RICHARD PIERCE  RICHARD PIERCE and the architect of the Presbyterian Church, Wexford (1843). He is named as one of the Protestant prisoners in Wexfurd gaol during the 1798 rebellion(1) and signed a pro-Union petition in 1800.(2)  He was the grandfather of EDWIN THOMAS WILLIS EDWIN THOMAS WILLIS , to whom he appears to have handed over his business. However on 12 June 1861 Edwin Willis placed a notice in the Wexford Independent stating that 'due to the general press of business' he was 'obliged to return the building department to his grandfather, Mr T. Willis', while he would 'continue as Architect and Surveyor'. Bills were to be sent to his grandfather at Odessa Cottage. Thomas Willis died, aged eighty-two, at Ely Cottage, Ferrybank, Wexford, on 9 June 1864(2)   According to his will, in which which named Edwin Thomas Willis as ole executor, he left effects worth less than £450 .(3)

Some designs for terraced houses by Willis are in the National Library of Ireland, AD 3486-3487 (and 3488-3489?).

Addresses: Odessa Cottage, Wexford, 1861; Ely Cottage, Ferrybank, Wexford, at time of death.

See WORKS.

References

Information from the Wexford Independent was kindly supplied by Conor O'Brien, Annacurra, Co. Wicklow, and  further information by Prof. Kevin Whelan, Aug 2021.


(1) Richard Musgrave, Memoirs of the different rebellions in Ireland  II (1802) ,435 
(2) Information from Prof. Kevin Whelan, Aug 2021.
(3) Wexford Independent, 11 Jun 1864.
(3) National Archives of Ireland,  Calendar of State Wills 1864-1865, 369.

4 work entries listed in chronological order for WILLIS, THOMAS *

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Building:	CO. WEXFORD, WEXFORD, THOMAS ASHE STREET, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Date:	1843
Nature:	Designed by TW.
Refs:	Douglas Scott Richardson, Gothic Revival Architecture in Ireland (1983), 230,249-50;  ILLUS. IN Laurence Kirkpatrick, Presbyterians in Ireland: an illustrated history (Booklink, 2006), 249.

Building:	CO. WEXFORD, CARRIGMANON, BRIDGE
Date:	1844
Nature:	TW builder of new bridge designed by J.B. Farrell, Co. Surveyor.
Refs:	Plaque on bridge (information from Brendan O'Donoghue)

Building:	CO. WEXFORD, CASTLEBRIDGE, CHURCH (RC)
Date:	1855a
Nature:	New Gothic church.  Dedicated 17 Jun 1855 by Bishop Miles Murphy.  information from Celestine Rafferty, Wexford, May 2010.
Refs:	Churches of the Diocese of Ferns (Booklink, 2004), 53(illus.), which wrongly attributes design to Edwin Thomas Willis (information from Celestine Rafferty, Wexford, May 2010).

Building:	CO. WEXFORD, CASTLEBRIDGE, CHURCH (RC)
Date:	1855a
Nature:	New Gothic church.  Dedicated 17 Jun 1855 by Bishop Miles Murphy.  information from Celestine Rafferty, Wexford, May 2010.
Refs:	Churches of the Diocese of Ferns (Booklink, 2004), 53(illus.), which wrongly attributes design to Edwin Thomas Willis (information from Celestine Rafferty, Wexford, May 2010).