Henry Price (architect)

Henry Price
(John) Henry Price, c. 1905
Born	1867 England
Died	10 April 1944(1944-04-10) (aged 76–77)
Nationality	English
Occupation	Architect
Practice	Manchester City Architect's Department
Buildings	Victoria Baths, Manchester Didsbury Library, Manchester
Projects	Hydraulic Power Station, Manchester

John Henry Price (1867 – 10 April 1944) – more commonly referred to as Henry Price – was the first person to hold the office of 'City Architect' in Manchester Corporation's newly created City Architect's Department of 1902. He was responsible for a number of well known Manchester landmarks, and is credited with influencing the design of other buildings constructed during his tenure, such as Manchester Fire Station.

John Henry Price was articled with Thomas Denville Barry and Charles Garret Barry 1884–1888 and started his career as an architect's assistant ("Improver") in Liverpool with Edmund Kirby from 1888–1892. From 1892 he was the Assistant Surveyor to Toxteth Park Board, and in 1897 he became the building surveyor for Birmingham. On leaving Birmingham, to go to Manchester, as a tribute he was presented with a gold watch and engraved instrument set in recognition of his contribution to Birmingham. In June 1902, he was appointed as the first City Architect for Manchester. The Corporation of Manchester set up the City Architect's Department in response to an incident that was thought to be the result of improper co-ordination and demarcation of the roles of various staff positions of the City Surveyor's Department. Under Price, the roles of the offices of surveyor and architect were more clearly circumscribed. He married Sarah Dallow in 1896. Articled to Charles Garret Barry, 1884–1888. Assistant Surveyor to Toxteth Park Local board,1888– 1892.(Under Edmund Kirby, 1888–1892). Professional Qualifications: ARIBA 11 March 1895, Proposed Edmund Kirby, H. Hartley,T. Cook. The Scottish architect Duncan Mckerrow trained under him from 1902 to about 1912. He retired in 1934.

There is some confusion over his name, between John Henry Price, family photographs and many work attributions, where he is simply Henry Price, and the index in Pevsner, where for example the Ashton House reference uses both H. R. Price, at the same time as referring to him as the city architect. His brother-in-law, Henry P. Dallow, refers to him as Harry when Price was courting Dallow's sister, and as John Henry in reference to the engagement.

There was only one Manchester City Architect called Henry Price in the period 1902 to 1934, however presumably there was an H. Price working earlier in the area, as H.R. Price is listed by Pevsner as the architect for St Clements, Denmark Rd, Mosside Manchester, Mosside/Whalley Range, 1881, and St Edmund's Alexandra Rd South, Whalley Range 1881-2 and Price, H. R., for St Paul's Springfield Rd Sale Cheshire 1883-4, which must be an unrelated H.R. Price or errors in date or attribution by Pevsner.