John Samuel Phene

FRGS The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

, FSA,

FRIBA The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

(1822 – 11 March 1912) was a British architect, who lived in

Chelsea, London Chelsea is an affluent area in west London, England, due south-west of Charing Cross by approximately 2.5 miles. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames and for postal purposes is part of the south-western postal area. Chelsea histori ...

, for more than 50 years.

Biography

He was born the son of William Phene, a London businessman and educated at

King's Lynn Grammar School King Edward VII Academy (known as KES Academy) is a large, mixed comprehensive secondary school in Gaywood Road ( A148), King's Lynn, Norfolk, England with around 1,300 pupils, including about 300 in sixth form education. Prior to the school ye ...

Durham University , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills (Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_chan ...

and

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

. He was then articled to architect R. A. Hardwick. Phene married Margaretta Forsyth (1827–1901) in 1847, but before long she moved to live in France."Margaretta Forsyth"
South Tyneside Heritage. An apocryphal story reports that his wife died on her wedding day, leading to Phene preserving the room in the mansion where the reception had been held. He subsequently inherited land in Chelsea, and built Margaretta Terrace and Phene Street, including the Phene Arms. Phene designed the new wing of the

Royal Free Hospital The Royal Free Hospital (also known simply as the Royal Free) is a major teaching hospital in the Hampstead area of the London Borough of Camden. The hospital is part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, which also runs services at Barn ...

Gray's Inn Road Gray's Inn Road (or Grays Inn Road) is an important road in the Bloomsbury district of Central London, in the London Borough of Camden. The road begins at the City of London boundary, where it bisects High Holborn, and ends at King's Cross and ...

in the late 1850s. He was granted fellowship of the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

in 1872, and was a founder Fellow of the Huguenot Society in 1886. In 1903, he constructed a five-storey house at No. 2 Upper Cheyne Row,

Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...

, adorning it with a variety of fixtures and ornaments, which led to it being called "Gingerbread Castle". He became well known in the local area as an eccentric, which led to some people thinking he was involved in the "black arts". He spent little time in London, preferring to travel the world collecting various interesting artefacts and artwork, and filled the mansion's gardens with numerous statues and ornaments. Phene died in 1912 aged 90, and the mansion was demolished in 1924, having never been completed. The site of this is now 4–14 (inclusive) Upper Cheyne Row and 47–51

Glebe Place Glebe Place is a street in Chelsea, London. It runs roughly north to south from King's Road to the crossroads with Upper Cheyne Row, where it becomes Cheyne Row, leading down to Cheyne Walk and the River Thames. It also has a junction with Bram ...

. His name is still commemorated in The Phene, the local Chelsea pub he designed that was built in 1850, which sports a picture of the Gingerbread Mansion."Simon's Walks"
At Home Inn Chelsea.

References

Bibliography and sources

* * *

External links

* Dave Walker
"Dr Phene in his garden"
The Library Time Machine – Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies
"Phene, J.S."
–

Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

archives {{DEFAULTSORT:Phene, John Samuel 1822 births 1912 deaths Alumni of Durham University Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Architects from London Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London People from Chelsea, London