Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Belfast. Richard Mills Close, son of SAMUEL PATRICK CLOSE  SAMUEL PATRICK CLOSE by his wife, Lucinda Burleigh, was born in 1880(1) and educated in England before becoming articled to his father.(2) In 1910 he was taken into partnership by his father and by about 1915 was effectively in charge of the practice.(3) In 1915 he succeeded WILLIAM HENRY LYNN  WILLIAM HENRY LYNN as consulting architect to Queen's University Belfast,(4) and in 1923 he was appointed architect to St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.(5) He died in 1949,(6) survived by his wife, Kathleen (d.1975), whom he had married circa 1930.(7)

RIAI: elected member, 1 February 1909, having been proposed by WILLIAM HENRY LYNN WILLIAM HENRY LYNN , seconded by THOMAS DREW  THOMAS DREW and Samuel Patrick Close.(8)
RSUA: member; council member.(9)

Addresses: Work: 13 Donegall Square North, Belfast, <=1909 -1934;(11) 3 Wellington Place, Belfast, from 1936.(12)
Home: Cooleen, Eden Road, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, from 1934.(13)

See WORKS.



References



(1) Angela E. McGuinness, 'Samuel Patrick Close, architect' (unpublished MA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, Queen's University, Belfast, October 1990), 105-7; Close's date of birth is from www.familysearch.org.
(2) Obituary notice in JRIAI (1950), 44.
(3) See note 1, above.
(4) IB 57, 4 Dec 1915, 527.
(5) IB 65, 5 May 1923, 321;  Irish Times, 31 May 1923. Brett and Larmour state that he held the post from 1922-1924.
(6) RIAI Year Book (1950), Report of Council 1949, 1.
(7) www.familysearch.org.
(8) IAA, RIAI office archives (Acc. 93/136), membership forms 1878-1909 (extremely fragile).
(9) See note 2, above.
(10) IB 55, 12 Apr 1913, 250.
(11) See note 8, above.
(12) IB 78, 21 Mar 1936, 252.
(13) See note 8, above.


46 work entries listed in chronological order for CLOSE, RICHARD MILLS


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Building: CO. ANTRIM, KILLEAD, CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1912
Nature: Lych gate, partly modelled on one at Beckingham, Lincs. Builder: Laverty & Sons, Belfast
Refs: IB 54, 26 Oct 1912, 604 (illus.)

Building: CO. DONEGAL, PORTSALON, PORTSALON HOTEL
Date: 1913
Nature: Extensive additions
Refs: IB 55, 24 Mar 1913, 351

Building: CO. DONEGAL, GLENCOLUMBKILLE, CHURCH OF ST COLUMBA (CI)
Date: 1913-14
Nature: New tower & spire, 'recently completed' in Jan 1915. Tower gift of Henry Musgrave, DL.  Spire of reinforced concrete. Contractor: James McClay, Strabane.
Refs: IB 55, 24 May 1913, 351; 57, 30 Jan 1915, 49(illus.); Building News 108, 5 Feb 1915, 172; Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (1979), 306; Clergy of Derry & Raphoe (Ulster Historical Foundation, 1999), 141(illus.);  exterior also illus. in Claude Costegalde & Brian Walker, The Church of Ireland: an illustrated history (2013), 171.

Building: CO. ANTRIM, CARRICKFERGUS, SHIEL'S INSTITUTION
Date: 1913-1917
Nature: New block of 6 pebble dashed cottage houses. Cost approx. £3,600.
Refs: IB 55, 12 Apr 1913, 250(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, CARRICKFERGUS, CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS (CI)
Date: 1913;1919;1931;
Nature: Restoration, window in S. transept and erection of war memorial bell tower. Choir stalls & war memorial panels in tower carved by Harry Hems. FS of bell tower laid 25 Oct 1919. To cost £3,000.
Refs: IB 61, 8 Nov 1919, 502(illus.); IB 73, 14 Mar 1931, 240; 78, 30 May 1936, 456

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD, NO. 048 (FISHERWICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH)
Date: 1915
Nature: Proposed completion of lecture hall & school house (unexecuted); funds from Henry Musgrave.
Refs: Ib 57, 10 Apr,20 Nov 1915, 173,506; Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 116-7

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, LOCKVIEW ROAD (STRANMILLIS), F.KING & CO.
Date: 1915
Nature: Adds.
Refs: McGuinness, 103,130

