Basic Biographical Details

Name: (Sir) Aston Webb & E Ingress Bell
Designation:  
Born: c. 1880(?)
Died:  
Bio Notes: Aston Webb was born at Clapham on 22 May 1849 the son of Edward Webb an engraver and watercolour artist. He was articled to Banks & Barry from 1886 to 1871, during which period he took classes at the Architectural Association. He made an extensive continental study tour in 1871-1872 and won the Pugin Studentship in 1873. He commenced independent practice in that year but the next two years were principally spent in assisting other architects. He was admitted ARIBA on 9 February 1874, his proposers being Charles Barry Junior, Augustus Frere and Henry Currey.

After some years Webb took into partnership Edward Ingress Bell who was considerably older, born 1837 and apprenticed to his father who was a civil engineer. Previously in partnership with H V Bacon from 1860, Bell had extensive experience having worked for George Gilbert Scott and Richard Cromwell Carpenter (? Richard Herbert: Richard Cromwell died in 1855 when Bell was eighteen) Rhode Hawkins, William Wilkinson Wardell, William Bonython Moffat, William and Andrew Moseley, Sir Charles Barry and Joseph Aloysius Hansom. He was admitted ARIBA on 3 December 1866, his proposers being Robert William Edis, Moseley and Thomas Edward Knightley. Circumstance compelled him to retire in 1869, but he was readmitted on 17 February 1873 and became architect to the Crown Agents for the Colonies in 1882.

In 1885 the partnership of Webb & Bell made its name by winning the competition for the Birmingham Law Courts and in 1891 that for the South Kensington Museum; that for Christ's Hospital in Horsham followed in 1894. These successes brought in their wake a long series of public commissions and further competition successes notably that for the improvement of the Mall in 1901.

Webb was President of the RIBA in 1902-04 and was knighted in the latter year. He received the Royal Gold Medal in 1905 and the American Gold Medal in 1907. He was President of the Royal Academy 1919-24.

Ingress Bell died on 30 August 1914 at St Stephen's Winchester Road, West Worthing. By that date Webb had taken his son Maurice Everett Webb, born 23 April 1880, into partnership.

Webb died on 21 August 1930.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1London, EnglandBusiness   

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 9William Hawke    
Item 2 of 9Aston Webbc. 1880(?) Partner 
Item 3 of 9Edward Ingress Bellc. 1880(?) Partner 
Item 4 of 9George John Oakeshottc. 1881Before 1889Assistant 
Item 5 of 9David Barclay NivenNovember 18891891Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 9Alexander Nisbet Paterson18911891Assistant 
Item 7 of 9Robin Smith Dods (or Robert Smith Dods)18911894Assistant 
Item 8 of 9Alan George MacNaughtan19011903Assistant 
Item 9 of 9John Forsyth McIlwraith19021904Assistant 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 81885Birmingham Law Courts  BirminghamEnglandWon competition and secured job
Item 2 of 81887Imperial Institute  LondonEnglandUnsuccessful competition design
Item 3 of 8Before 1891South Kensington MuseumSouth Kensington LondonEnglandWon competition to secure job
Item 4 of 81893Edinburgh Castle, Magazines and Ordnance Store  EdinburghScotlandPlans for reconstruction as a military hospital drawn up
Item 5 of 81900Birmingham UniversityEdgbaston BirminghamEngland 
Item 6 of 81912Dunecht House, West LodgeEcht AberdeenshireScotlandWebb responsible
Item 7 of 8c. 1912Dunecht House, North LodgesEcht AberdeenshireScotlandWebb responsible
Item 8 of 81913Dunecht House (including chapel)Echt AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions comprising boilerhouse wing, gates and lodges (northeast and northwest), terraces, loggia and gazebo

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Gray, A Stuart1985Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical Dictionary   
Item 2 of 2Service, Alastair1975Edwardian Architecture and its Origins   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Builder29 August 1930  Obituary of Webb
Item 2 of 5Builder5 September 1930  Obituary of Webb
Item 3 of 5Builder19 December 1930  Obituary of Webb
Item 4 of 5Building News3 January 1980   
Item 5 of 5RIBA Journal20 September 1930 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary of Webb pp710, 744