Thomas Chatfeild-Clarke

Thomas Chatfeild-Clarke (22 August 1829–28 June 1895) was an architect, surveyor and politician.

Early life and family Chatfeild-Clarke was born in 1829 in Newport, Isle of Wight, to parents Abraham Clarke, a farmer, and his wife Jane (née Chatfeild) In 1859 he married Ellen Nettlefold (1826–1901), daughter of John Sutton Nettlefold of Birmingham and cousin of Joseph Chamberlain They had six children, all sons: Howard (1860–1917), Temple (b. and d.1862), Edgar (1863–1925), Robert (1867–1941) and Cecil (1869–1947). The family were strong Unitarians and this had a powerful influence on Thomas's career and commissions.

In 1874 he built a house for himself, Oakfield, at Wootton on the Isle of Wight. It survives, now in multiple occupancy. A large house with oriel windows, multiple gables and half-timbering, it displays Arts and Crafts influences.

Professional Qualifications and Honours In 1862 he became a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). the Fishmongers’ Company, Dr Williams's Library and to other public institutions. At Hammersmith at the 1885 general election, he lost to Conservative candidate Walter Tuckfield Goldsworthy by 4,261 votes to 3,095. At Grantham at the 1892 general election, he lost by 33 votes to Henry Lopes, 1st Baron Roborough of the Conservative Party. He represented Finsbury on the first and second London School Boards His son Howard continued the practice after his father's death. His wife probably chose Highgate Cemetery because the Nettlefold family home was in The Grove, Highgate. There is a memorial stained glass window in the Unitarian Church, Newport, Isle of Wight, where he worshipped when on the island and where a memorial service was held on 7 July 1895.

Selected works

1862: Unity Church, Upper Street, Islington, London 1863: Nettlefold and Chamberlain, Heath Street Screw Mill, Birmingham, extension 1866: New Sion Chapel, 212 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1867: Little Tongue Yard, Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1869: Unitarian Church, West Ham Lane, London, E15 1870: 26 Throgmorton Street, London, EC2 1871: Schools, Church Street, Mile End, London, E1 (now Fournier Street, Spitalfields) 1871: Church of Our Lady and St Wilfrid, Ventnor, Isle of Wight (destroyed by fire 2006) 1872: Church of St Lawrence, Wootton St Lawrence, Hampshire: north vestry 1874: Premises, St Brides, Ludgate Hill, London, EC4 1874: Oakfield, Beech Lane, Wootton Common, Ryde, Isle of Wight 1874–76: Church of St John, Southbourne, West Sussex 1877: Mary Datchelor School, 3–5 Camberwell Grove, London, SE5 1877: London Domestic Mission Society, 2–6 Dingley Place, London, EC1 1877: Royal Bank of Scotland, 3 and 5 Bishopsgate, London, EC2 1877: 1–5 Clerkenwell Road and 8–10 Charterhouse Buildings, London, EC1 1880: London & Lancashire Life Assurance Company, 66–67 Cornhill, London, EC3 1880: Nettlefold and Chamberlain offices, Broad Street, Birmingham 1882: Mill for Nettlefold and Chamberlain, Baskerville Place, Birmingham 1885: The Daily News offices, Bouverie Street, London, EC4 1885–86: Essex Hall, Essex Street, London WC2, for the British and Foreign Unitarian Association 1887: 385–397 Oxford Street, London, W1 (Drawing in The Builder 1884 of similar premises in Oxford Street) 1890: The Central Foundation School for Girls, Spital Square, London, E1 1893: Mercers’ School, Barnard's Inn, High Holborn, London, EC4