Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Engineer, of Drogheda and Dublin. William Strype, a son of GEORGE H. STRYPE GEORGE H. STRYPE , was born in Liverpool on 12 January 1847. He served his apprenticeship with the engineering firm of Thomas Grendon & Co., of Drogheda, where his father, had become manager and partner. In 1867, while he was still serving his apprenticeship, he passed the Indian Public Works Department examination and was posted to Bombay to assist in the harbour works. He resigned the following year, shortly before his father's death, and returned to Drogheda, where he was appointed chief engineer and - in succession to his father - manager of Grendon & Co. He remained with the company until 1873, when he was appointed engineer to A. Guinness, Son & Co. in Dublin.

In 1876 or 1878 Strype left Guinness's to set up his own engineering practice in Dublin.(1) He was appointed engineer to the Wicklow Harbour Commissioners in 1879 and later to the Arklow Harbour Commissioners. In 1883 he was managing director of the Dublin & Wicklow Manure Company. From 1889 onwards he collaborated with PATRICK FORSTALL COMBER  PATRICK FORSTALL COMBER on several projects: in designing harbour improvements for Drogheda,(2) and a new harbour for Bray, Co. Wicklow, and water-supply schemes for Tipperary, Athlone and Carrickmacross. His opinion was sought on a wide variety of engineering matters. Projects on which he was asked to report or advise included the drainage of Dublin, two light railways in the west of Ireland (1884) and the design for the Beresford Place Railway viaduct in Dublin (1888).(3) He frequently gave evidence before Parliamentary Committees. He also patented a number of inventions. He died at home in Dublin on 14 March 1898. His pupils and assistants included JOHN PANSING. JOHN PANSING.

ICEI:(4) elected associate, 1867; raised to member, 1872; council member 1871-75,1891; delivers various papers (see BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY ); awarded Mullins Gold Medal for paper 'On improvements in sulphuric acid manufacture', 14 April 1880.(5)
Inst.CE: elected associate member, 14 April 1882; transferred to class of member 1 December 1882; presents paper on Wicklow Harbour Improvements, 1886.

Addresses: Work: 98 James's Street, 1875; 1 College Street, Dublin, <=1883-1891;(6) 115 Grafton Street, 1891(7)-1896.
Home: 2 Sydenham Road, Dundrum, 1775; Littleton, Stillorgan Road, 1883; The Murrough, Wicklow, 1887; Melrose, Cross Avenue, Blackrock, 1896.

See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Thom's and Post Office directories, from the obituary of Strype in Min.Proc.Inst.CE 134 (1897-8, Pt. IV), 412-3, from a brief biography in IB 30, 15 Jun 1888, 163; the latter first appeared as one of the biographies accompanying a number of 'well-executed cartoons' which appeared in a periodical called Invention at the beginning of June 1888.

(1) The date is given as 1878 in his obituary in Min.Proc.Inst.CE and as 1876 in IB 30, 15 Jun 1888, 163.
(2) IB 31, 1 Nov 1889, 267.
(3) Buildings of Ireland files, source not given but probably Architect journal.
(4) Lists of office bearers and members in TICEI.
(5) TICEI 13 (1879-81), ?.
(6) Wicklow Newsletter, 14 Mar 1891.
(7) Wicklow Newsletter, 9 May 1891.


14 work entries listed in chronological order for STRYPE, WILLIAM GEORGE


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Building: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, OBELISK BRIDGE
Date: 1868
Nature: New bridge replacing wooden bridge which collapsed in 1867. WGS engineer to Grendon & Co., contractors for prefabricated girders.
Refs: IB 9, 1 Jun 1867, 134; 10, 15 Jun 1868, 157; W.G. Strype, 'Description of the iron lattice girder road bridge recently erected over the River Boyne at the Obelisk', TICEI 9 (1866-70), 67-78; R.C. Cox & M.H. Gould, Civil Engineering Heritage: Ireland (1998), 80-81(illus.)

Building: CO. OFFALY, BIRR CASTLE
Date: 1873
Nature: WS 'designed and superintended the construction of the equatorial mounting for a 3-foot telescope for the [4th] Earl of Rosse'.
Refs: Model of telecope exh. by Earl of Rosse at Conversazione of Inst.CE, 22 May 1849 (Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 12 (Jun 1849), 185; Min.Proc.Inst.CE 134 (1897-8, Pt. IV), 412. (For making of speculum, see Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 7 (27 Jan 1844), 45-46;  see also pp. 404-5 and Vol. 8, 139-140.)

