F.W.J. Palmer (engineer)

F.W.J. Palmer
FWJ Palmer, 1913
Born	Frederick William J. Palmer 1864 Wimbledon, Surrey
Died	1947 (aged 82–83) Bridge, Kent
Occupation	civil engineer, structural engineer, surveyor.
Employer	Herne Bay Urban District Council
Notable work	King's Hall, Herne Bay

Frederick William J. Palmer, CE, (1864–1947), known professionally as F.W.J. Palmer, was an English civil engineer, structural engineer and surveyor. From 1891 he was Surveyor to Herne Bay Urban District Council. As Town Surveyor between at least 1891 and 1915 he was responsible for digging up a great deal of Herne Bay. He reconstructed all the main roads, rebuilt the council offices and Hampton Pier and constructed a new sea wall. He sewered the East Cliff and nine miles of private roads at the east end of Herne Bay. His crowning achievement was his design of both phases (1904 and 1913) of the King's Hall, Herne Bay. His extensive works helped to provide employment and to make the town what it is today. Archaeological artefacts turned up by his constant digging contributed to the collection now in Herne Bay Museum.

He was articled to Alexander William Conquest (1848–1892), who was borough engineer and surveyor of Ramsgate and then of Folkestone, and who was the son of William Conquest, secretary to Joseph Bazalgette who created the London sewerage system. Palmer was then appointed assistant borough engineer and surveyor of Folkestone, remaining in that position until 1886, when he became assistant surveyor of the Vestry of the Parish (later Borough) of Fulham. In both positions he was working under A.W. Conquest. Subsequently, in 1891 he became the surveyor to Herne Bay Urban District Council, and remained there until at least 1915. He became a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers on 25 April 1896.