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, UNIVERSITY ROAD, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
Date: 1916
Nature: Proposed memorial tablet to W.H. Lynn to be erected in library
Refs: IB 58, 8 Jul 1916, 320

Building: CO. ANTRIM, CARRICKFERGUS, SHIEL'S INSTITUTION
Date: 1916
Nature: 6 new cottages
Refs: IB 58, 24 Jun 1916, 284

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, UNIVERSITY ROAD, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
Date: 1916;1924;1932?
Nature: Enlargement of bacteriological lab; gates (scheme by W.H. Lynn); new wing; agriculture buildings (with R. Ingleby Smith)
Refs: IB 58, 1 Jan 1916, 13; 66, 19 Apr,14 Jun,6 Sep 1924,15 Nov 350,533,778,978; 74, 19 Nov 1932, 1048; Building News 110, 5 Jan 1916, 32

Building: CO. DOWN, BANGOR, ABBEY CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1917
Nature: Repairs and alterations
Refs: IB 59, 22 Dec 1917, 653; Building News 114, 2 Jan 1918, 18; Clergy of Down & Dromore (Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996), 52-53

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DONEGALL ROAD, CHURCH OF ST SIMON (CI)
Date: 1923-1930
Nature: New church; FS of nave laid 9 Jul 1923; almost completed, Jan 1929; consecrated 24 May 1930
Refs: IB 65, 19 May 1923, 380; 70, 4 Aug 1928, 672; 71, 5 Jan,30 Mar 1929, 26,280; 72, 4 Jan,12 Apr,24 May,7 Jun 1930, 27,327,468,519; 74, 10 Sep,19 Nov 1932, 816,1052; John Frederick MacNeice, The Church of Ireland in Belfast (Belfast, 1931), 73-74 (illus. with interior perspective view by RMC).

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DONEGALL STREET, ST ANNE'S CATHEDRAL (CI)
Date: 1923-4
Nature: Adds.; vestry; baptistry, to designs originated by W.H. Lynn. Designs by Peter McGregor Chalmers for foundation, crypt, floor and pillars of central crossing executed under supervision of RMC.
Refs: IB 65, 16 Jun,11 Aug,20 Oct,29 Dec 1923, 464,620,811,1009; 70, 9 Jun 1928, 497;  John Frederick MacNeice, The Church of Ireland in Belfast (Belfast, 1931), 87-88; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 71 (no. 159)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, STRANMILLIS ROAD, RIDDEL HALL
Date: 1924
Nature: Entrance gateway pillars by RMC.
Refs: IB 58, 24 Jun 1916, 284; Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 165; McGuinness, 106,131 (Pl. 174)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CROMAC STREET, SHOP & WORKROOMS
Date: 1924
Nature: Alterations
Refs: IB 66, 14 Jun 1924, 533

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CLIFTONVILLE ROAD, NO. 151-159, CHURCH OF ST SILAS (CI)
Date: 1924
Nature: Plinth & railing to church grounds on Oldpark Rd
Refs: IB 66, 13 Dec 1924, 1057

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HIGH STREET, PREMISES
Date: 1925
Nature: Conversion, additions
Refs: IB 67, 3,17 Oct 1925, 857

Building: CO. TYRONE, COOKSTOWN, JAMES STREET, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1926
Nature: Internal alts.
Refs: Drawings in Northern Bank archive, NB/130

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BELMONT ROAD, NETHERLEIGH
Date: 1929
Nature: Conversion into prep. school for Campbell College
Refs: IB 71, 8 Jun,6 Jul 1929, 533,608,623

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BELMONT ROAD, CAMPBELL COLLEGE
Date: 1929
Nature: Additions, drainage
Refs: IB 71, 3,17 Aug 1929, 703,747

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BELMONT ROAD, CAMPBELL COLLEGE
Date: 1929
Nature: Additions, drainage
Refs: IB 71, 3,17 Aug 1929, 703,747

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, NUBIA STREET, CHURCH (TEMPORARY)
Date: 1929
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 2 Feb 1929, 106

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, NEWTOWNARDS ROAD UPR (BALLYHACKAMORE), BELFAST BANK
Date: 1929;1932?
Nature: Bank premises & garage
Refs: IB 71, 11,25 May 1929, 418,453; 74, 19 Nov 1932, 1050

