Sir Thomas Drew
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Drew was an Irish architect.
Thomas Drew was born in Victoria Place, Belfast
.
He was trained under Sir Charles Lanyon
before moving to work in Dublin, where he became principal assistant to William George Murray. In 1865 he became diocesan architect of the united dioceses of Down, Connor and Dromore in 1865, and from then on Church architecture was Drew's principal activity. He was consulting architect for both St. Patrick's Cathedral
and Christ Church Cathedral
in Dublin.
Among other projects, he was responsible for the design of the Ulster Bank on Dame Street
, Rathmines
Town Hall (completed 1899) and the Graduates' Building at Trinity College. He took an interest in historic buildings and was the first to draw serious attention to the architectural and historic importance of the St. Audoen's Church
, Dublin's oldest parish church, in 1866. He produced detailed plans of the church for which he won an award from the RIAI
, carried out excavations and drew up a paper on the church and its history.
His most significant work in Belfast was St Anne’s Cathedral
, completed in 1899.
He was inaugural President
of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects
, serving from 1901-1903. In addition, he was President of the RIAI
, the RSAI
and the RHA
and held the chair in architecture at the National University of Ireland
.
He lived in Monkstown
, Dublin.
In his latter years Drew suffered from gout. He was affected by it in 1909, but returned to work by the beginning of 1910. In February 1910 he underwent an operation for appendicitis which left him in a critical condition, and he died on 13 March. He was buried in Deans Grange Cemetery
.
He married Adelaide Anne, sister of William George Murray, in 1871.
Thomas Drew was born in Victoria Place, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
He was trained under Sir Charles Lanyon
Charles Lanyon
Sir Charles Lanyon DL, JP was an English architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Biography:Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, Sussex in 1813...
before moving to work in Dublin, where he became principal assistant to William George Murray. In 1865 he became diocesan architect of the united dioceses of Down, Connor and Dromore in 1865, and from then on Church architecture was Drew's principal activity. He was consulting architect for both St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
and Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
in Dublin.
Among other projects, he was responsible for the design of the Ulster Bank on Dame Street
Dame Street
Dame Street is a large thoroughfare in Dublin, Ireland. The street is the location of many banks such as AIB, Ulster Bank and the Central Bank of Ireland. It is close to Ireland's oldest university, Trinity College, Dublin, founded in 1592, the entrance to which is a popular meeting spot.During...
, Rathmines
Rathmines
Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has...
Town Hall (completed 1899) and the Graduates' Building at Trinity College. He took an interest in historic buildings and was the first to draw serious attention to the architectural and historic importance of the St. Audoen's Church
St. Audoen's Church
St. Audoen's Church is the church of the parish of St. Audoen in the Church of Ireland, located south of the River Liffey at Cornmarket in Dublin, Ireland. This was close to the centre of the medieval city. The parish is in the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. St. Audoen's is the oldest parish...
, Dublin's oldest parish church, in 1866. He produced detailed plans of the church for which he won an award from the RIAI
Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland founded in 1839, is the competent authority for architects and professional body for Architecture in the Republic of Ireland....
, carried out excavations and drew up a paper on the church and its history.
His most significant work in Belfast was St Anne’s Cathedral
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
St Anne's Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Donegall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland...
, completed in 1899.
He was inaugural President
President of the RSUA
The President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects is its chief executive officer and its representative to the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The President is elected by the membership of the Society, usually for a term of two years...
of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects
Royal Society of Ulster Architects
The Royal Society of Ulster Architects is the professional body for registered architects in Northern Ireland. Chartered RIBA members in Northern Ireland are automatically members of the RSUA. RSUA Members use the suffix RSUA and also may use RIBA....
, serving from 1901-1903. In addition, he was President of the RIAI
Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland founded in 1839, is the competent authority for architects and professional body for Architecture in the Republic of Ireland....
, the RSAI
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland is a learned society based in Ireland, whose aims are 'to preserve, examine and illustrate all ancient monuments and memorials of the arts, manners and customs of the past, as connected with the antiquities, language, literature and history of Ireland'. ...
and the RHA
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
and held the chair in architecture at the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
.
He lived in Monkstown
Monkstown
Monkstown is a placename shared by more than one area in Ireland:*Monkstown, County Cork, a town in County Cork.*Monkstown, County Dublin, a town or suburb on the outskirts of Dublin city in County Dublin....
, Dublin.
In his latter years Drew suffered from gout. He was affected by it in 1909, but returned to work by the beginning of 1910. In February 1910 he underwent an operation for appendicitis which left him in a critical condition, and he died on 13 March. He was buried in Deans Grange Cemetery
Deans Grange Cemetery
Deans Grange Cemetery, or more commonly known today as Deansgrange Cemetery, is situated in the suburban area of Deansgrange in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown part of the former County Dublin, Ireland. Since it first opened in 1865, over 150,000 people have been buried there...
.
He married Adelaide Anne, sister of William George Murray, in 1871.