Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Tipperary, Mitchelstown, Cork and New York. There is some uncertainty about the date and place of Charles Frederick Anderson's birth.  According to Ancestry.com he was born on 18 October 1804 in England;  the year is corroborated by his giving his age as fifty-six in the Washington census of 1860.(1)   By the time he was in his early teens he was at school at Fermoy College in Co. Cork. He is said to have served his architectural apprenticeship with Thomas Harrison of Chester and with Harrison's former pupil and relative JOHN HARGRAVE  JOHN HARGRAVE from about 1820 to 1824 and to have also travelled in Europe during this period. He then worked for JAMES PAIN  JAMES PAIN and GEORGE RICHARD PAIN GEORGE RICHARD PAIN , who placed him in charge of the building of Emly Church of Ireland Cathedral.(2) In 1829 he won the competition for designing St Patrick's Diocesan College at Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and from 1829 to 1830 supervised its erection. From 1830 until 1832 he was engaged on construction work on the Shannon and the bridge over the Shannon at Limerick for the Government under ALEXANDER NIMMO ALEXANDER NIMMO . During the mid 1830s Anderson was working on projects in Cos. Cork, Laois, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, but may have had a base in Tipperary town, where he engineered the water supply. 'Charles Frederick Anderson, Esq., Tipperary' appears in the list of subscribers to Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland published in 1837. However by March 1838 he had 'fixed his residence at Mitchelstown - a central situation between the counties of Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, and Cork, to which he intends confining his practice'.(3) Subsequently he moved to Cork. From his office at 30 Marlborough St, Cork, he issued an 'Architectural Circular' advertising the fact that he had 'acquired a thorough scientific and practical knowledge of my profession in all its several departments under the first Architects in the Kingdom' and listing some of the buildings erected under his 'direction'.(4) He is listed in Slater's National Commercial Directory for 1846 as an architect and builder of Lower Glanmire Rd, Cork. During this period in Cork he had some sort of association with THOMAS DEANE. THOMAS DEANE. (5) At some point he was awarded 'the government premium for the classification prison for Ireland'; perhaps it was in connection with this award that he went to London in 1845 on the orders of the Home Secretary, Sir James Graham to investigate the ventilation systems of Millbank Penitentiary and Pentonville Model Prison.

In 1849 Anderson emigrated to the United States. The move was probably prompted by the effects of the Famine, though Elizabeth Mandeville, the disgruntled wife of one of his clients, is said to have claimed that he fled after a very high tower which he had designed for another castellated house collapsed.(6) Before he left Ireland he had apparently converted to Catholicism.(7) In the United States he had a successful career first in New York(7) and then in Washington, retiring from the practice of architecture in 1866.   He died at his farm in St George's County, Maryland, on 9 July 1867.(8)   While he was in Washington he was much taken up with the search for compensation for what he believed was the plagiarism of his designs for the extension of the United States Capitol.  In the case of his lists of his works in Ireland, it is not always easy to distinguish the buildings he actually designed from those for which he was simply executant architect as he was always an uninhibited self-promoter.

Addresses: Mitchelstown, 1838; Myrtle Hill Terrace, Cork, 1841-1842;(9)101 Lower [Glanmire?] Road, Cork, 1844-45;(10) Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, 1846;(11) 30 Marlborough Street, Cork, mid-1840s.

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References

All information in this entry not otherwise attributed is from Daniel Wilson Randle,' A Question of Style: the Architectural Competition for the Central Building for the University of the South' (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 139 ff., 241-246.


