Albert Kingwell

Albert Edward Kingwell (c. 1863 – 10 November 1949) was an English surveyor, land agent and architect who was one of the first to use concrete in his practice. He was sued by an actress and later oversaw the Jack Estate at Hadley Wood in Hertfordshire for more than 50 years.

Albert Edward Kingwell was born in London around 1863. His father was the carriage-builder Frederick Kingwell (born Plymouth 1819). His mother was Eliza Kingwell. In 1859, Frederick had been imprisoned in the debtors' prison for London and Middlesex. According to the 1881 census, Kingwell had five sisters but no brothers. He was educated at Shoreham Grammar School, Lancing College, the Académie de Caen and in Paris.

In 1885, Kingwell, of Albert House, Theobald's Road, was sued by William Haviland and his wife Amy Coleridge for the return of £5 that was said by them to have been lent to him by Amy in 1883 when she was acting in New York before her marriage. It was said in evidence that before she went to America, Kingwell and Amy had been lovers. He had given her a ring and her letters from America had referred to him as "my husband" but she had subsequently married Haviland without Kingwell's knowledge. Kingwell had thought them engaged. Amy had been in the habit of giving Kingwell money as he was an architect in "very poor circumstances". She had written to him saying "everything I have must belong to you". Amy's mother, Adelaide M'Kay, an actress by the stage name of Wilmore, pointed out however that Kingwell was the son of a successful coach builder. The judge ruled for Kingwell as the correspondence between the couple was of such a "passionate" nature and in such terms as to prevent the money being regarded as a loan.

Amy Coleridge later had a distinguished career on the South African stage.

Kingwell married Eva Mary Squires in the Hampstead district of London in 1901. The couple apparently had no children. According to the 1911 census, by which time they were living in Hadley Wood, they were able to employ one servant. Albert bred horses after he moved to Hadley, particularly Polo ponies, which he exported to Europe. In 1910, Mrs Kingwell showed two Brood mares at the annual Polo and Riding Pony Society show at the Agricultural Hall, London.

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