Joshua Charlesworth

Joshua Charlesworth (1860–1925) was a New Zealand architect who specialised in neo-classical architecture. Charlesworth trained as an architect in Yorkshire before immigrating to New Zealand at 19 years of age. Despite being recognised for his talent and winning several design competitions he initially struggled to gain employment due to his young age and lack of experience. Charlesworth's most notable works are the Wellington Town Hall and the several Bank of New Zealand buildings he designed. Many of Charlesworth's surviving works are registered with Heritage New Zealand.

Early life

Joshua Charlesworth was born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, in 1860. Charlesworth apprenticed to Stead Ellis, based in Batley, with whom he emigrated to New Zealand with aboard the Euterpe in 1879. Aboard the Euterpe Ellis produced the Euterpe Times and Charlesworth wrote the paper in longhand. The pair arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand 24 December 1879 and swiftly parted ways.[a][2]

Architectural career

Charlesworth moved to Timaru where he worked as a draughtsman for Frank Wilson (father of Gordon Wilson. The 1885–1886 edition of Wise's Directory Charlesworth was recorded as being based in Queen Street, Auckland and in the subsequent edition he was listed as being in Devonport. Charlesworth struggled to gain architectural employment in Auckland mainly working as a draughtsman for other architects, this was despite his talent and strong placements in design competitions.[2]

Charlesworth won a design competition in 1886 for the Government Insurance building. Thomas Turnbull placed second but refused to accept the prize money and Charlesworth was given the prizes for both first and second place. Due to his inexperience he agreed to work with Christian Toxward in the erection of his design — Charlesworth was humbled to work with Toxward.[b] Despite an endorsement from Edward Mahoney, after Toxward died the project was handed to Clere, Fitzgerald, and Richmond, who changed the design. Charlesworth sued the government over the issue.[2][1]

By 1890 Charlesworth was not listed in New Zealand; he had left for Australia in 1888 due to lack of available work arising from the Long Depression. Tender notices show Charlesworth working with Frank Wilson in Melbourne.[2][1]

In April 1894 Charlesworth had moved to Wellington but picked up little work for the first 3 years. In 1897 he won a design competition for the Nelson Town Hall but the Nelson City Council was unable to afford the design and it was ultimately built to a different design. Charlesworth designed over 50 buildings in Wellington, including the Wellington Town Hall. Charlesworth also designed buildings in Nelson and Whanganui during this period.[2] Charlesworth was the architect for the Bank of New Zealand and designed over 17 buildings for the bank.[2][1]

Charlesworth preferred the neo-classical style for his designs and his works such as the Wellington Town Hall and his Bank of New Zealand buildings used the style, although it is not known how he learnt to design structures in the classical style: Dewsbury and Batley were lacking in classical architecture and Stead Ellis did not use the style for his buildings. Charlesworth's diary describes All Saint's Church, Poplar as 'a fine building of Corinthian order in the style of St Pauls'.

Charlesworth was made a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1905.[3] He served as vice president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects from 1909 to 1910 before resigning from the organisation over a dispute about pricing policy. Charlesworth became chairman of the rival Society of Architects until it was dissolved in 1913 after the issue with pricing in the NZIA had been resolved and its members rejoined the NZIA.[2][1]

In 1925 Charlesworth died at his Wallaceville property.[2]

Personal life

Charlesworth married Ellen Hallam, whom he met aboard the Euterpe, in May 1882 at St Mary's Church, Timaru.[1] Charlesworth's eldest son, Ellis Hallam trained under his father and worked as an architect for the Wellington City Council for 14 years.[2]

Charlesworth was the founder and president of Wellington's Yorkshire Society.[2]

List of works

Name Date Image Note Ref
Home for the Aged Needy 1887 Charlesworth won a design competition for the building. Demolished [2][1]
Farmers Building, Masterton 1892 Scheduled with the Masterton District Council [4]
Australian Club (Melbourne) 1893 Designed an extension of an existing building. Scheduled with the Victorian Heritage Register [5][1]
St Barnabas Church, Roseneath 1899 Altered in 1924 by Frederick de Jersey Clere after severe damage from a fire. Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [6]
Wellington Town Hall 1901 Won a design competition for the town hall. Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand [7]
Oxley's Hotel 1902 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. Only the facade remains and some ornate detailing has been lost [8]
Homewood 1903 Significantly enlarged and altered an existing building. Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand [3]
Chief Post Office, Palmerston North 1905 Clocktower, pediments, and parapet removed. Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [9]
Brancepeth Station 1905 Significantly enlarged and altered an existing building. Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand [10]
10 Patrick Street ('Domus') 1906 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [11]
Seven Sisters of Oriental Bay 1906 Scheduled with the Wellington City Council and registered with Heritage New Zealand as part of the Oriental Parade Historic Area [1][12]
Bank of New Zealand, Feilding 1906 Demolished in 1963 [1][13]
Bank of New Zealand, Marton 1906 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [14]
Bank of New Zealand, Whanganui 1906 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [15]
Court of Appeal Building 1907 Only facade remains. Scheduled with the Wellington City Council [16]
Te Aro Post Office 1908 Demolished 1977 [3][17]
Bank of New Zealand, Rongotea 1908 Scheduled with the Manawatu District Council [18][1]
Homewood Croquet Pavilion 1908 Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand [19]
St Hilda's Church, Upper Hutt 1909 [3]
186 Oriental Parade 1909 Scheduled with the Wellington City Council [20]
Bank of New Zealand, Martinborough 1909 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [21]
Bank of New Zealand, Ohakune c.1910 Extant but building but facade has been removed and building substantially altered to the point of not being recognisable [1]
Pongaroa Hotel 1911 Originally the Bank of New Zealand, Pongaroa [1][22][23]
Bank of New Zealand, Raetihi 1911 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [24]
Bank of New Zealand, Masterton 1913 Demolished in 1942 [25][1][26]
Farmers Building 1914 Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand and part of the Cuba Street Historic Area [27]
Bank of New Zealand, Takaka 1914 Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand [28]
Bank of New Zealand, Dannevirke 1915 Parapet and other detailings removed at some point. Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand [29][30]
Bank of New Zealand, Greytown n.d. Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. Possibly designed by Charlesworth [31][32]
Bank of New Zealand, Mangaweka n.d. [1]
Bank of New Zealand, Westport n.d. [1]
Bank of New Zealand, Shannon 1914 Attributed to Charlesworth by one source but to Crichton & McKay by Heritage New Zealand [1][33]
Bank of New Zealand, Featherston n.d. [1]

