Sir Thomas Drew

Sir Thomas Drew (18 September 1838 – 13 March 1910) was an Anglo-Irish architect.

Life Thomas Drew was born in Victoria Place, Belfast. He was the son of the Rev. Thomas Drew and Isabella (née Dalton) Drew. He was one of four sons and eight daughters of the couple, although most of the children died young. His sister, Catherine Drew, was a journalist and writer.

He married Adelaide Anne, the sister of William George Murray, in 1871.

Among other projects, he was responsible for the design of the Ulster Bank on Dame Street, Rathmines Town Hall (completed 1899), and the Graduates' Building at Trinity College. He took an interest in historic buildings and was the first to draw serious attention to the architectural and historic importance of the St Audoen's Church, Dublin's oldest parish church, in 1866. He produced detailed plans of the church for which he won an award from the RIAI, carried out excavations and drew up a paper on the church and its history.

From 1885 to 1892, Richard Orpen worked with him as a managing assistant. Drew's most significant work in Belfast was St Anne's Cathedral, completed in 1899.

In February 1910, he underwent an operation for appendicitis, which left him in a critical condition, and he died on 13 March 1910. He was buried in Deans Grange Cemetery.

Selected works Christ Church, Kilmore, County Down, 1868-1870. (Last 'Established' church built in Ireland) Christ Church, Ballyculter, County Down - renovations & rebuilding, 1880-1882 Holy Trinity, Seapatrick, County Down - complete rebuild, 1882 St. Patrick's Church, Coleraine, County Londonderry - renovations & rebuilding, 1883-1885 St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast (original design), 1899-1904, completed 2007 Graduates Memorial Building, Trinity College, Dublin, 1899-1902