Office of Works

See also: Ministry of Works (United Kingdom) and Property Services Agency

The Office of Works was an organisation responsible for structures and exterior spaces, first established as part of the English royal household in 1378 to oversee the building and maintenance 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, which in 1940 became part of the Ministry of Works.

Organisation and key positions

Surveyor, Comptroller and Architect

The organisation of the office varied; senior posts included Surveyor of the King's Works (1560–1782) and Comptroller of the King's Works (1423–1782). In 1782 these offices were merged into Surveyor-General and Comptroller.

Comptroller of the King's Works	Surveyor of the King's Works
1423–1452 Robert Shiryngton 1456–1461 Peter Idley 1597–1606 Simon Basil 1606–1641 Thomas Baldwin 1641–1668 James Wethered 1668–1684 Hugh May 1689–1702 William Talman 1702–1726 John Vanbrugh 1726–1758 Thomas Ripley 1758–1769 Henry Flitcroft 1769–1782 William Chambers	1560–1563 John Revell. 1563–1578 Lewis Stockett. 1578–1586 Thomas Graves 1586–1590 Thomas Blagrave 1594–1595 Robert Adams 1597–1604 William Spicer 1604–1606 David Cunningham of Robertland 1606–1615 Simon Basil 1615–1643 Inigo Jones 1643–1653 Edward Carter 1653–1660 John Embree 1660–1669 Sir John Denham 1669–1718 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 Whitshed Keene
Surveyor-General and Comptroller
1782–1796 William Chambers 1796–1813 James Wyatt

After the death of the Surveyor-General and Comptroller James Wyatt in 1813, a non-professional Surveyor-General was appointed: Major-General Sir Benjamin Stephenson. He was assisted by three "Attached Architects": Sir John Soane, John Nash and Sir Robert Smirke. This arrangement ended in 1832 with the formation of the Works Department, when architect Henry Hake Seward was appointed Surveyor of Works and Buildings.

Other positions included Surveyor of the King's Private Roads, various roles with responsibility for gardens, and later, Deputy Surveyor.

Surveyor of the King's Private Roads	Surveyor of Royal Gardens	Deputy Surveyor
1660–1690 Andrew Lawrence 1690–1715 Michael Studholme 1716–1731 William Watkins 1731–1737 Richard Arundell 1737–1756 Thomas Ripley 1756–1757 John Offley 1757–1760 Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet 1760–1771 Hon. Edward Finch 1771–1772 Thomas Whateley 1772–1782 Hon. Henry Fane	1660–1670 Adrian May 1670–1684 Hugh May	1718–1719 Colen Campbell (dismissed) 1719–1735 Westby Gill (promoted) 1735–1748 William Kent (died in post) 1748–1758 Henry Flitcroft (promoted) 1758–1780 Stephen Wright (died in post) 1780–1782 Robert Taylor
	Superintendent of all the King's Gardens
	1689–1700 William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland 1700–1702 Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh
	Surveyor of Gardens and Waters
	1715–1726 John Vanbrugh 1726–1737 Charles Dartiquenave 1738–1760 Thomas Hervey 1761–1763 George Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow 1763–1763 Lord Charles Spencer 1763–1764 John Marshe Dickinson 1764–1769 Charles Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan 1770–1782 William Varey

Administrative positions

Paymaster of the Works	Secretary to the Board of Works
1660–1668 Hugh May 1668–1686 Philip Packer 1686–1706 Thomas Lloyd 1706–1726 Charles Dartiquenave 1726–1738 Hugh Howard 1738–1741 John Harris 1741–1742 Sir Robert Brown, 1st Baronet 1742–1743 Sir Charles Gilmour, 2nd Baronet 1743–1755 Denzil Onslow 1755–1782 George Augustus Selwyn	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

The office also had posts of Secretary, Master Mason and Master Carpenter.

Sources

• H. M. Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840 (1997)
• H. M. Colvin, The History of the King's Works, London: H.M.S.O. (1963–1982)
  • (v.3,pt 1)
  • (v.4,pt 2)
  • (v.5)
  • (v.6)
  • (Plans 5-7)

External links

• Parliamentary Archives, Records of the Office of Works, 1378-1940