Lionel Brett, 4th Viscount Esher

Lionel Gordon Baliol Brett, 4th Viscount Esher, 4th Baron Esher CBE (18 July 1913 – 9 July 2004) was a British peer, architect and town-planner. He succeeded to his title on the death of his father in 1963.

He spent the Second World War mostly in Britain, training gunners in the Royal Artillery, until he went through France and Belgium to witness the surrender of Lübeck and Hamburg. In 1945, he stood as Liberal parliamentary candidate for Henley, coming third in the poll. In November 1957, some 50 of Hatfield's two-storey terraced houses lost their mono-pitched roofs in a storm, and the adverse publicity and financial liability ended his business. He served as president of the Royal Institute of British Architects from 1966 to 1967.

National Life Stories conducted an oral history interview (C467/14) with Lionel Gordon Baliol Brett Esher in 1997 for its Architects Lives' collection. The recording is held by the British Library.

Honours Esher was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1970 Birthday Honours.

Personal life In 1935, he married Helena Christian Pike, a painter. She was the daughter of Colonel Ebenezer John Lecky Pike and Olive Snell. Her sister, Katherine Mary Penelope Pike, was married to Lawrence Dundas, 3rd Marquess of Zetland. Together, Lionel and Helena were the parents of: He later gave the house to his eldest son, and built a house of his own design, named The Tower, on the grounds of the estate.

Esher's autobiography Ourselves Unknown records how he nursed his wife through a long mental breakdown in the 1960s, but notes that she gave him equal support and strength over nearly 70 years.

Selected architecture Notable works by the partnership of Brett, Francis Pollen and Harry Teggin include:

190–192 Sloane Street, Chelsea, showrooms and offices, 1963–1965 Pall Mall Court, Manchester, offices, 1966–1968 Library at Downside Abbey, Somerset, 1965–1970 Refectory and guest accommodation, east wing, Downside Abbey, 1970–1975

Arms