Office_of_works

The Office of Works was established in the English Royal household in 1378 to oversee the building of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings. It was reconstituted as a government department in 1851 and became part of the Ministry of Works (q.v.) in 1940.

The organisation of the office varied but latterly it was headed by a Surveyor and administered by a Comptroller. In 1782 these offices were merged into Surveyor-General and Comptroller. From 1761 there were named Architects. The office also had posts of Secretary, Master Mason and Master Carpenter.

Surveyor of the King\'s Works

• 1597-1604 William Spicer
• 1604-1606 Sir David Cunningham
• 1606-1615 Simon Basil
• 1615-1643 Inigo Jones
• 1643-1653 Edward Carter
• 1653-1660 John Embree
• 1660-1669 Sir John Denham
• 1669-1718 Sir Christopher Wren
• 1718-1719 William Benson
• 1719-1726 Sir Thomas Hewett
• 1726-1737 Richard Arundell
• 1737-1743 Henry Fox
• 1743-1760 Henry Finch
• 1760-1768 Thomas Worsley
• 1779-1782 James Whitehead Keene

Comptroller of the King\'s Works

• 1597-1606 Simon Basil
• 1606-1641 Thomas Baldwin
• 1641-1668 James Wethered
• 1668-1684 Hugh May
• 1689-1702 William Talman
• 1702-1726 Sir John Vanbrugh
• 1726-1758 Thomas Ripley
• 1758-1769 Henry Flitcroft
• 1769-1782 Sir William Chambers

Surveyor-General and Comptroller

• 1782-1796 Sir William Chambers
• 1796-1813 James Wyatt

Architects of the Works

• 1761-1769 Sir William Chambers
• 1761-1769 Robert Adam
• 1769-1777 Sir Robert Taylor
• 1769-1782 James Adam
• 1777-1780 Thomas Sandby
• 1780-1782 James Paine

Secretary to the Board of Works

• 1715-1718 Nicholas Hawksmoor
• 1718-1719 Benjamin Benson
• 1719-1726 John Hallam
• 1726-1736 Nicholas Hawksmoor
• 1736-1766 Isaac Ware
• 1766-1775 William Robinson
• 1775-1782 Kenton Couse

References

• H.M. Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840 (1997) ISBN 0-300-07207-4
• H.M. Colvin, The History of the King\'s Works, London : H.M.S.O, (1963) to (1982)
  • ISBN 0-11-670571-X
  • ISBN 0-11-670568-X (v.3,pt 1)
  • ISBN 0-11-670832-8 (v.4,pt 2)
  • ISBN 0-11-670571-X (v.5)
  • ISBN 0-11-670286-9 (v.6)
  • ISBN 0-11-671116-7 (Plans 5-7)

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