Building: CO. ANTRIM, DUNCRUE (LARNE), HOUSE
Date: 1929a
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. ANTRIM, CARNLOUGH, HOUSE
Date: 1929a
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, EDEN, HOUSE
Date: 1929a
Nature: Alterations.
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. ANTRIM, MILLBAY (LARNE), HOUSES
Date: 1929a
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BALLYLORAN (LARNE), HOUSES (002)
Date: 1929a
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BALLYCARRY (LARNE), HOUSES (002)
Date: 1929a
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. ANTRIM, ANTIVILLE (LARNE), HOUSES (002)
Date: 1929a
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BALLYSTRUDDER (LARNE), HOUSE
Date: 1929a
Nature: -
Refs: IB 71, 25 May 1929, 466

Building: CO. DOWN, NEWTOWNARDS, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1930
Nature: Renovation
Refs: IB 72, 19 Jul 1930, 647

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, KING'S ROAD (KNOCK), CHURCH OF ST COLUMBA (CI)
Date: 1930-1932;1934;1937
Nature: Completion of nave, tower, W front, cons. 21 May 1932. Church partially destroyed by fire, 1934, and restored. Memorial to Canon Austin in form of oak reredos, stalls & chancel panelling, 1937
Refs: IB 72, 8 Nov,20 Dec 1930, 994,1136; 73, 9 May 1931, 408; 74,21 May,10 Sep,19 Nov 1932, 473,816,1052; 76, 7 Apr 1934, 291(architect not named); 79, 6 Feb 1937, 104; Architect & Building News 124, 11 Jul 1930, 58; Clergy of Down & Dromore (Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996), 69(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, SANDOWN ROAD, ST COLUMBA'S CHURCH SCHOOL (CI)
Date: 1931
Nature: For select vestry of St Columba's church
Refs: IB 73, 17 Jan 1931

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ANTRIM ROAD, CHURCH OF ST PETER (CI)
Date: 1931-1934
Nature: Completion of western end of church (i.e. remainder of nave, west front and tower) designed by S.P. Close. Tenders invited Mar 1932.
Refs: PRONI, W.H. Stephens & Sons papers, D1898/1/22; IB 73, 5,19 Dec 1931, 1050,1101; 74, 12 Mar,19 Nov 1932, 252,1052; Architect & Building News 129, 11 Dec 1931, 330; 130, 18,25 Mar 1932, 382,384,408; 131, 17 Jun 1932, 405; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 63 (no. 143)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DUNCAIRN GARDENS, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1931-2
Nature: Conversion of 2 shops into bank
Refs: IB 73, 5 Dec 1931, 1063; 74, 16 Jan 1932, 69

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, STRANMILLIS ROAD, HOUSE
Date: 1934
Nature: -
Refs: IB 76, 28 Jul 1934, 641

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, YORK STREET, ST PAUL'S CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1934
Nature: Rebuilding of W.H. Lynn's church after fire. No alterations to design.
Refs: IB 76, 10 Feb,2 Jun 1934, 98,462

Building: CO. ANTRIM, LOUGHGUILE, CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS (CI)
Date: 1934
Nature: Altar table
Refs: IB 76, 10 Feb 1934, 96

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, STRANMILLIS ROAD, RIDDEL HALL
Date: 1934
Nature: Red brick, single storey porter's lodge with gabled porch.
Refs: Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 165.

Building: CO. DOWN, KILLINCHY, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1937
Nature: -
Refs: IB 79, 15 May 1937, 453

Building: CO. ANTRIM, CARRICKFERGUS, ORANGE HALL
Date: 1937-8
Nature: -
Refs: IB 79, 6 Mar,15 May,26 Jun 1937, 194,436,586; 80, 30 Apr 1938, 351

Building: CO. ANTRIM, LISBURN, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1938
Nature: New branch bank.
Refs: Northern Bank archives, NB/215; IB 80, 20 Aug 1938, 709

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CAMBRAI STREET, WOODVALE METHODIST CHURCH HALL
Date: 1939
Nature: Lecture hall, for Trustees of Woodvale Methodist Church
Refs: IB 81, 24 Jun 1939, 549

Building: CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1939
Nature: -
Refs: IB 81, 10 Jun 1939, 502

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, WARING STREET, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1939
Nature: Air raid shelter
Refs: IB 81, 13 May 1939, 410