(1) This information was kindly supplied by Robert G. Hill, Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950  (www.dictionaryofcanadianarchitects.org), Jun 2016. Randle gives the year of Anderson's birth as 1802 and the place as possibly near Bedford, England.  The statement that Anderson was 'about 70 years' in the notice of Anderson's death in the National Republican of12 July 1867 can probably be discounted.
(2) Randle, op. cit., above,141.  
(3) Advertisement in Cork Constitution, 24 Mar 1838 (information from Kenneth Severens); another advertisement, entitled 'Architectural Circular', appeared in the Cork Constitution for 6 Mar 1841 (information from Kenneth Severens).
(4) Two copies of the circular are stuck inside the front and back covers of an undated book of designs for buildings to be erected in Gurteen demesne, Co. Waterford, for John William Power (1816-1851), ?now in the possession of Edmond Robert Arnold de la Poer, Count de la Poer.
(5) Frederick O'Dwyer, The Architecture of Deane and Woodward (Cork University Press, 1997), 12, citing memoirs of Anderson's assistant, George Keller, published in Octagon, a journal of the American Institute of Architects, in Aug 1935).
(6) Information from Count Anthony de la Poer in letter to J.A.K. Dean, 31 Mar 2006; note by Geoff Mandeville on Anner Castle website, www.annercastle.com (2008).
(7) Information given, in conversation, by David Wilson Randle to Kenneth Severens.
(7) His initial successes were recorded in The Builder: 'Mr Anderson, late of Cork, is the architect for the enlargement of the Capitol of New York[sic] … also the architect to the Penitentiary Work House, Blackwell's Island, and the House of Refuge at Baltimore now in course of erection.'(B 9, 28 Jun 1851, 409).
(8) National Republican, 12 Jul 1867 (information from Robert G. Hill, as above). 
(9) Architectural circular in Cork Constitution, 6 Mar 1841 (information from Kenneth Severens); Cork Constitution, 3 Dec 1842 (information from Frank Keohane, Mar 2010).
(10) County and City of Cork Post-Office General Directory (1844-45) (information from Kenneth Severens).
(11) Slater's National Commercial Directory of Ireland (1846) (information from Kenneth Severens).


46 work entries listed in chronological order for ANDERSON, CHARLES FREDERICK


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Building: CO. TIPPERARY, EMLY, CATHEDRAL OF ST ALIBIUS (CI)
Date:
Nature: Construction of cathedral designed by James Pain supervised by CFA.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle,' A Question of Style: the Architectural Competition for the Central Building for the University of the South' (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978),241.

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, SPRING HOUSE (KILSHANE)
Date: 1822?
Nature: Built under the direction of CFA for John Law. (Datestone on house says 1822, in which case CFA was probably executing a design by John Hargrave.)
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, THURLES, CATHEDRAL STREET, ST PATRICK'S DIOCESAN COLLEGE
Date: 1829-37
Nature: CFA wins competition and supervises construction between 1830 and 1831.  FS laid 6 Jul 1829.  Opened Oct 1837. For Rev. Dr O'Connor. Carpenter: Kiely? (see J. Philip McAleer, 'Keely, "The Irish Pugin of America"', |Irish Arts Review| 4, no. 3 (Autumn 1997), 23, n9)
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; Catholic Directory (1838), 356-7; Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 241

Building: CO. LIMERICK, ASH HILL TOWERS (KILMALLOCK)
Date: 1830?
Nature: CFA directs rebuilding of 18th century house in castellated form for Eyre Evans; 'a large castellated mansion now in progress of erection in the ancient baronial style, consisting of a centre flanked by lofty circular towers and two extensive wings, of which one on the west is connected with a noble gateway leading to the offices, which orrupy the sides of a quadrangualr area; the whole is of hewn limestone…' (Lewis).
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 13(illus.); Samuel Lewis, A Topographical dictionary of Ireland (1837), I, 172-3; J.B. Burke, A Visitation of the seats and arms of the noblemen and gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ser., 1855), I, 231 (gives date as 1830); Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 13 (illus.) (gives date as 1833).

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, TIPPERARY, WATER SUPPLY
Date: 1830s
Nature: CFA engineer for same.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, BANSHA CASTLE
Date: 1830s
Nature: For 'Lord Lieutenant of the county'.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 241

Building: CO. WATERFORD, STRADBALLY, BRIDGE OVER RIVER TAY
Date: 1830s
Nature: CFA supervises building of same.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242

Building: CO. WEXFORD, DUNCANNON FORT
Date: 1830s
Nature: CFA supervises construction of water battery.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242

Building: CO. WATERFORD, BALLYVOYLE BRIDGE
Date: 1830s
Nature: CFA supervises construction of same.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, TIPPERARY, SAVINGS BANK
Date: 1830s
Nature: CFA builds same.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, GRAIGUENOE PARK (HOLY CROSS HOUSE)
Date: 1833-35
Nature: Built under direction of CFA for Charles Clarke.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 145 (illus.)

