Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

County surveyor for Co. Donegal, 1850-1852, and for the northern division of Co. Down, 1852-1890. Henry Smyth was a pupil of JACOB OWEN JACOB OWEN , architect to the Board of Public Works, and was subsequently employed by the Board as clerk of works for the construction of Mountjoy gaol. On the evidence of the directories, he also practised privately as an engineer during the 1840s, at first from his mother's house in Upper Gardiner Street, before moving to vacant premises in Temple Street. In September 1850 he was appointed county surveyor for Co. Donegal. When the county was split into two divisions in 1851, Smyth became surveyor for the northern division. On 24 September 1852 he was transferred to Co. Down and settled in Downpatrick. When, ten years later, Co. Down was also split into two divisions, Smyth was again given responsibility for the northern division of the county. He held this post and also carried on a private practice until his retirement in March 1890. He subsequently became a JP for the county and, in 1893, a member of the Ulster Defence Union against Home Rule.(1) He died at his house, Eastern Villa, Newcastle, Co. Down, on 14 April 1894.(2) Shortly before his death he had presented a stained glass window in memory of his wife and mother to Down Cathedral, where he was a regular attendant, but he did not live to see it erected.(3)

Smyth's pupils and assistants included HENRY CHAPPELL  HENRY CHAPPELL and ROBERT COCHRANE. ROBERT COCHRANE.

ICEI:(4) member by 1849; council member, 1857-1858; no longer on list of members for 1870.(5)
RIA: member by 1849.(6)
RIAI: asks to be admitted associate, 1842;(7) asks to be raised from associate to fellow;(8) proposal that he should be advanced from class of associate to that of fellow, 20 December 1849;(9) elected fellow, 17 January 1850;(10) exhibits specimens of Donegal red granite, 20 Jan 1870;(11)  proposal that he should be submitted for ballot as council member, 6 May 1871;(12) council member, 1873-1875; resigned 1891.(13)
RSAI: elected member, 14 Jan 1890.(14)
GLFI:(15) transferred from Lodge 77 (Newry) to Lodge 86 (Downpatrick), 1853; Worshipful Master, 1854-55; Senior Warden, 1872; not in returns for 1876.

Addresses:(16) 71 Gardiner Street Upper, 1847; 10 Upper Temple Street, Dublin, 1848-1849; Eastern Villa, Newcastle, Co. Down, 1891.(17)

See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 300-301.

(1) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/ (2008), citing Belfast Weekly News, 21 Oct 1896?).
(2) B 66, 21 Apr 1894, 313.
(3) IB 36, 1 Sep 1894, 195.
(4) ICEI lists of ICEI officers and members.
(5) IB 12, 15 Aug 1870, 197.
(6) TICEI 3 (1847-49), list of members.
(7) RIAI council meeting minutes, 5 Dec 1842, 17.
(8) RIAI council meeting minutes, 22 Jan 1844, 39.
(9) RIAI council meeting minutes, 20 Dec 1849, 64.
(10) RIAI ordinary general meeting minutes, 17 Jan 1850, 67.
(11) Freeman's Journal, 21 Jan 1870.
(12) RIAI council meeting minutes, 6 May 1871, 157.
(13) RIAI general meeting minutes, 12 Dec 1891, 298.
(14) JRSAI 21 (1890-91), 3.
(15) From records of Lodge 86 in GLFI archives, Molesworth Street, Dublin.
(16) Jones transcripts from Thom's directories.
(17) JRSAI 21; RIAI general meeting minutes, 12 Dec 1891, 298.


13 work entries listed in chronological order for SMYTH, HENRY


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Building: CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, COUNTY GAOL (NEW)
Date: 1853
Nature: HS makes plans for extensions.
Refs: Signed volume, 20 Dec 1853, containing 7 drawings of proposed extension to gaol including 2nd and 3rd floor plans, section, ground plan, elevations, and details of  roof and air-conditioning system in PRONI, D2992/B/3 (see PRONI e-catalogue); 

