Nowell Parr


Thomas Henry Nowell Parr FRIBA was a British architect, best known for designing pubs in west London. Many of these were built while Parr was "house architect" for Fuller's Brewery. Parr designed various buildings in Brentford while he was surveyor and then architect to the Council from 1894 to 1907.

Early life

Parr was born in Handsworth, Staffordshire, the eldest child of Thomas Parr and Frances "Fanny" Nowell. He was baptised on 20 July 1864. In 1890, his career began as an architectural assistant for Walsall Corporation architects' department, for which he worked until 1894.

Career

Brentford Council

In 1894, the Brentford Local Board employed Nowell Parr as "Surveyor to the Council", and from 1897 as an architect.
From 1896–1905, Parr was architect for five large buildings in Brentford, of which three survive: Brentford Baths, Brentford Fire Station, and Brentford Library. Brentford Vestry Hall was demolished in 1963, and Brentford Enclosed Market in 1982. The Market eventually became a skateboarding rink, and was also used as a backdrop for episodes of The Sweeney, the 1970s British television police drama.

Private practice

While still working for Brentford Council, Parr began undertaking work as a pub architect. He worked for both Fuller's Brewery, Chiswick and the Royal Brewery, Brentford.
Parr started to work independently in about 1900, while still employed by Brentford UDC. He later went into partnership with fellow architect A. E. Kates, and was also joined by his son, John Nowell Parr. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1925.
Parr is notable for his frequent use of Royal Doulton glazed tiles for his pub facades, often in bright or unusual colours, such as green and a mottled slate blue at the Beehive in Brentford in 1907.

Personal life

In 1891, Parr married Betsey Fennell in Birmingham. They had two children: Marguerite Parr, and John Nowell Parr ; John was also an architect.
Parr lived at 42 Cranley Gardens, South Kensington, London and 52 Kew Bridge Road, Brentford. He died on 23 September 1933.

Notable buildings

There is a block of flats named Nowell Parr Court at Boston Manor Road, Brentford, Middlesex.