Hanson-Allen Family

Obituary of George Allen (1798-1847)

From: The Builder - 3rd July 1847

The Late Mr Allen

District Surveyor

We have to record this week the death of another architect, Mr George Allen, who died on Monday last, the 28th June, at his house at Tooley Street, Southwark, after a short illness of about ten days. His decease in the prime of life, may be partly attributed to that zeal and energy for which he was distinguished in his early career, in the prosecution of any object to which he gave the attention of his mind, and which caused him to devote himself so unweariedly to the arduous duties of an extensive and increasing practice, that a comparatively slight indisposition led to a brain fever, terminating in typhus.

Mr Allen was a pupil in Mr James Eimes' office, and in 1820, obtained the silver medal at the Royal Academy, for a drawing of the portico and front of the of the College of Surgeons in Lincoln's-inn-fields, which had been erected a few years previously by Mr Dance, of whom a memoir was read by Mr Angell at the Royal Institute of British Architects, on Monday last, as elsewhere mentioned. A few years afterwards the sudden death of Mr Varnham, an architect of extensive practice in Southwark, with whom Mr Allen was about to enter into partnership, was the cause for his succeeding into that gentleman's business, and he was shortly afterwards engaged in conjunction with Mr Savage and others for Mr Peto, in making surveys and reports, and in giving evidence on the recent failure of the foundations of the Custom House. This occasion called forth the exhibition of powers for which he was afterwards distinguished, namely, that of great firmness and self-possession under a cross-examination of counsel, who are not always the most courteous to a witness on the opposing side, and of considerable talent in the composition of reports, memorials, and business correspondence.

In 1827 and 1828 he gave his attention to the contemplated improvements in the approaches consequent on the building of (the) new London Bridge. He memorialised the city authorities, and had models, drawings and engraved views made, at an expense of above 300t., in illustration of his designs for forming an approach to the new bridge from Tooley Street, particularly with reference to throwing open the east end of the church of St. Saviours', Southwark; and likewise of forming a direct line from the bridge to the Bank, with a cross street to the Monument, and for converting the site of the northern abutment of the old bridge into an open dock for steam vessels. Mr Allen had the satisfaction of seeing these and many other of his suggestions adopted; but in reply to his memorial to the city authorities in 1830, to take his claims into consideration, he was informed that there was no fund available for this purpose. These proceedings, however, brought him into notice in the borough, and for some years past he has been extensively employed in valuations, building of warehouses, and other works, arising from the improvements and alterations made in that neighbourhood; and after one of the great fires so prevalent in that district, he was employed to restore the church of St. Olave, in Tooley Street.

On the extension of the Metropolitan Buildings Act, Mr Allen was elected District Surveyor for Rotherhithe & Hatcham; and on the occasion of a recent vacancy, he succeeded to the appointment of surveyor to the Haberdashers' Company.

His professional brethren, his clients, and even those to whom he was opposed, on occasions were conflicting interests were at issue, will bear testimony to the honorable manner in which he conducted himself, and to the zeal which he manifested at all times for the business he was engaged in, and likewise for his anxiety to support the character of the profession to which he belonged. Mr Allen was admitted a few months since, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

(signed) J.J.S.

London Bridge in 1911. The scene in this postcard shows the Royal Procession travelling through London and passing over the bridge.

From: Biographical Dictionary of English Architects 1660-1840 Edited by H.M. Colvin (First published 1954, reprinted 1996) - page 40

Allen, George (1798-1847) F.I.B.A., a pupil of James Elmes, entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1818, and won the Silver Medal in 1820. He exhibited at the Academy between 1820 and 1840.

In 1826 he was engaged, together with James Savage and others, in giving evidence regarding the failure of the foundations of the Customs House, on behalf of Mr Peto, the contractor.

In 1827-8 he prepared and published Plans and Designs for the future Approaches of the London Bridge, with the result that many of his suggestions were adopted by the Bridge Committee.

He was much employed in making valuations for railway, gas and dock companies, and was surveyor to the Haberdashers' Company, the Deptford Creek Bridge Company, the district of Rotherhithe & Hatcham, and the parishes of St. Olave & St. Nicholas, Deptford.

His office was in Tooley Street, Southwark (A.P.S.D.).

(His work...)

Penhurst, Kent: Restoration of Harden Cottage "in the ancient English style", exhibited at Royal Academy, 1926.

Bermondsey: St. James' Church, in conjunction with James Savage, who was responsible for the design, 1827-8.

Southwark: The New London Bridge Tavern, for John Humphrey, M.P., 1834 (exhibited at Royal Academy, 1835)

Southwark: Union Workhouse, for the parishes of St. Olave & St. John, c.1835.

Brentford, Middlesex: The Infant School, 1837.

Ealing, Middlesex: Villa for J.T. Sleap, c.1840 (exhibited at Royal Academy).

Southwark: St. Olave's Church, restoration after the fire of 1843.

Southwark, St. John's Girls' School, 1845.

Bermondsey, Christchurch, with W.B. Hays, 1847.