Building: CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1855-58
Nature: Alts and adds. after fire of 10 Mar 1855 comprising new crown court and offices, enlargement of hall and provision of public staircase to galleries, Grand Jury Room and offices. Nearly complete, Jul 1858. completed by summer, 1859. Contractor: George Stockdale (later Martin & Stockdale)..
Refs: B 13, 18 Aug 1855, 395; 14, 19 Jan,2 Aug 1856, 36,425; 16, 24 Jul 1858, 511; D. Dunleath, P.J. Rankin, A.J. Rowan, Historic Buildings… in the town of Downpatrick (UAHS, 1970), 11 (no. 18); C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and Market Houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 66

Building: CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY (CI)
Date: 1856
Nature: HS asked by chapter to prepare plans for substantial alterations. Not carried out.Later involved in 'substantial programmes of maintenance and improvement.
Refs: Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 301

Building: CO. DOWN, DUNDRUM, HOUSE (MURLOUGH HOUSE?)
Date: 1860
Nature: Handsome new dwelling house on property of Marquis of Downshire.
Refs: DB 2, 1 Feb 1860, 204

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ORMEAU BRIDGE
Date: 1860-62
Nature: New 4-arched bridge over River Lagan designed by Charles Lanyon (Co. Surveyor for Antrim) and HS (Co. Surveyor for N Down). Tenders invited Jul 1860. Begun Jan 1861. Cost: £15,000.6s. Orignal contractors: James O'Connor & Co.(later McLaughlin & Harvey?)
Refs: DB 2, 1 Jul 1860, 301; 3, 15 Jan 1861, 409; 4, 1 Jun 1862, 141; 31st Annual Report of Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland) (1862), 19

Building: CO. DOWN, NEWRY, TREVOR HILL, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1862
Nature: Improvements, costing £500.
Refs: C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and Market Houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 72

Building: CO. DOWN, NEWTOWNARDS, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1863a
Nature: 'recently enlarged and generally remodelled...Mr H. Smith was the architect'. Contractor: Chappell.
Refs: DB 5, 1 Dec 1863, 197

Building: CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM
Date: 1865-1869;1880-83
Nature: New district lunatic asylum for 150 males and 150 females. Contractor: F. & P. McGaughey, Omagh. Estimated cost: £43,174. Actual cost: £60,000, of which 'the Co. Antrim is to pay back £23,295, being the amount of their interest in the asylum'. Opened 1869. Adds. providing accommodation for a further 120 males, 1880-1883
Refs: Drawings for additions, 1883, in NA, OPW drawings collection; B 20, 4 Oct 1862, 724; 22, 13 Aug,17 Sep 1864, 605,690; 23, ? ? 1865, 197; 24, 24 Feb 1866, 139-140; DB 6, 15 Jul 1864, 144; 7, 15 Mar 1865, 82; IB 12, 15 Aug 1870, 191; 25, 15 Mar 1883, 93(illus.),98; 45th Report on…Lunatic Asylums (1896), 14;

Building: CO. DOWN, NEWCASTLE, NATIONAL SCHOOL
Date: 1866
Nature: New school, costing £500, to be built for Rev. Mr. Hanna, PP, on land granted by Earl of Annesley..
Refs: DB 8, 1 Mar 1866, 66

Building: CO. DOWN, ANNALONG, CHURCH (CI, KILHORNE PARISH)
Date: 1866
Nature: HS reports on condition of church.
Refs: Copy of report in PRONI, CR1/12/D/1 (see PRONI e-catalogue).

Building: CO. DOWN, CASTLE ESPIE, BRICK AND TILE WORKS
Date: 1867
Nature: New. For Robert Murland.
Refs: Richard Oram, 'The Victorian Buildings of Downpatrick',

Building: CO. DOWN, BANBRIDGE, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1872-74
Nature: New court house. Tenders received Mar 1872. Contractor: John Thompson, Belfast. Cost: £2,465; 'an opulent and individual extravaganza in stucco'(Brett).
Refs: IB 13, 1 Mar 1871, 68; 14, 15 Mar 1872, 82; C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and Market Houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 63,65(illus.)

Building: CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, COUNTY ROOMS
Date: 1876
Nature: Improvements, including addition harmonizing with older front. Builder: James Jordon.
Refs: Downpatrick Recorder, 22 Jul 1876

Author Title Date Details
Smyth, Henry 'Improved system of laying down tramways' 1878 IB 20, 1 Aug 1878, 227. (Letter to editor.)