Arthur Edwards (architect)

Arthur Edwards (18 March 1863 – 6 July 1927) was an architect based in Birmingham, Warwickshire. He designed or remodelled at least four listed buildings, including the Craven Arms public house, Birmingham, the Samson and Lion public house Bordesley Green, the Aston Cross Clock Tower and the Aston Cross Lamp Standard. He also designed the Birmingham Municipal Technical School which was a foundational building of Aston University, the Royal Albert Hall, Aston, various mills and factories, and numerous local residences.

Background

The immediate family of Edwards and his wife were Birmingham artisans and manufacturers. His paternal grandfather was John Edwards of Birmingham, a boot and shoe maker who was born in London, and his paternal grandmother was Sarah Edwards. Edwards' father was William Edwards of Birmingham, originally a boot and shoe maker, then a gunmaker and gun finisher. His mother was Emma née Ford. Arthur Edwards was born in Birmingham. Her paternal grandfather was John Heaton, an iron founder of Aston, Birmingham. Her father was Reuben George Heaton, who in 1857 founded the Reuben Heaton company, which manufactures angling equipment. He left £5,326 .

Career Edwards was an architect and surveyor.

Aston Cross Lamp Standard, 1891 The Aston Cross Lamp Standard is a listed building, designed by Edwards. It is described by Historic England as: "Iron. Ionic style column carrying scrolly arms for lamps now missing and ball finial".

Birmingham Municipal Technical School, 1894

This building in Suffolk Street, Birmingham, was designed by Edwards as the Aston Technical Schools,

The three storeys of the building performed three functions: the basement held engineering shops using power, the middle storey held lecture rooms, and the top floor held laboratories. The lower storey was a semi-basement, holding heavy equipment such as a modelling room with casting facilities, an engineering classroom with engine house, a battery storage room which lit the building, a metallurgical laboratory and more. when the first functional diesel engine prototype was not built until 1897, and electric motors would power individual machines without the need for an engine house. However the engine house could have contained an additional Crossley gas engine for some purposes.

The ground or middle floor contained a lecture room, art rooms, classrooms and facilities for teachers and technical workers. On the top floor was a chemical laboratory, a lecture room and more art rooms, besides other facilities. The carpenter's shop was situated behind the building. The structure had electric light, lavatories and piped hot water heating. The building's exterior was decorated with terracotta, ornamental iron palisades, and wrought iron gates. Edwards was very much a project architect, being present to superintend the construction. It was a foundational building of Aston University, and was demolished in the 1960s.

Royal Albert Hall, Aston, 1899 The Royal Albert Hall, Witton Road, Aston, was designed by Edwards in 1899. The Birmingham Mail described it thus:

Samson and Lion pub, Yardley Green Road, 1913–1915

The former Samson and Lion public house, 42 Yardley Green Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, is a listed building, designed by Edwards. Historic England says: "No longer in use as a pub. It was converted to The Clock Café, which is now closed. Currently in use by the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects". The building can be glimpsed behind the street lamp in the photograph (right). This is a decorative structure as described by Historic England. It is a bay-windowed, red brick building with diapering and terracotta details. The doors have "round-arched canopies with dentil ornament", and there is a large, bracketed clock projecting above the entrance. When registered by Historic England, the interior retained many original features, including a mirrored bar with etched glass panels, stained glass windows and original fire surrounds. Historic England describes the building as, "Well-detailed and little altered early C20 public house which illustrates the shift of emphasis from lavish decoration and opulence to greater restraint, simplicity and decency in the design of early C20 premises".

St George's Church, Edgbaston, 1899 St George's Church, Edgbaston is a listed building, designed by Joseph John Scoles, Charles Edge and J. A. Chatwin. Edwards "carried out extensive alternations and restorations in the interior of the church in 1899".

Craven Arms, Birmingham, 1906–1910

The Craven Arms public house in Birmingham is a listed building, decoratively remodelled inside and out by Edwards. Historic England describes the building thus:

Associations Edwards was elected a member of the Birmingham Architectural Association in 1892. He became a Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Freemasons in Holte in 1907. He was a manager of voluntary schools, a superintendent of the Working Men's School, and a member of the Handsworth Golf Club, the local Conservative Club and the Conservative Association. He was a churchwarden for St George's Church, Edgbaston, and an active church member and worker.