Richard Roach Jewell
Encyclopedia
Richard Roach Jewell was an architect who designed many of the important public buildings in Perth during the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Jewell was articled(trained) as an architect/builder in Barnstaple in Devon
shire. He was employed to supervise many major building projects around England, churches in Bristol, Cardiff, Clifton, Eye, Horsley and Stroudswater. As well as churches he also supervised construction of Stanstead College, a military prison in Gosport and fortifications at Portland Castle
and Southsea Castle
. He was also employed as a clerk of works in the offices of Sir Charles Barry
.
to seek a more temperate climate for his frail wife. They arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia
on the Will Watch on 24 February 1852.
He was initially employed in the Imperial Convict Establishment, which was established to manage British convicts which had started arriving in 1850 (see: Convict era of Western Australia). The Fremantle based Convict Establishment was responsible for many large constructions in the colony with an already well established design department in the offices of the Royal Engineers headed by James Manning as Clerk of Works. Jewell soon transferred to the expanding Department of Public Works based in Perth
and was appointed foreman in January 1853 at a salary of £150. In a letter to family in England dated 4 February Jewell comment on his salary
In the same letter Jewell wrote of his position and future aspirations;
Jewell did not have long to wait, in June 1853 the Superintendent of Public Works, James Austin resigned after a long running battle with Governor Charles Fitzgerald
over pay and conditions. Jewell was appointed to the position at an increased salary of £175 with an additional £25 for being Superintendent of Towns.
Jewell's duties initially included overseeing repairs of buildings, roads and bridges, and supervising the construction of the boys' schools in Perth and Fremantle. He was soon given the task of designing major buildings such as Perth Gaol
and the court-house. Jewell was said to have worked hard and long into the night with his book-keeping duties. In 1853 he wrote to Governor Fitzgerald:
With the arrival of 300 convicts and ticket of leave persons Perth had the labour necessary to commence building many substantial projects the first of these Jewell worked on were the Claisebrook Abbatoirs, of which only drawings survive and the Colonial School on St Georges Terrace that now houses the National Trust
. The Colonial School was built in two stages the first being completed in 1854 and two wings were added in 1868 giving it a rough crucifix form. To provide for the convicts Jewell designed the Perth Gaol
in 1854, all of these building utilised limestone carted by barges from quarries at Rocky Bay.
With a the colony lacking in funds Jewell turned to brick construction, James Brittain had already established a brick yard in East Perth supplying a wide range of wood fired bricks. The first major brick project by Jewell was Bishop Hale's Collegiate School of 1858. This building was designed based on a pattern already established with King's School in Parramatta, New South Wales
and St Peters College in Adelaide, South Australia. Bishop Blagdon Hale paid for the building of the school out of his own purse requesting an English-Gothic design
, the building became known as The Cloisters
due to effect of the ground floor verandahs.
The Cloisters uses a patterned brick style set in Flemish bond with diaper patterns to selected panels, the building was first classified by the National Trust in 1973 and together with the a joining Port Jackson Fig Tree
was placed on the permanent heritage register on 20 October 1995. The Cloisters is the oldest building designed by Jewell still standing at its original location. With the building of the Hammersley Iron offices in the early 1980s behind The Cloisters the area is now known as Cloisters Square.
Jewell oversaw construction projects for over 30 years in Western Australia and many important buildings still standing were designed by him. In Perth, these include the Wesley Church
, Public Trust Office, the Treasury Buildings, Pensioners' Barracks (Barracks Arch) and The Deanery
. Outside Perth, notable buildings included Toodyay
gaol, Roebourne
residency and police station, Greenough
police station and Geraldton
hospital.
near St Bartholomew's Church another one his many designs.
Jewell was articled(trained) as an architect/builder in Barnstaple in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
shire. He was employed to supervise many major building projects around England, churches in Bristol, Cardiff, Clifton, Eye, Horsley and Stroudswater. As well as churches he also supervised construction of Stanstead College, a military prison in Gosport and fortifications at Portland Castle
Portland Castle
Portland Castle is one of the Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, built in 1539 by Henry VIII on the Isle of Portland to guard the natural Portland anchorage known as the Portland Roads. The castle lies in the far north of the island, in the village now called Castletown, near Fortuneswell...
and Southsea Castle
Southsea Castle
Southsea Castle is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, built in 1544 on the waterfront at the southern end of Portsea Island . The castle was built to guard the eastern entrance to the Solent and entrance to Portsmouth Harbour...
. He was also employed as a clerk of works in the offices of Sir Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Sir Charles Barry FRS was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.- Background and training :Born on 23 May 1795 in Bridge Street, Westminster...
.
Western Australia
Jewell emigrated to Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
to seek a more temperate climate for his frail wife. They arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
on the Will Watch on 24 February 1852.
He was initially employed in the Imperial Convict Establishment, which was established to manage British convicts which had started arriving in 1850 (see: Convict era of Western Australia). The Fremantle based Convict Establishment was responsible for many large constructions in the colony with an already well established design department in the offices of the Royal Engineers headed by James Manning as Clerk of Works. Jewell soon transferred to the expanding Department of Public Works based in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and was appointed foreman in January 1853 at a salary of £150. In a letter to family in England dated 4 February Jewell comment on his salary
In the same letter Jewell wrote of his position and future aspirations;
Jewell did not have long to wait, in June 1853 the Superintendent of Public Works, James Austin resigned after a long running battle with Governor Charles Fitzgerald
Charles Fitzgerald
Captain Charles Fitzgerald was the Governor of The Gambia from 1844 until 1847, then Governor of Western Australia from 1848 to 1855....
over pay and conditions. Jewell was appointed to the position at an increased salary of £175 with an additional £25 for being Superintendent of Towns.