Notes

  1. ^ The decision to split was amicable and Charlesworth had great respect for Ellis, as evidenced by naming his eldest son after him.[1]
  2. ^ Charlesworth said of working with Toxward: 'From what I saw, and afterwards heard of Mr. Toxward, I consider myself fortunate to be able to make arrangements with him to carry out the building jointly, as it is well known that in experience and knowledge of his profession he is second to none in the colony.'[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Marriage, Guy (2014). Christoph Schnoor (ed.). "Stead Ellis and Joshua Charlesworth, Architects" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand. 31: 749–759.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mew, G.; Humphris, Adrian (October 2014). Raupo to Deco. pp. 120–122. ISBN 978-1-927242-56-8.
  3. ^ a b c d Astwood, Karen (24 January 2013). Homewood (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  4. ^ Masterton District Council Heritage Inventory (Report). Masterton District Council.
  5. ^ "The Australian Club". Victorian Heritage Database.
  6. ^ Morrell, Vivienne (19 November 2012). St Barnabas Church (Anglican) (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  7. ^ Kelly, Michael (11 December 2003). Wellington Town Hall (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  8. ^ Oxley's Hotel Facade (Report). Heritage New Zealand. 19 September 2008.
  9. ^ Meyrick, Elise (31 July 2012). Chief Post Office (Former) (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  10. ^ Stirling, Bruce; O'Brien, Rebecca; Howes, Xanthe (16 October 2005). Brancepeth Station (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  11. ^ McCracken, Helen (16 August 2001). House (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  12. ^ "Houses". Wellington City Heritage.
  13. ^ R.H. Griffin (1981). Feilding 1881—1981, a BNZ century. Wellington, New Zealand: Bank of New Zealand. pp. 16–20.
  14. ^ Tutty, Logan (30 July 2021). "Historic BNZ building in Marton is for sale". Whanganui Chronicle. Heritage New Zealand.
  15. ^ Built Heritage Inventory (PDF) (Report). Whanganui District Council.
  16. ^ "Court of Appeal Building". Wellington City Heritage.
  17. ^ "Te Aro Post Office under demolition, Ghuznee Street, Wellington". National Library of New Zealand.
  18. ^ Rongotea Community Plan (PDF) (Report). Manawatu District Council. March 2015.
  19. ^ Astwood, Karen (14 January 2013). Homewood Croquet Pavilion/ Summerhouse (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  20. ^ "House". Wellington City Heritage.
  21. ^ South Wairarapa District Council Heritage Inventory (Report). South Wairarapa District Council.
  22. ^ Kirk, Stacey (8 November 2011). "The DNA of Pongaroa". Stuff.
  23. ^ Heagney, George (22 October 2021). "Rural hotel at the heart of its community up for sale". Stuff.
  24. ^ O'Brien, Rebecca (11 December 2003). Bank of New Zealand (Former) (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
  25. ^ "Bank of New Zealand, Masteton, 1913". Bulleyment Fortune Architects.
  26. ^ "Bank of New Zealand, Masterton". Masterton Library.
  27. ^ "Farmers Department Store". Wellington City Heritage.
  28. ^ "5112". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  29. ^ Bank of New Zealand Building (Report). Heritage New Zealand. 29 April 1989.
  30. ^ Warr, Leanne (12 October 2021). "Banking on sale to new owner of Dannevirke building". Hawkes Bay Today. New Zealand Herald.
  31. ^ "1302". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  32. ^ Kernohan, David (16 August 2018). "Greytown: the oldest inland colonial town". Architectural History Aotearoa. 15: 52–59. doi:10.26686/aha.v15i.8318. ISSN 2703-6626.
  33. ^ Pollock, Kerryn; Chih-Hsuan Chen, Phillis (20 March 2019). Bank of New Zealand (Former) (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
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