Also: Several wharfs, warehouses, etc., in Southwark, including Fenning's Wharf, 1836; those on the north side of Southwark Cathedral, for Mr Aldis Humphrey, 1838; Cotton's Wharf, for Messrs. Scovell; Jopping's Wharf (after 1843); and Davis' Wharf (Brayley, Topographical History of Surrey, v. 356, 373).

Some Relevant Links

Some photos and paintings of George Allen's work are shown below having been borrowed (and mostly shrunk in size - as a courtesy issue) from various internet sources. 

Although doing this is not exactly the right thing to do, perhaps given the total lack of income-generation potential for George Allen's descendants to derive from this website, along with this webpage's potential for enhancing the history of each image, might allow us to keep out of strife. Meanwhile, these various sources are noted with each image. 

Several old views are from a Corporation of London website called Collage, and these are available for purchase from them - and in a much better form than you will see them below!!

 Perhaps George Allen's ghost is remembering how the City of London didn't pay him for his considerable work and expense toward London Bridge in 1830 and has kindly guided things from above! 

Harden Cottage, in Penhurst, Kent: George Allen was involved with restoration work on this cottage in c1826. Click here to see the website this photo is from.

St. James' Church, Bermondsey: George Allen was involved in the building of this church, in conjunction with James Savage, who designed it. It was built in 1827-8 and consecrated on 7 May 1829 Click here to see the website this photo is from.

London Bridge 1828: In 1827-8, George Allen devoted much attention to the approaches to this new bridge across the River Thames. These are described in his obituary above, and are repeated here: "...his designs for forming an approach to the new bridge from Tooley Street, particularly with reference to throwing open the east end of the church of St. Saviours', Southwark; and likewise of forming a direct line from the bridge to the Bank, with a cross street to the Monument, and for converting the site of the northern abutment of the old bridge into an open dock for steam vessels." 

Many of his suggestions were adopted, but when he sought some payment for these efforts, he was told there was no money available to pay him anything.

Possibly the reference to converting a portion of the old bridge to become an open dock for steam vessels is what became Fenning's Wharf - which is pictured below. Click here to see the website this picture is from, and where an enlarged version is available

The opening of London Bridge 1831. Visit the website about the artist, Clarkson Stanfield (1793-1867)

Fenning's Wharf, Southwark, painted 'about 1835', alongside London Bridge. George Allen was responsible for the design of Fenning's Wharf in 1836. Click here to see the website this picture is from, and where an enlarged version is available

St. Olave's Church, Bermondsey: This picture shows people clearing away debris after the fire of 17 August 1843. Notes on a larger view of this image suggest it was drawn on about 5 June 1843. George Allen was involved in the restoration of the church after the fire - and that looks to have been rather a major task. Click here to see the website this picture is from, and where an enlarged version is available

Bermondsey, Christ Church: This webpage is the only one traced to date that actually mentions George Allen's involvement with the building concerned - and unfortunately there is no accompanying photo. This church was completed in 1848 - the year following George's death - and was demolished in 1966. The church's description reads: "Built 1848, by George Allen: the designer was W Bennett Hayes. The church is of brick, in Romanesque style, with what the Ecclesiologist called 'a knowing-looking clerestory thick set with windows' a south-west belfry, and a short sanctuary." (from 'Parish Churches of London', Basil F L Clarke, Batsford, 1966)

It is not at present known if any of George Allen's single-handed work survives, although clearly some jobs he participated in - such as those photographed above - are still standing.

The Custom House, Billingsgate, London

The Custom House referred to in George Allen's obituary is a mystery worth trying to learn about. The following is what the obituary said about his connection to the building:

"...he was shortly afterwards engaged in conjunction with Mr Savage and others for Mr Peto, in making surveys and reports, and in giving evidence on the recent failure of the foundations of the Custom House. This occasion called forth the exhibition of powers for which he was afterwards distinguished, namely, that of great firmness and self-possession under a cross-examination of counsel, who are not always the most courteous to a witness on the opposing side, and of considerable talent in the composition of reports, memorials, and business correspondence."

It transpires that this was London's sixth Custom House (presumably on or near the same site), the others having previously burnt down. It was erected in 1814-17, and the original architect was David Laing.

The first noteworthy complication occurred when the previous Customs building burned down in February 1814 when only the foundations of the new one were in place. The first stone of the new building had been laid on 25 October 1913.

The new Custom House opened for business on 12 May 1817. However, on 26 January 1925, the centre front part of the building collapsed due to foundation subsidence, and that portion had to be demolished. As a result, Laing was suspended from his post as Architect & Surveyor of the Board of Customs, and his practice was ruined.

The replacement portion (fronting the Thames) was subsequently rebuilt by John Smirke

Causes leading to the collapse included difficulties laying the foundations, including the choice of beech for piling. This decayed and apparently caused the failure.

The subsequent enquiry, doubtless the one George Allen participated in, found that there had been: "faulty work on such a scale which indicated either gross incompetence or collusion on the part of the architect".

The year after completing the Custom House, Laing published a collection of plans, details and descriptions of a number of buildings, and these provide hints at the pending disaster of 1825. The opening chapter describes the problems Laing had with the contractors, Messrs. Miles and Peto over estimates submitted and completion. In addition the foundations were subject to innundation throughout their construction.

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