Thomas Wallis

Thomas Wallis (27 May 1872–4 May 1953) was an English architect known for his Art Deco designs and for founding Wallis, Gilbert and Partners.

Early life Wallis was born in West Norwood and was the son of a bricklayer father and a grocer mother. In 1899, he married his cousin, Edith. They had three children.

Career Wallis worked for local architect, Sidney R. J. Smith, during the time that Smith had the Tate Gallery commission. Wallis contributed to some of the drawings for the building's design.

In 1900, Wallis was admitted to the Society of Architects and worked independently. In 1901, he returned to work as a draughtsman at the HM Office of Works and Public Buildings to earn more money. He also worked with James Albert Bowden. Buildings they designed included the Bunker, Hythe and Rochdale swimming baths, Barnsley swimming baths, an extension for Stoke-on-Trent Town Hall,

Wallis established Wallis, Gilbert and Partners in 1916. He worked with the Trussed Concrete Steel Company (Truscon), based in Michigan, for ten years. Collaborating with Truscon enabled Wallis to get around rules against architects engaging in commercial activities.

Architectural style Wallis described his style, which featured large, adaptable spaces behind an elaborate Art Deco façade, as "Fancy". Many other architects were critical of his designs

Wallis considered that the façade of a building provided effective advertising for a company and that good design had a positive effect on good workers.

Personal life and death Wallis had affairs that threatened his marriage and by 1933, caused its end. From this point, he lived with his secretary Doris Rudland, who was 28 years younger. In 1947, after Edith's death, Thomas and Doris married. In 1953, they moved to Worthing. He died soon after the move, on 4 May 1953.