Building: CO. WICKLOW, WICKLOW, HARBOUR
Date: 1881-1884;1888-89
Nature: New breakwater and harbour. Contract signed Aug 1881. Contractor: John Jackson, Westmiinster (£31,613). Important part completed Dec 1883, additional works completed end of 1884. WGS submits plan for refuge harbour, 1884. Repairs to steam packet pier, 1888-89 (Contractor: White).
Refs: IB 23, 1 Jun 1881, 176; Wicklow Newsletter, 15 Sep 1888, 16 Feb 1889; W.G. Strype, 'Wicklow Harbour improvements', Min.Proc.Inst.CE 87 (1886-7, Pt. 1), 114-122,(illus. Pl. 5).

Building: CO. MAYO, ASHFORD CASTLE (CONG)
Date: 1888a
Nature: Large pumping plant.for water supply. and patent slip. For Lord Ardilaun.
Refs: Min.Proc.Inst.CE 134 (1897-8, Pt. IV), 413, IB 30, 15 Jun 1888, 163

Building: CO. WICKLOW, WICKLOW, WATER SUPPLY
Date: 1888a
Nature: Water supply works.
Refs: IB 30, 15 Jun 1888, 163

Building: CO. LOUTH, DROGHEDA, HARBOUR
Date: 1889
Nature: Proposed harbour improvements. Construction of parallel walls along Boyne from railway viaduct to mouth of river. With P.F. Comber.
Refs: IB 31, 1 Nov 1889, 267

Building: CO. WICKLOW, BRAY, HARBOUR
Date: 1890-1895
Nature: New harbour. With P.F. Comber. Tender of : W.J. Doherty for £24,750 accepted, Dec 1890. Work started 13 Jul 1891.
Refs: IB 32, 15 Sep,15 Dec 1890, 221,295; 33, 15 Jul 1891, 155; 36, 15 Jun 1894, 143; 37, 15 Nov 1895, 269; Architect44, 19 Dec 1890, suppl. p.2; Wicklow Newsletter, 17 Mar 1888,18 Jul 1891

Building: CO. WICKLOW, ARKLOW, HARBOUR
Date: 1891-94
Nature: Construction of N Pier to complete harbour, using concrete blocks. Plans adopted by Town & Harbour Commissioners, Jan 1891. Contractors: H. & J. Martin, Dublin and Belfast.
Refs: IB 33, 1 Feb 1891, 33; Wicklow Newletter, 14 Mar 1891; obituary in Min.Proc.Inst.CE 134 (1897-8, Pt. IV), 412

Building: CO. DUBLIN, BLACKROCK, DRAINAGE
Date: 1893
Nature: Drainage scheme.
Refs: IB 35, 1 Dec 1893, 273

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUN LAOGHAIRE, DRAINAGE
Date: 1893
Nature: Drainage scheme.
Refs: IB 35, 1 Dec 1893, 273; IAA, PKS B17/23

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, CARRICKMACROSS, WATER SUPPLY
Date: 1897
Nature: Water supply scheme, with P.F. Comber.
Refs: IB 39, 1 Feb 1897, 32; obituary of Strype in Min.Proc.Inst.CE 134 (1897-8, Pt. IV), 412

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, TIPPERARY, WATER SUPPLY
Date: ?
Nature: Water supply scheme, with P.F. Comber.
Refs: Obituary of Strype in Min.Proc.Inst.CE 134 (1897-8, Pt. IV), 412

Building: CO. WESTMEATH, ATHLONE, WATER SUPPLY
Date: ?
Nature: Water supply scheme, with P.F. Comber.
Refs: Obituary of Strype in Min.Proc.Inst.CE 134 (1897-8, Pt. IV), 412

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, JAMES'S STREET, ST JAMES'S GATE BREWERY (A. GUINNESS, SON & CO.)
Date: ?
Nature: Premises at Victoria Quay, with W.W. Wilson.
Refs: ICEI membership applications, II, 95 (application of P.A.H. Shaw)

Author Title Date Details
Strype, William George 'Description of the iron lattice girder road bridge recently erected over the River Boyne at the Obelisk' TICEI 9 (1866-70), 67-78 1869 TICEI 9 (1866-70), 67-78
Strype, William George 'On the iron syphons at the Wexford South reclamations' 1873 TICEI 10 (1870-74), 79-87.
Strype, William George 'Improvements in sulphuric acid manufacture' 1879 TICEI 12 (1876-79), 152-177, and IB 21, 15 Apr 1879, 118-9.
Strype, William George 'Wicklow Harbour Improvements' 1886 Min.Proc.Inst.CE 87 (1886-7, Pt. 1), 114-122, Pl. 5).
Strype, William George 'The prevention of waste or misuse of water in towns' 1889 TICEI 20 (1888-91), 115-152.
Strype, William George 'On the use of Norton's Well Tubes in trial borings to ascertain the level to foundations under water, harbour, and such like Works' 1890 TICEI 20 (1888-1891), 250-262, and IB 32, 15 May 1890, 114-115.