Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Dublin. Frederick Batchelor, who was English by birth, can probably be identified as the Frederick Batchelor who appears in the English census of 1881 as the eldest child of Thomas Batchelor, bookseller and stationer of Portsmouth, Hampshire, born in Portsmouth in about 1866 and  working in his father's shop at the time the census was taken.   This identification is inferred from the fact that he served his architectural apprenticeship with Arthur Hudson, an architect in Southsea, and Joseph Henry Ball, ARIBA, who also practised in Southsea before moving to London.(1)  Batchelor came to Ireland in about 1888(2) and joined the architectural practice of JAMES RAWSON CARROLL JAMES RAWSON CARROLL , in which he became chief assistant and eventually partner. When Carroll retired in 1905, Batchelor formed a partnership with FREDERICK GEORGE HICKS FREDERICK GEORGE HICKS , another Englishman practising in Dublin, who had previously worked in Carroll's office. In 1913 he was appointed architect for the Church of Ireland diocese of Meath.(3) The partnership of Batchelor & Hicks was dissolved on 11 May 1922 on Batchelor's retirement.(4)

Batchelor played an active part in the RIAI, of which he was president for three years from December 1907 until December 1910, being the first Englishman to hold the office.(5) During the period of his presidency the Institute was incorporated and premises were purchased at 31 South Frederick Street, for which the firm of Batchelor & Hicks acted as honorary architects. In the same period the Council of the Institute actively promoted the establishment of a school of architecture at the National University.(6) According to Hicks, Batchelor was chiefly responsible for drafting the Conditions of Contract which were agreed between the Institute and the Master Builders Association.(7)

After he had retired from practice, Batchelor lived mainly on the Continent. He returned to England to get medical advice on a heart condition in October 1931 and died two months later on 16 December 1931.(8) He is described by Hicks as a vigorous man of immense energy who worked hard and also interested himself in philanthropic concerns. His chief recreations were swimming and bicycling; later he became an enthusiastic motorist, driving a car known as the 'Yellow Peril'.(9) He had married, in 1893, the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Onion, of Lancaster.(10)

Batchelor's pupils and assitants included ROBERT DONNELLY. ROBERT DONNELLY.

RIAI: proposed for membership by J.Rawson Carroll, 16 November 1892, seconded by THOMAS DREW  THOMAS DREW and WILLIAM MANSFIELD MITCHELL WILLIAM MANSFIELD MITCHELL ; elected member, 17 December 1892;(11) hon. auditor, 1895-1897; member of council, 1898-1900 and 1903-1907;(12) elected fellow, 29 May 1906;(13) president, December 1907-December 1910;(14) resigned 1922.(15)
AAI: founder member and committee member of revived association, 1896;(16) president 1900-1901.(17)
RIBA: elected fellow 15 May 1899, on recommendation of RIAI under Bylaw 9; fellowship lapsed 1929.(18)
RHA: elected associate, 18 Oct 1901.(19)

Addresses: Work: 183 Great Brunswick Street, 1899;(20) 86 Merrion Square, 1900 until 1922.
Home: 3 Churchill Villas, Sandymount, 1896;(21) The Gables, Whitshed Rd, Burnaby Estate, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, <=1915 -1922;(22) Hollands, Langhurst Hill, Petworth, Sussex, 1926.

See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY . See also CARROLL & CARROLL & amp; BATCHELOR BATCHELOR , and BATCHELOR & BATCHELOR & amp; HICKS. HICKS.



References

There are photographs of Batchelor in E. Macdowel Cosgrave, ed., Dublin and County Dublin in the Twentieth Century (1908), 264, IB Jubilee Number (1909), 26, and JRIAI (1909), 4. Batchelor appears in a group photograph of members of the AAI circa 1900 reproduced in IB 69, 15 Oct 1927, 759.


(1) IAA, RIAI office archives (Acc. 93/136), membership forms 1878-1909 (extremely fragile).
(2) IB 49, 16 Nov 1907, 777.
(3) Irish Times, 10 Apr 1913;  IB 55, 26 Apr 1913, 284.
(4) IB 64, 17 Jun 1922, 410.
(5) IB 49, 16 Nov 1907, 777.
(6) Jones, citing ?IB 52, 26 Nov 1910, 716.
(7) see note 4 above.
(8) Memoir by Hicks in JRIAI (1932), 33-34.
(9) See note 4 above.
(10) E. Macdowel Cosgrave, ed., Dublin and County Dublin in the Twentieth Century (1908), 264.
(11) RIAI minutes, 16 Nov,17 Dec 1892 300,307.
(12) Jones, transcripts of lists of RIAI officers.
(13) RIAI minutes, 29 May 1906, 414.
(14) IB 49, 16 Nov 1907, 777; IB 52, 26 Nov 1910, 716.
(15) See note 4 above.
(16) AAI Green Book (1918), 18.
(17) IB 43, 6 Jun 1901, 756-7.
(18) Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 (RIBA 2001), I, 131.
(19)   Irish Times, 26 Oct 1901. .
(20) See note 17, above.
(21) Post Office Dublin Directory (1896).
(22) Thom's Official Directory (1915).