Building: CO. CORK, ARRAGLIN LODGE
Date: 1834a
Nature: Built under the direction of CFA for Earl of Kingston. Described by Burke as 'a tasteful summer villa'.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; H.D. Inglis, Ireland in 1834 (1834), II, 146; J.B. Burke, Visitation of Seats and Arms (2nd ser., 1855), II, 199; Mary Cecilia Lyons, Illustrated Incumbered Estates Ireland, 1850-1905 (1993), 18(illus.); Anna-Maria Hajba, Houses of Cork I (2002), 32(illus.)

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, TIPPERARY, NATIONAL SCHOOL
Date: 1841
Nature: Built under the direction of CFA. But cf. J.K. Fahie.
Refs: Southern Reporter, 20 Mar 1841; list of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; JCHAS 1975, 12

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, TIPPERARY, CHURCH (RC, OLD)
Date: 1841
Nature: Built under the direction of CFA.
Refs: Southern Reporter 20 Mar 1841; list of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; JCHAS 1975, 12

Building: CO. LIMERICK, LIMERICK, BRIDGE STREET, CATHEDRAL OF ST MARY (CI)
Date: 1841a
Nature: Maunsell memorial pulpit built under direction of CFA.
Refs: List of works in advertisement or 'Architectural Circular' published in Cork Constitution, 6 Mar 1841.

Building: CO. CORK, BRINNY (UPTON), GLEBE HOUSE
Date: 1842-43
Nature: Built under direction of CFA for Rev. James Gollock. (Lodge built 1900 for Rev. R.F. Clarke, see B 78, 26 May 1900, 530.) Tenders invited, Dec 1842.
Refs: Cork Constitution, 3 Dec 1842 (information from Frank Keohane, Mar 2010);  list of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; 

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, COUNTY GAOL (OLD)
Date: 1842p
Nature: Built (?enlarged and remodelled) under direction of CFA.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, ANNER CASTLE
Date: 1842p
Nature: Castellated mansion incorporating small part of old castle for Rev. Nicholas Herbert Mandeville, who inherited property in 1842. Unfinished when CFA emigrated to USA in 1849 and completed (in 1860s?) by William Atkins.
Refs: Information from Count Anthony de la Poer in letter to J.A.K. Dean, 31 Mar 2006; note by Geoff Mandeville on Anner Castle website, .

Building: CO. WATERFORD, GURTEEN LE POER
Date: 1843-4ca
Nature: Designs for front and back gates & lodges, for J.W. Power
Refs: Undated MS book of designs 'for buildings to be erected in Gurteen demesne' in the possession of Edmond, Count de la Poer of Gurteen le Poer, Co. Waterford (probable date of 1843-44 supplied by his nephew, Nigel de la Poer);   'Anderson Archt' inscribed on  gate pier (information from Alan Todd, Darlington, England, 1997);  Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Competition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242 .

Building: CO. CLARE, ENNIS, GORT ROAD, COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Date: 1845
Nature: A Mr Anderson was a competition entrant, but competition won by Henry Whitestone.
Refs: Clare Journal, 27 Oct 1845; William Garner, Ennis: Architectural Heritage (An Foras Forbatha, 1981), 16,18,19(illus.)

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, ANNER CASTLE
Date: 1849a
Nature: Castellated mansion for Rev. Nicholas Mandeville (1806-1859). Completed 1857 under direction of William Atkins after Anderson's departure for USA.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, 'A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South' (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243; Jeremy Williams, 'William Atkins 1812-1887, a forgotten Cork Pre-Raphaelite' in A. Bernelle (ed.), Decantations: a tribute to Maurice Craig (1992), 244,249

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, KILBEHENNY, GLEBE HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: Built under direction of CFA for Rev. T.F. Kearney.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, ORMONDE ROAD, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Date: ?
Nature: Built under direction of CFA.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; illus. in Katherine M. Lanigan & Gerald Tyler, eds., Kilkenny: its architecture and history (An Taisce, 1977), 53

