ARCHITECT OF EMPIRE: JOSEPH FEARIS MUNNINGS 1879-1937 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Art History in the University of Canterbury Heulwen Mary Roberts University of Canterbury 2013 “Munnings at his drawing board”, attributed to Norman Lindsay. (Reproduced courtesy of Rick Munnings.) Table of Contents Acknowledgements i Abstract ii Appendix List iii List of Illustrations iv Abbreviations xii Chapters Introduction 1 1. Early Experiences and Training 1879-1903 6 2. Architectural Training in England 1903-1906 16 3. The Partnership of Hurst Seager, Wood and Munnings 1907-1909 24 4. Work with Leonard Stokes, England 1909 40 5. Responsibilities and Achievements in India 1910-1918 47 6. New Zealand 1919-1923 83 7. The Partnership of Power, Adam and Munnings 1923-1937 109 Conclusion 138 Bibliography 142 Appendices A. Summary of Architectural Association Syllabus 1903-1905 157 B. ‘Domestic Architecture in New Zealand’ by J. F. Munnings 160 C. Works known to have been designed or supervised by J. F. Munnings or by the firm of Power, Adam and Munnings 163 D. Letter announcing the partnership of J. Shedden Adam and J. F. Munnings 173 Illustrations (unpaginated) Acknowledgements I am indebted to the staff of many archives in London, New South Wales and New Zealand, who promptly and enthusiastically responded to my requests for information. In my bibliography, I acknowledge all these archives and, in the footnotes, I acknowledge by name those with whom I have corresponded by email and by phone. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the assistance of the following people: Bro. Gerard Hogg, Ken Scadden, Kevin Bourke, Phyl Phipps, Trich Devescovi, Jenny May, Warren Ferris Johansen, Anna Kristin Kiernan, Sir Miles Warren, Arthur Spiers, Joy Walker, Kathie Rieth, Jennifer Harvey and Bruce Robinson, Edward Bottoms, Shannon Haritos, Noni Boyd, Geoffrey E. Foley, Bev Knox and the Interloans staff at the University of Canterbury Library. I am particularly grateful to Jo Tait, for providing me with access to plans and other printed resources relating to Knox Grammar School. I very much appreciated her assistance and kindness during my visit to the school. I also thank Rick Munnings for permission to reproduce the cartoon of Joseph Munnings. I am also most grateful to Kevin and Karin Hooper and to Michael Midgley for welcoming me into their homes and sharing their knowledge of houses designed by Joseph Munnings. I wish to acknowledge the encouragement and guidance of my supervisor, Dr. Ian Lochhead. I thank him for his insightful comments on the original draft of my thesis and his suggestions for the advancement of my argument. I also acknowledge friends and family for their support; Sue and Rob, for their moral support and excellent leads, Julia and Rowan for proofreading my work, Dafydd for his protracted research in London, Meri for her wise counsel and, above all, Keith for his encouragement and joyful companionship on my research ventures. Lastly, I thank the University of Canterbury for the scholarship, which provided the financial support for me to explore more avenues than would otherwise have been possible. In particular, it made possible my research trip to Sydney where I was able to see, in person, a variety of buildings designed by Joseph Munnings. As such, it was the highlight of my research experience. i Abstract New Zealand-born architect Joseph Fearis Munnings (1879-1937) is largely forgotten in the country of his birth. Considering the importance of his public works in Bihar and Orissa, India (1912-1919) and his prominence as a school architect in New South Wales, Australia (1923- 1937), recognition of his architectural achievements is long overdue. This thesis takes as its premise the notion that early twentieth century architecture in colonial New Zealand, India and Australia was British, the rationale expounded by G. A. Bremner in Imperial Gothic– Religious Architecture and High Anglican Culture in the British Empire (2013). My thesis argues that, considering Munnings’ colonial upbringing and English training, the styles he employed reflected his and his clients’ identity as British. It explores the extent to which Munnings adapted British styles, by incorporating features appropriate for colonial conditions. Drawing upon the work of Ian Lochhead on the achievements of Samuel Hurst Seager, my thesis considers the role played by Seager in mentoring Munnings and guiding his philosophy of architecture. Peter Scriver’s papers, ‘Edge of empire or edge of Asia’ (2009) and ‘Complicity and Contradiction in the Office of the Consulting Architect to the Government of India, 1903-1921’ (1996), also inform my analysis of Munnings’ work in India. To enable an analysis of Munnings’ work, this study divides his