14 work entries listed in chronological order for BATCHELOR, FREDERICK


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Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BRUNSWICK STREET NORTH, RICHMOND SURGICAL HOSPITAL
Date: 1897
Nature: -
Refs: E. Macdowel Cosgrave, ed., Dublin and County Dublin in the Twentieth Century (1908), 264; E. O'Brien & A. Crookshank, A Portrait of Irish Medicine, (1984), 251-253(illus.)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ZION ROAD (RATHGAR), ZION CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1898
Nature: Proposed new reader's prayer desk and base; proposed sexton's house.
Refs: Drawings in RCB Library.

Building: CO. KERRY, TRALEE, GREAT SOUTHERN HOTEL
Date: 1900
Nature: Just reopened after undergoing alterations & enlargements. Contractor: J.B. Healy, Tralee. Decoration: Sibthorpe, Dublin.
Refs: Building News 78, 15 Jun 1900, 823

Building: CO. WICKLOW, DELGANY, DROMIN HOUSE
Date: 1900
Nature: New house for Judge J.H.Moore. Contractor: Patrick Hanway.
Refs: RHA 1899, no. 309; IB 41, 15 Jun 1899, 65; 42, 15 Feb 1900, 280; 52, 14 May 1910, 306(illus.)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, FRANCIS STREET, NO. 021-27 (IVEAGH MARKETS)
Date: 1902-06
Nature: Design exh. by FB at RHA 1908.
Refs: RHA 1908, no. 289

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, LEESON STREET BRIDGE, TRIUMPHAL ARCH
Date: 1903
Nature: Triumphal arch for visit of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, July 1903; 'a beautiful strcuture of classic design'.. Constructed by McGlaughlin & Harvey.  Decorated by Sibthorpe & Co, with 'artistic work' by George Jackson, 'scenic artist, Gaiety Theatre'..
Refs: IAA, PKS B20/06;  Irish Times, 22 Jul 1903;  IB 44, 30 Jul 1903, 1883

Building: CO. DUBLIN, FOXROCK, BRIGHTON ROAD, CARRICKBYRNE
Date: 1908
Nature: -
Refs: RHA 1908, no. 302

Building: CO. LAOIS, PORTLAOISE, QUEEN'S COUNTY SANATORIUM
Date: 1911ca
Nature: New sanatorium.  Foundation stone laid, 28 Sep 1910. Contractors: Kennan & Sons, Fishamble St, Dublin.
Refs: Freeman's Journal, 28 Sep 1910; IA & C 1, 13 May 1911, 215.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, LORD EDWARD STREET, NO. 021-25 (MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS) (PROPOSED)
Date: 1913
Nature: Competition entrant.
Refs: IB 55, 12 Apr 1913, 258; Building News 104, 11 Apr 1913, 500; RHA 1915, no. 473

Building: CO. WESTMEATH, TYRRELLSPASS, GLEBE HOUSE (CLONFADFORAN PARISH)
Date: 1916
Nature: General repairs. Tenders invited Nov 1916.
Refs: IB 58, 25 Nov 1916, 588; B 111, 1 Dec 1916, 348

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION SQUARE, NO. 088
Date: 1919
Nature: Alterations
Refs: IB 61, 11 Jan 1919, 19

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUN LAOGHAIRE, HAIGH TERRACE, MARINERS' CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1919
Nature: Memorial to 19 men connected with parish killed in World War I.  Marble slab with Portland stone and alabaster entablature, executed by Sharpe & Emery, 17 Great Brunswick St. Unveiled, 19 Oct 1919.
Refs: Irish Times, 20 Oct 1919.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, DELGANY, LOWER KENDALSTOWN ROAD, ROSE LODGE
Date: 1920ca
Nature: Structural repairs made for 'considerable outlay' under supervision of FGH 'a few years' before sale in Oct 1926.
Refs: Sale advertisement in Irish Times, 9 Oct 1926.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, GREYSTONES, BURNABY ESTATE
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: E. Macdowel Cosgrave, ed., Dublin and County Dublin in the Twentieth Century (1908), 264

Author Title Date Details
Batchelor, Frederick 'Hospitals and hospital construction' 1897 IB 39, 1 Mar 1897, 45.
Batchelor, Frederick 'The technical education of the architectural student' 1900 IB 42, 15 Oct 1900, 512. (Text., sum,,mary or mention of president's inaugural address to AAI.)
Batchelor, Frederick [President's valedictory address to AAI 1901 IB 43, 6,20 Jun 1901, 756-7,769. (Text or summary of address.)
Batchelor, Frederick [Review of J.H. Bernard, The Cathedral church of St Patrick London, 1903.] 1903 RIBAJ 11 (1903-4), 321.
Batchelor, Frederick 'Reinforced concrete construction' 1906 IB 48, 29 Dec 1906, 1050. (Summary of lecture to AAI, 11 Dec 1906.)
Batchelor, Frederick 'The Architect's Dilemma' 1907 IB 49, 14 Dec 1907, 845. (Text, summary or mention of paper read to AAI,10 Dec 1907.)
Batchelor, Frederick [President's address to RIAI] 1908 JRIAI (1909), 4-5. (Read 17 Dec 1908; mentioned in IB 51, 6 Jan 1909, 6.)