Building: CO. LIMERICK, MASSY LODGE
Date: ?
Nature: Built under the direction of CFA for ?5th Baron Massy.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, HOUSES
Date: ?
Nature: Villas built under direction of CFA.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. CORK, FERMOY, HOUSES
Date: ?
Nature: New villas built under diection of CFA for Matthias Hendley.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. LIMERICK, CASTLE CREA
Date: ?
Nature: Built under direction of CFA for George L. Bennett
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. LIMERICK, KILFRUSH HOUSE (KNOCKLONG)
Date: ?
Nature: Built under direction of CFA for Joseph Gubbins.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA

Building: CO. TYRONE, AUGHENTAINE
Date: ?
Nature: CFA designs house for Thomas Brown ante 1849 (but house not built until 1860 to designs by Isaac & William R. Farrell).
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 244

Building: CO. CORK, LAURISTON
Date: ?
Nature: Gate lodge attr. to CFA by JAK Dean on basis of similarity to gate lodges at Gurteen Le Poer, Wat.
Refs: JAK Dean, in conversation, 2001

Building: CO. CORK, ARDRUM
Date: ?
Nature: CFA extensively employed ante 1849 on estates of Sir George Colthurst. (George Colthurst's estates included Blarney Castle (not before 1846) and Ballyvourney, Co. Cork.)
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. WEXFORD, BLACKWATER RIVER
Date: ?
Nature: CFA engineers the change of the river Blackwater's course for Mr Cliff of Wexford (Anthony Cliffe, JP, of Bellevue?) ante 1849.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILFANE HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: CFA builds 'some beautiful buildings' for Sir John Power of Kilfane ante 1849.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Competition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. CORK, FERMOY
Date: ?
Nature: CFA 'extensively employed' on Irish estate of Sir Robert Abercromby, Bt., at Fermoy.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. CORK, BALLYGIBLIN
Date: ?
Nature: CFA 'extensively employed' ante 1849 on estates of Sir William Wrixon Becher. (Sir William also had an estate at Creagh, near Skibbereen, Co. Cork.)
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. CORK, BANTRY HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: CFA 'extensively employed' on estate of Earl of Bantry ante 1849 and possibly responsible for restoration and enlargement of house in 1845.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. CORK, MITCHELSTOWN CASTLE
Date: ?
Nature: CFA employed as architect and chief engineer of estates of Earl of Kingston and 'built a great deal for him'.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242

Building: CO. LIMERICK, MILLTOWN HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: Built under direction of CFA for George Gubbins.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA; Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Competition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. CORK, BANTRY, HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: Built by CJA for J. O'Connell. (A John O'Connell was living at Beach House or Beach Farm, Bantry c.1846)
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. MEATH, TARA HALL (ODDER)
Date: ?
Nature: CFA remodels for 'Lord Tara'.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. KILKENNY, JENKINSTOWN
Date: ?
Nature: Rebuilding of wing for George Bryan.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243; Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 160(illus.); J. Williams, Companion guide to Architecture in Ireland 1837-1921 (1994), 242.

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, FARNEY CASTLE
Date: ?
Nature: CFA designs and superintends building of same, for Captain Armstrong.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 243

Building: CO. LIMERICK, CASTLE IEVERS
Date: ?
Nature: New 2-storey, 4-bay house with Doric portico. Designed by and construction supervised by CFA. For Robert Ievers.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, 'A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South' (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242; Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978),.

Building: CO. WATERFORD, WATERFORD, BALLYBRICKEN GREEN, COUNTY GAOL
Date: ?
Nature: CFA superintends construction.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242

Building: CO. CORK, MIDLETON, COURT HOUSE & GAOL
Date: ?
Nature: CFA superintends construction.
Refs: Daniel Wilson Randle, 'A Question of Style: the Architectural Compeitition for the Central Building for the University of the South' (MA thesis, University of Texas, 1978), 242.

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, DEERPARK HOUSE (CASHEL)
Date: ?
Nature: Built under direction of CFA for John Hare.
Refs: List of works in undated engraved 'Architectural Circular' of CFA.