Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

English architect who came to Dublin 1896 to work in the office of WILLIAM HAGUE. WILLIAM HAGUE. (1) In the same year his designs for artisans' cottages in Longford were chosen from a total of sixty-seven designs submitted in competition.(2) He had returned to England by 1901 and established a practice in Nottingham with A.R. Calvert in 1903.

While Gleave was in Dublin he played an active part in the revival of the AAI. The circumstances are described in the Irish Builder: 'Nearly one and twenty years ago the architectural profession in Ireland was absolutely without any system of architectural education whatsoever. The Institute of Architects had ceased to hold meetings, save formal annual ones, the members of the profession, their pupils and assistants hardly knew one another, no friendly intercourse existed. It was at his time that Mr. W.R. Gleave, then a stranger resident in our midst, recognising the evils of this state of affairs, and the bad influence it exerted upon Irish architecture, in a letter to the "Irish Times" first drew public attention to the matter, and urged the revival of the defunct Architectural Association of Ireland. Mr Gleave's letter was immediately followed by a couple of others warmly supporting the proposal. A small committee was got together, and a circular letter issued, prominent members of the profession were waited upon and their influence with their assistants and pupils secured. Many deterrents were experienced…But Mr Gleave and those with him persevered, and a…highly successful meeting was held, December, 1896, in the Grosvenor Hotel, Dublin, at which the Association was established, Mr. W.R. Gleave being chosen as first and senior joint honorary secretary.'(3) Gleave shared the secretaryship with R.M. BUTLER  BUTLER from 1896 until 1898.(4) Address: 72 Serpentine Ave, Sandymount, 1900.(5) See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the entry on Gleave in Directory of British Architects 1834-1900 (RIBA, 1993), 351, which see for further details of his career in England. An obituary is in RIBAJ 40 (1933), 417.

(1) IB 73, 24 Oct 1931, 913.
(2) IB 39, 1 Jan 1897, 3.
(3) IB 59, 12 May 1917, 221; similar accounts of the revival of the AAI are in AAI Green Book (1918), 16-17 and in IB 59, 22 Dec 1917, 648-9.
(4) For circular signed by Gleave and Butler, see IB 38, 15 Dec 1896, 256.
(5) Post Office Dublin Directory(1900).


1 work entries listed in chronological order for GLEAVE, WILLIAM RICHARD #


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Building: CO. LONGFORD, LONGFORD, HOUSES (040)
Date: 1896-97
Nature: WRG winner of competition for designing 40 artisans' cottages. For 5th Earl of Longford.
Refs: IB 39, 1 Jan 1897, 3