career into chronological stages: Early experiences and training, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1879-1903 Architectural training, London, England, 1903-1906 Partnership with Hurst Seager and Cecil Wood, Christchurch, 1906-1909 Work with Leonard Stokes, London, 1909 Responsibilities and achievements, India, 1910-1918 Contributions and achievements, New Zealand, 1919-1923 Partnership with Power and Adam, Sydney, Australia, 1923-1937 This thesis, the first comprehensive study of Munnings’ career, illuminates the extent of his architectural legacy in India, his significant contribution to school architecture in New South Wales, and asserts his place as an architect of the British Empire. ii Appendix List Appendix A Summary of the syllabus of the two hour Lectures and Classes held by the Architectural Association during 1903-05. (The Brown Book (1904-05), The Architectural Association, London, pp.68-101.) Appendix B Transcription: ‘Domestic Architecture in New Zealand’, Journal of the Architectural Association, January 1910, pp.13-14. Appendix C List of works known to be designed or supervised by J. F. Munnings (1907-1923) and by the firm Power, Adam and Munnings (1923-37). In acknowledgement of Munnings’ respect for builders, the name of the construction company, if known, has been included. Appendix D Letter announcing the partnership of J. Shedden Adam and J. F. Munnings under the title of Power, Adam and Munnings, 1 June 1925. (Knox Grammar School Archives and Museum) iii List of Illustrations Frontispiece: “Munnings at his drawing board”, attributed to Norman Lindsay. (Reproduced courtesy of Rick Munnings.) Figures 1. Joseph Munnings’ house c.1880, corner Lincoln Rd and South Belt, Christchurch. (J. H. Seager Collection, Canterbury Museum, Ref. 1987.288.1) 2. Entrance Tower, All Saints Convent, (1902-1903), London Colney, St Albans. Leonard Stokes. (The Builder, 15 September 1900. St Albans Museums, Photograph number PX9260) 3. Lincoln Grammar School (1903-1905), Leonard Stokes. (Lincoln Christ's Hospital School: http://www.christs-hospital.lincs.sch.uk/joomla15/images/stories/DSC_2586.jpg) 4. Gerrard Street Telephone Exchange (1904-6), London. Leonard Stokes. (Thomas R. Spence, Leonard Aloysius Scott Stokes (1858-1925), Vol. 2, B.A. dissertation, University of Sheffield, 1970, Figure 352.) 5. Westminster Cathedral (1903), London. John Francis Bentley. (St Ann‘s Gate Architects LLP, The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EB: http://www.stannsgate.com/project/westminster-cathedral-high-altar-vault-repairs- and-mosaics) 6. The Chapel of the Convent of Our Lady of the Missions, Barbadoes Street, Christchurch (1907). Entrance and tower. Hurst Seager, Wood and Munnings. (L. Bestall Collection, Canterbury Museum, Ref. 1980.161.1) 7. The Chapel of the Convent of Our Lady of the Missions, Barbadoes Street, Christchurch (1907). West wall and window. (L. Bestall Collection, Canterbury Museum, Ref. 1980.161.2) 8. Chapel of the Convent of Our Lady of the Missions (1907), Barbadoes Street, Christchurch. South side. Hurst Seager, Wood and Munnings. (Heritage Team Archive Files, Christchurch City Council.) 9. The West Window of the Chapel of the Convent of Our Lady of the Missions (1907), Barbadoes Street, Christchurch. Hurst Seager, Wood and Munnings. (Heritage Team Archive Files, Christchurch City Council.) iv 10. Interior of the Chapel of the Convent of Our Lady of the Missions (1907), Barbadoes Street, Christchurch. Hurst Seager, Wood and Munnings. (Heritage Team Archive Files, Christchurch City Council.) 11. Interior of the Chapel of the Convent of Our Lady of the Missions (1907), Barbadoes Street, Christchurch. Hurst Seager, Wood and Munnings. (Heritage Team Archive Files, Christchurch City Council.) 12. Consumptive Sanatorium (1908), Cashmere, Christchurch. Hurst Seager, Wood and Munnings. Photograph c.1920s by Steffano Webb. (National Library: Consumptive sanatorium, Cashmere, Christchurch. Webb, Steffano,1880?-1967: Collection of negatives. Ref: 1/1-022279-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23059211) 13. Design for Government House, Dacca, by James Ransome. (Ransome, J., Government of India: Building Designs, London, Government of India, 1909, Plate II.) 14. Design for Government House, Chittagong, by James Ransome. (Ransome, J., Government of India: Building Designs, London, Government of India, 1909, Plate XVI.) 15. Map of Patna, The New Capital and Bankipore. (L. S. S. O’Malley, The Bihar and Orissa Gazetteer - Patna, Supt., Bihar and Orissa Government, 1924, op. p.165.) 16. New Capital Patna, Lay Out Plan, 28 March 1915. J. F. Munnings ARIBA. (John Begg, Annual Report on Architectural Work in India 1914-1915, Plate 23.)
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