The Office of Works was established in the English royal household in 1378 to oversee the building and maintenance of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department forces within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings. It was reconstituted as a government department in 1851 and became part of the Ministry of Works in 1940. The organisation of the office varied; senior posts included Surveyor of the King's Works (1578–1782) and Comptroller of the King's Works (1423–1782). In 1782 these offices were merged into Surveyor-General and Comptroller. From 1761 there were named Architects. The office also had posts of Secretary, Master Mason and Master Carpenter. After James Wyatt's death in 1813 a non-professional Surveyor-General was appointed: Major-General Sir Benjamin Stephenson. He was assisted by three "Attached Architects": Sir

John Soane Sir John Soane (; né Soan; 10 September 1753 – 20 January 1837) was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. The son of a bricklayer, he rose to the top of his profession, becoming professor of architecture at the R ...

, John Nash and Sir Robert Smirke. This arrangement ended in 1832 with the formation of the Works Department, when architect Henry Hake Seward was appointed Surveyor of Works and Buildings.

Surveyor of the King's Works

* 1578–1590 Thomas Blagrave * 1594–1595 Robert Adams * 1597–1604 William Spicer * 1604–1606 David Cunninghame of Robertland * 1606–1615 Simon Basil * 1615–1643 Inigo Jones * 1643–1653 Edward Carter * 1653–1660 John Embree * 1660–1669 Sir John Denham * 1669–1718

Christopher Wren Sir Christopher Wren PRS FRS (; – ) was one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history, as well as an anatomist, astronomer, geometer, and mathematician-physicist. He was accorded responsibility for rebuilding 52 churche ...

* 1718–1719 William Benson * 1719–1726 Sir Thomas Hewett * 1726–1737 Richard Arundell * 1737–1743 Henry Fox * 1743–1760 Henry Finch * 1760–1768

Thomas Worsley Thomas Worsley (15 July 1797 – 16 February 1885) was an English academic and priest. He was the third Master of Downing College, Cambridge from 1836 until 1885. Early life Worsley was born in Stonegrave, Yorkshire, the fifth of eight sons of Rev ...

* 1779–1782

Whitshed Keene Whitshed Keene (c. 1731–1822) was an Irish soldier in the British Army and a politician who sat in the House of Commons for 50 years between 1768 and 1818. Keene was born in Ireland, the son of Captain Gilbert Keene and his wife Alice Whits ...

Comptroller of the King's Works

* 1423–1452 Robert Shiryngton * 1456–1461 Peter Idley * 1597–1606 Simon Basil * 1606–1641 Thomas Baldwin * 1641–1668

James Wethered James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

* 1668–1684

Hugh May Hugh May (1621 – 21 February 1684) was an English architect in the period after the Restoration of King Charles II. He worked in the era which fell between the first introduction of Palladianism into England by Inigo Jones, and the full flower ...

* 1689–1702 William Talman * 1702–1726 John Vanbrugh * 1726–1758 Thomas Ripley * 1758–1769

Henry Flitcroft Henry Flitcroft (30 August 1697 – 25 February 1769) was a major English architect in the second generation of Palladianism. He came from a simple background: his father was a labourer in the gardens at Hampton Court and he began as a joiner by ...

* 1769–1782 William Chambers

Surveyor-General and Comptroller

* 1782–1796 William Chambers * 1796–1813 James Wyatt

Deputy Surveyor

* 1718–1719

Colen Campbell Colen Campbell (15 June 1676 – 13 September 1729) was a pioneering Scottish architect and architectural writer, credited as a founder of the Georgian style. For most of his career, he resided in Italy and England. As well as his architectural ...

(dismissed) * 1719–1735 Westby Gill (promoted) * 1735–1748 William Kent (died in post) * 1748–1758

(promoted) * 1758–1780 Stephen Wright (died in post) * 1780–1782 Robert Taylor

Surveyor of the King's Private Roads

* 1660–1690 Andrew Lawrence * 1690–1715 Michael Studholme * 1716–1731 William Watkins * 1731–1737 Richard Arundell * 1737–1756 Thomas Ripley * 1756–1757

John Offley John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

* 1757–1760 Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet * 1760–1771 Hon. Edward Finch * 1771–1772 Thomas Whateley * 1772–1782 Hon. Henry Fane

Surveyor of Royal Gardens

* 1660–1670 Adrian May * 1670–1684

Superintendent of all the King's Gardens

* 1689–1700

William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland Hans William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, (20 July 164923 November 1709) was a Dutch and English nobleman who became in an early stage the favourite of William, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder in the Netherlands, and future King of England. He ...

