Edward Boardman

Edward Boardman (1833–1910) was a Norwich-born architect. He succeeded John Brown as the most successful Norwich architect in the second half of the 19th century. His work included both civic and ecclesiastical buildings, in addition to private commissions. Together, with his rival, George Skipper, he produced many notable buildings, with several standing to this day (2013).

Career Boardman received his early education at the Baptist school in Norwich founded by the father of John Sherren Brewer and E. Cobham Brewer. His school fellows included the headmaster's grandson Henry William Brewer, later a notable architectural illustrator, the clinician and physiologist Sydney Ringer and the orientalist Professor Robert Lubbock Bensly.

Boardman trained as an architect with the London-based company Lucas Brothers and was later articled with John Louth Clemence of Lowestoft. In 1860, he established his own practice in Norwich, before being accepted as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1871. From 1875, his offices were located at Old Bank of England Court, Queen Street, Norwich.

His major works in Norwich include the refurbishment of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, converting Norwich Castle into a museum, building the notable Royal Hotel and the mortuary chapel in the city's Rosary Cemetery. Outside of the city, he was responsible for the remodelling of Peckover House in Wisbech, the enlargement of Coltishall Primary School and in 1873, the building of the Dereham's Congregational Church are among his most notable works.

Personal life Boardman was born in Norwich in 1833 and lived at 91 Newmarket Road, Norwich to his death on 11 November 1910. He was elected Mayor of Norwich for 1905–1906. Boardman's son retired in 1933 and the practice continued until 1966.

Family His son Edward Thomas (also an architect) was born in 1862 and joined the family firm in 1889. He assumed control of the business in 1900. The younger Edward married Florence, a daughter of Jeremiah Colman and Caroline Colman members of the Colman's family. They bought the How Hill estate at Ludham, Norfolk and built How Hill House as a holiday home in 1904. They extended the house in 1915 and moved there permanently. Among their children were Humphrey who represented Great Britain in the 1928 Summer Olympics in the double sculls and Christopher, who won a gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in the 6 metre yachting competition. The younger Edward's sister in law Ethel Colman was the first female Lord Mayor of Norwich in 1923.

One of Boardman's daughters, Ethel Marion, married Percy Jewson, who was Lord Mayor of Norwich 1934-35 and National Liberal MP for Great Yarmouth 1941–45,

Works

Norwich Royal Hotel, Agricultural Hall Plain (1896–7) Castle House, Castle Meadow (1874, printing works) Norvic Shoe Factory, Duke Street (1879, extension) St. Mary's Baptist Church, Duke Street (1868, destroyed during the Second World War)

Norfolk

Coltishall Primary School, Coltishall (1875–77, enlargement) Cambridge House Hotel, Cromer (1887) Fletcher Convalescent Home, Cromer (1893) Red Lion Hotel, Cromer (1887) Vernon House, Cromer (1877–8) The Congregational Church, Dereham (1873) Harbord House, Overstrand (1878–9) Church of St. Mary & St. Margaret, Sprowston (1886–90) Stoke Hall, Stoke Holy Cross (1890, alterations and improvements) Crown Point, Trowse (1866) Methodist Church, Wymondham (1871)

Cambridgeshire

Peckover House, Wisbech (1877–78, additions)