Basic Biographical Details

Name: Balfour & Turner
Designation:  
Born: 1885
Died: 1923
Bio Notes: The practice of Balfour & Turner was formed in 1885.

Eustace James Anthony Balfour was born on 8 June 1854, the fifth and youngest son of James Maitland Balfour of Whittinghame, East Lothian and Lady Blanche Cecil, the second daughter of the second Marquis of Salisbury, and a sister of the third Marquis, four times Prime Minister. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge where he graduated in 1877. As an undergraduate he joined the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and took a keen interest in architecture. After leaving Cambridge he undertook a two year studentship rather than an articled pupillage in the office of Basil Champneys. He commenced practice on his own account in 1879. In 1885 he entered into partnership with Hugh Thackeray Turner, then secretary of the SPAB. In 1890 Balfour was appointed architect and surveyor to the Grosvenor estates of the Duke of Westminster. Balfour was elected FRIBA in January 1892, his proposers being John McVicar Anderson, Arthur Cates and Robert William Edis.

Hugh Thackeray Turner, generally known simply as Thackeray Turner, was born in 1853. He was educated at Newbury Grammar School and trained in the office of Sir George Gilbert Scott . Thereafter he was assistant to John Oldrid Scott and George Gilbert Scott junior in succession. In 1882 he was appointed paid secretary to the SPAB and commenced independent practice in London, practising alone for three years before entering into partnership with Eustace Balfour.

Somewhat reluctantly Turner agreed to being admitted FRIBA in January 1906 having been persuaded that the RIBA had accepted SPAB principles at least in general terms. His proposers were John Belcher, Aston Webb and Sir John Taylor.

Balfour’s health failed in 1909 and he had to retire from the surveyorship of the Grosvenor estate which was taken over by Edward Wimperis om 1910. Balfour died in February 1911, and in the same year Turner took Albert Reginald Powys , his successor as secretary of the SPAB, into partnership. The practice title of Balfour & Turner was retained until Turner’s retirement in 1923.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 120, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, London, EnglandBusiness1885  

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 2Hugh Thackeray Turner18851911Partner 
Item 2 of 2Colonel Eustace James Anthony Balfour18851911Partner 

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 11910Whittingehame HouseWhittingehame East LothianScotlandAlterations

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Architect and Building News17 December 1937  p333 (Obituary of Thackeray Turner)
Item 2 of 5RIBA Journal10 January 1938 London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp258 (Obituary of Thackeray Turner)
Item 3 of 5The Guardian15 February 1911  p4, column 2 (Obituary of Balfour)
Item 4 of 5The Times15 February 1911  p11 (Obituary of Balfour)
Item 5 of 5The Times15 December 1937  Obituary of Thackeray Turner