Richard Roach Jewell

Richard Roach Jewell
Born	1810 Barnstaple, Devon, England
Died	1891 Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Nationality	English
Occupation	Architect

Richard Roach Jewell (1810 in Barnstaple, Devon, England – 1891 in Perth, Western Australia) was an architect who designed many of the important public buildings in Perth during the latter half of the nineteenth century. He was employed to supervise many major building projects around England, churches in Bristol, Cardiff, Clifton, Eye, Horsley and Stroudswater. As well as churches he also supervised construction of Stanstead College, a military prison in Gosport and fortifications at Portland Castle and Southsea Castle. He was also employed as a clerk of works in the offices of Sir Charles Barry.

Richard Roach Jewell was born in 1810 in Barnstaple, Devon, England. He was trained as an architect/builder in Barnstaple in Devonshire.

In 1852 Jewell emigrated to Western Australia to seek a more temperate climate for his frail wife. They arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on the Will Watch on 24 February 1852.

Jewell was initially employed in the Imperial Convict Establishment, which was established to manage British convicts which had started arriving in 1850 (see: Convict era of Western Australia). The Fremantle based Convict Establishment was responsible for many large constructions in the colony with an already well established design department in the offices of the Royal Engineers headed by James Manning as Clerk of Works. Jewell soon transferred to the expanding Department of Public Works based in Perth and was appointed foreman in January 1853 at a salary of £150. In a letter to family in England dated 4 February Jewell comment on his salary

...I only get the £150 and no allowance for lodging, but taking into consideration the differences in prices of provisions and house rent(as it much cheaper here than at Fremantle) it makes but a few pounds a year difference. I like my situation much altho [sic] my duties call forth all my exertions to keep them well and faithfully performed.

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