William Wallen (architect and surveyor)

During the ninetieth century, the Wallen family was linked to British architecture. William Wallen (1790–1873) and his son, William Wallen Junior (1817–1891) were both architects and surveyors in London.

William Wallen Senior (1790–1873), was born in Southwark, Surrey, the son of William Wallen and probably Frances Wallen née Smith. William married Amy Elizabeth Willcocks (1790 – C 1865) at Guildhall, Blackfriars in 1814. They lived in Hoxton, London, producing four sons and five daughters. William died at Hackney in 1873, aged 83.

William Wallen Junior (1816–1891) also became an architect and surveyor. Professionally, he remained William Wallen ( Junior), no doubt to distinguish himself from his father and his cousin, William Wallen (1807–1888) , a fellow architect in Huddersfield. William Jnr. was born in Hoxton and married Mary Ann Sydney (1828–1899) at Guildhall in 1848. They produced four sons and one daughter. William died in Greenwich aged 74 Years.

William Wallen Senior practised as an architect and surveyor, however; he appears to have favoured surveying commissions. His career was somewhat overshadowed by his older brother, John Wallen (1783–1865) who was an architect and the principal surveyor to London during the 1830s. Nevertheless, William is credited with at least two architectural projects between 1822 and 1823. They were non-conformist chapels in Newbury, Berkshire and Newark, Nottinghamshire. It is also suggested that he was the “Mr Wallen” who received a substantial fee for the survey and probably the design of Claremont Chapel in New Road, Pentonville.

During the 1830s, William’s professional office was at 1 Circus Place, Finsbury. Here he designed the British School in Wood Street, Spitalfields, and the Abbey Street British School in Bethnal Green. He briefly employed Owen Jones, a pupil of architect, Lewis Vulliamy. This was probably an arrangement between Vulliamy and Wallen to equip Jones with essential surveying skills before he undertook a Grand Tour of Europe and the Middle East in 1832.

Wallen family correspondence, dating from the 1800s, indicates that one, or both, the Wallen brothers were involved in the surveying of the London to Birmingham railway. Apparently, a ‘mistake’ caused the Wallens major financial hardship. Notably, William was declared bankrupt in February 1839. Undaunted, William returned to the Court in the same year. In Wallen v. Smith he successfully appealed costs exceeding £40 previously awarded against him. His case became legal precedent referred to during the 1800s. By 1848, William had opened an office at 17 King St, London City and through the 1850s, he and his son, William (Jnr), operated from 25 Bassinghall Street, London. In 1850, Henry Jones Lanchester (1834–1914) was articled to William Wallen and was educated in several offices including that of John Wallen. Lanchester is noted for laying out part of Hove and also the design of Palmeira Mansions, Hove.

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