William Thomas (architect)


William Thomas was an Anglo-Canadian architect. His son William Tutin Thomas was also an architect, working mostly in Montreal, Quebec.

Life

Thomas was born in Suffolk, England. He was apprenticed to a local builder after his family moved to Gloucestershire. His two older brothers became master glaziers and younger brother was the sculptor John Thomas, apprenticed under Charles Barry and A.W. Pugin.
On completion of his apprenticeship, William moved to Birmingham to work for Richard Tutin a builder and surveyor. He became a member of the Tutin family by marrying Martha, a member of the Tutin family. During this time he revised his title to architect, however, a depression in the city forced the closure of the firm and he moved to Leamington.
Thomas began his own practice at Leamington Spa in 1831 where he designed many buildings, but in 1837 went bankrupt. In 1843, during a depression in the British building industry, he emigrated to Canada with his wife and 10 children to Toronto, where his career flourished. He designed some of the finest Decorated Gothic Revival architecture in Ontario.
He was also Toronto's city engineer when John George Howard made a trip to England in 1853. He died in Toronto, aged about sixty. Two of his sons, William Tutin Thomas and Cyrus Pole Thomas, also became architects.
Thomas is sometimes inaccurately credited with the architectural design and the elaborate stone carvings on Victoria Hall in Cobourg, Ontario. In fact, Kivas Tully designed the building and the fine sandstone carvings are the work of master stonecarver Charles Thomas Thomas.

Works


ProjectLocationDatesNotesSourceImage
Lansdowne CircusRoyal Leamington Spa, England1832-1835Horseshoe-shaped project of eight pairs of Georgian semi-detached houses and two end-villas in English spa town.
St. Paul's CathedralLondon, Ontario, Canada1844-1846Anglican cathedral in the Gothic Revival style.
St. Michael's Cathedral Episcopal PalaceToronto1845Gothic and Tudor Revival episcopal residence, cathedral rectory, and chancery office.
6 Dublin Street SouthGuelph, Ontario1847Limestone commercial building in the Georgian style. Home to the Guelph Civic Museum between 1980 and 2011.
St. Michael's CathedralToronto1845-1848Designed in the English Gothic Revival style, it was Toronto's largest church upon completion.
Toronto House of Industry110 Edward Street, Toronto1848Tudor-Gothic workhouse now used as the Laughlen Lodge seniors residence.
Oakham House322 Church Street, Ryerson University, Toronto1848Thomas' Gothic Revival residence and office. Later additions replaced the office wing.
Niagara District Court House and Town HallNiagara, Ontario1846-1848Neoclassical building used to house courts, the town hall, and a market in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Now used as a theatre.
Kent County Courthouse and Jail81 Stanley Avenue, Chatham, Ontario1848-1850The Neoclassical limestone building was completed in 1850, and features a balustraded balcony, a prominent pediment, and a crowning cupola.
St. Lawrence HallToronto1850-1851Designed in the Renaissance Revival style, it was Toronto's first public meeting hall.
Brock's MonumentQueenston Heights, Queenston, Ontario1853-1856Monument with 56-metre column dedicated to Major General Sir Isaac Brock, one of Canada's heroes of the War of 1812., Queenston, Ontario
St. Paul's Presbyterian ChurchHamilton, Ontario1854-1857Originally St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Gothic Revival in style.
Old City HallGuelph, Ontario1856-1857Renaissance Revival town hall and market.
New Quebec Customs HouseQuebec City, Quebec1856-1860Neoclassical customs house.
St. Matthew's United ChurchHalifax, Nova Scotia1857-1860Originally St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church. Gothic Revival in style.
Halifax Old County Court HouseHalifax, Nova Scotia1858-1862Renaissance Revival courthouse.
Don JailToronto1859-1864Italianate jail.
Lansdowne CrescentRoyal Leamington Spa, England1835-1838, 1866Curving terrace of Neoclassical rowhouses.
Duncan McIntyre House Montreal1880sRomanesque Scottish Baronial residence of Duncan McIntyre.