Superintendent of Public Works
Perth Gaol
The Perth Gaol was a gaol built in Perth, Western Australia between 1854 and 1856 to house convicts and other prisoners. It operated until March 1888 when the last prisoner was transferred to Fremantle Prison...
and the court-house. Jewell was said to have worked hard and long into the night with his book-keeping duties. In 1853 he wrote to Governor Fitzgerald:
I have the honour to submit for the consideration and approval off His Excellency the Governor that he will be pleased to grant an allowance for candles used in writing the Public accounts done after office hours, as it is impossible to get the same performed during the day without neglecting other duties...
With the arrival of 300 convicts and ticket of leave persons Perth had the labour necessary to commence building many substantial projects the first of these Jewell worked on were the Claisebrook Abbatoirs, of which only drawings survive and the Colonial School on St Georges Terrace that now houses the National Trust
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
. The Colonial School was built in two stages the first being completed in 1854 and two wings were added in 1868 giving it a rough crucifix form. To provide for the convicts Jewell designed the Perth Gaol
Perth Gaol
The Perth Gaol was a gaol built in Perth, Western Australia between 1854 and 1856 to house convicts and other prisoners. It operated until March 1888 when the last prisoner was transferred to Fremantle Prison...
in 1854, all of these building utilised limestone carted by barges from quarries at Rocky Bay.
The Cloisters
With a the colony lacking in funds Jewell turned to brick construction, James Brittain had already established a brick yard in East Perth supplying a wide range of wood fired bricks. The first major brick project by Jewell was Bishop Hale's Collegiate School of 1858. This building was designed based on a pattern already established with King's School in Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
and St Peters College in Adelaide, South Australia. Bishop Blagdon Hale paid for the building of the school out of his own purse requesting an English-Gothic design
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, the building became known as The Cloisters
The Cloisters, Perth
The Cloisters is located at 200 St Georges Terrace, opposite its intersection with Mill Street, in Perth, Western Australia. It is a two-storey dark coloured brick building, which terminates the vista at the top of Mill Street and is a landmark in the rise of the street to the ridge of the...
due to effect of the ground floor verandahs.
The Cloisters uses a patterned brick style set in Flemish bond with diaper patterns to selected panels, the building was first classified by the National Trust in 1973 and together with the a joining Port Jackson Fig Tree
Port Jackson Fig
Ficus rubiginosa, the Rusty Fig, Port Jackson Fig, or Little-leaf Fig, is a tree in the family Moraceae that is native to eastern Australia...
was placed on the permanent heritage register on 20 October 1995. The Cloisters is the oldest building designed by Jewell still standing at its original location. With the building of the Hammersley Iron offices in the early 1980s behind The Cloisters the area is now known as Cloisters Square.
Government House
Government house was designed by Officers of the Royal Engineers and James Manning with building commencing 1859. The Convict Establishment was based in Fremantle, so Jewell was appointed to supervise the construction. Jewell amended many of the details during construction, citing a common architectural ploy by continually commenting on the lack of information or drawings provided by Manning. This method enabled Jewell to substantially personalise the building to his tastes, with the building being completed in 1864.Perth Town Hall
The Perth Town Hall built between 1867 and 1870, was to break from the normal Tudor Gothic designs by using a Flemish style of brick work with French influences. The overall designs are credited to Jewell though Manning was again involved with its building and its generally recognised that the roofing structure was Manning's designs.Other buildings
Wesley Church, Perth
Wesley Church is at 75 William Street at its intersection with Hay Street in Perth, Western Australia. It is one of the oldest church buildings and one of few remaining 19th-century colonial buildings in the City of Perth.-Built form:...
, Public Trust Office, the Treasury Buildings, Pensioners' Barracks (Barracks Arch) and The Deanery
The Deanery, Perth
The Deanery is located on St Georges Terrace, at the intersection of St Georges Terrace and Pier Street, Perth, Western Australia.It was built in the late 1850s as a residence and office for the first Dean of Perth, Reverend George Pownall...
. Outside Perth, notable buildings included Toodyay
Toodyay, Western Australia
Toodyay is a town located in the Wheatbelt region in the Avon Valley, 85 km north-east of Perth, Western Australia. Toodyay is connected to Perth via both rail and road.-History:...
gaol, Roebourne
Roebourne, Western Australia
Roebourne is an old gold rush town in Western Australia's Pilbara region. It is 202 km from Port Hedland and 1,563 km from Perth, the state's capital. It prospered during its gold boom of the late 19th century and was once the biggest settlement between Darwin and Perth...
residency and police station, Greenough
Greenough, Western Australia
Greenough is a historical town located 400 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia and 24 kilometres south of Geraldton on the Brand Highway. The historic buildings are controlled by the National Trust of Australia...
police station and Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
hospital.
Retirement
With the death of his wife on 19 July 1884, Jewell retired and was replaced by George Temple Poole then working in Ceylon. Richard Jewell died in 1 June 1891 and is buried in the East Perth CemeteriesEast Perth Cemeteries
East Perth Cemeteries is a now disused complex of seven independently administered cemeteries in East Perth, Western Australia. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 people were buried there between 1830 and 1919; however, only around 800 gravesites have been identified...
near St Bartholomew's Church another one his many designs.