* 1700–1702

Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh (8 February 1641 – 5 January 1712), known as The Viscount Ranelagh between 1669 and 1677, was an Irish peer, politician both in the Parliaments of England and Ireland. Background He was the eldest son of Ar ...

Surveyor of Gardens and Waters

* 1715–1726 John Vanbrugh * 1726–1737

Charles Dartiquenave Charles Dartiquenave, also known as Charles Darteneuf (baptised 166419 October 1737) was an English epicure and courtier. Origins Dartiquenave was rumoured to be the illegitimate child of Charles II. Biographers who have accepted the traditio ...

* 1738–1760 Thomas Hervey * 1761–1763

George Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow George Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow PC (13 September 1731 – 17 May 1814), known as Lord Onslow from 1776 until 1801, was a British peer and politician. Background He was the only son of Arthur Onslow, having no brothers but one sister, who died ...

* 1763–1763

Lord Charles Spencer Lord Charles Spencer PC (31 March 1740 – 16 June 1820) was a British courtier and politician from the Spencer family who sat in the House of Commons between 1761 and 1801. Background Spencer was the second son of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke o ...

* 1763–1764 John Marshe Dickinson * 1764–1769

Charles Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan Charles Sloane Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan (29 September 1728 – 3 April 1807) was a British peer and Whig politician. Early life Cadogan was the only son of Charles Cadogan, 2nd Baron Cadogan and his wife, the former Elizabeth Sloane. His ma ...

* 1770–1782 William Varey

Paymaster of the Works

* 1660–1668

* 1668–1686 Philip Packer * 1686–1706 Thomas Lloyd * 1706–1726

* 1726–1738 Hugh Howard * 1738–1741 John Harris * 1741–1742 Sir Robert Brown, 1st Baronet * 1742–1743 Sir Charles Gilmour, 2nd Baronet * 1743–1755

Denzil Onslow Denzil Onslow may refer to: * Denzil Onslow (cricketer) (1802-1879) *Denzil Onslow of Pyrford Denzil Onslow of Pyrford (c.1642 – 27 June 1721) was a British Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1679 a ...

* 1755–1782

George Augustus Selwyn George Augustus Selwyn (5 April 1809 – 11 April 1878) was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand (which included Melanesia) from 1841 to 1869. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Metropolitan (later ...

Architect of the Works

* 1761–1769 Sir William Chambers * 1761–1769

Robert Adam Robert Adam (3 July 17283 March 1792) was a British neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam (1689–1748), Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him. With his ...

* 1769–1777

Sir Robert Taylor Sir Robert Taylor (1714–1788) was an English architect and sculptor who worked in London and the south of England. Early life Born at Woodford, Essex, Taylor followed in his father's footsteps and started working as a stonemason and sculptor, ...

* 1769–1782 James Adam * 1777–1780

Thomas Sandby Thomas Sandby (1721 – 25 June 1798) was an English draughtsman, watercolour artist, architect and teacher. In 1743 he was appointed private secretary to the Duke of Cumberland, who later appointed him Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park, wh ...

* 1780–1782 James Paine

Secretary to the Board of Works

* 1715–1718

Nicholas Hawksmoor Nicholas Hawksmoor (probably 1661 – 25 March 1736) was an English architect. He was a leading figure of the English Baroque style of architecture in the late-seventeenth and early-eighteenth centuries. Hawksmoor worked alongside the principa ...

* 1718–1719 Benjamin Benson * 1719–1726 John Hallam * 1726–1736 Nicholas Hawksmoor * 1736–1766 Isaac Ware * 1766–1775 William Robinson * 1775–1782

Kenton Couse Kenton Couse (1 March 1721 – 10 October 1790) was an English architect. He was apprenticed to Henry Flitcroft whose patronage obtained him posts in the Office of Works. Couse subsequently became Secretary to the Board of Works from 1775 to 1782. ...

References

Sources

* H. M. Colvin, ''A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840'' (1997) * H. M. Colvin, ''The History of the King's Works'', London: H.M.S.O. (1963–1982) ** ** (v.3,pt 1) ** (v.4,pt 2) ** (v.5) ** (v.6) ** (Plans 5-7)

External links

Parliamentary Archives, Records of the Office of Works, 1378-1940
{{Authority control 1378 establishments in England

Works Works may refer to: People * Caddy Works (1896–1982), American college sports coach * Samuel Works (c. 1781–1868), New York politician Albums * '' ''Works'' (Pink Floyd album)'', a Pink Floyd album from 1983 * ''Works'', a Gary Burton album ...

Material culture of royal courts