Richard Roach Jewell

Richard Roach Jewell (born 1810 in Barnstaple, Devon, England - died 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.

Jewell was articled(trained) as an architect/builder in Barnstaple in Devonshire. 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.

Western Australia

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 February 24 1852.Australian Dictionary of Biography|last=Oldham|first=Ray|authorlink=Ray Oldham (Author)|year=1972|id=A040543b|title= Jewell, Richard Roach (1810 - 1891)|accessdate=2007-08-23]

He 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 February 4th Jewell comment on his salaryIn the same letter Jewell wrote of his position and future aspirations;

Jewell did not have long to wait, in June 1853 the Superintendent of Public Works, James Austin resigned after a long running battle with Governor Charles Fitzgerald over pay and conditions. Jewell was appointed to the position at an increased salary of £175 with an additional £25 for being Superintendent of Towns.

uperintendent of Public Works

Jewell's duties initially included overseeing repairs of buildings, roads and bridges, and supervising the construction of the boys' schools in Perth and Fremantle. He was soon given the task of designing major buildings such as Perth Gaol and the court-house. Jewell was said to have worked hard and long into the night with his book-keeping duties. In 1853 he wrote to Governor Fitzgerald:

I have the honour to submit for the consideration and approval off His Excellency the Governor that he will be pleased to grant an allowance for candles used in writing the Public accounts done after office hours, as it is impossible to get the same performed during the day without neglecting other duties...Western Australian Museum information sheet: "The Old Perth Gaol"]

With the arrival of 300 convicts and ticket of leave persons Perth had the labour necessary to commence building many substantial projects the first of these Jewell worked on were the Claisebrook Abbatoirs, of which only drawings survive and the Colonial School on St Georges Terrace that now houses the National Trust. The Colonial School was built in two stages the first being completed in 1854 and two wings were added in 1868 giving it a rough crucifix form. To provide for the convicts Jewell designed the Perth Gaol in 1854, all of these building utilised limestone carted by barges from quarries at Rocky Bay.

The Cloisters

With a the colony lacking in funds Jewell turned to brick construction, James Brittain had already established a brick yard in East Perth supplying a wide range of wood fired bricks. The first major brick project by Jewell was Bishop Hale's Collegiate School of 1858. This building was designed based on a pattern already established with King's School in Parramatta, New South Wales and St Peters College in Adelaide, South Australia. Bishop Blagdon Hale paid for the building of the school out of his own purse requesting an English-Gothic design, the building became known as "The Cloisters" due to effect of the ground floor verandahs.

The Cloisters uses a patterned brick style set in Flemish bond with diaper patterns to selected panels, the building was first classified by the National Trust in 1973 and together with the a joining Port Jackson Fig Tree was placed on the permanent heritage register on 20th October 1995. [ [http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/PDF_Files/C%20Reg/Cloisters%20(P).PDF Register of Heritage Places] number 2119 "The Cloisters" ] The Cloisters is the oldest building designed by Jewell still standing at its original location. With the building of the Hammersley Iron offices in the early 1980's behind The Cloisters the area is now known as Cloisters Square.

Government House

Government house was designed by Officers of the Royal Engineers and James Manning with building commencing 1859. The Convict Establishment was based in Fremantle, so Jewell was appointed to supervise the construction. Jewell amended many of the details during construction, citing a common architectural ploy by continually commenting on the lack of information or drawings provided by Manning. This method enabled Jewell to substantially personalise the building to his tastes, with the building being completed in 1864.

Perth Town Hall

The Perth Town Hall built between 1867 and 1870, was to break from the normal Tudor Gothic designs by using a Flemish style of brick work with french influences. The overall designs are credited to Jewell though Manning was again involved with its building and its generally recognised that the roofing structure was Manning's designs.

Other buildings

Jewell oversaw construction projects for over 30 years in Western Australia and many important buildings still standing were designed by him. In Perth, these include the Wesley Church, Public Trust Office, the Treasury Buildings, Pensioners' Barracks (Barracks Arch) and The Deanery. Outside Perth, notable buildings included Toodyay gaol, Roebourne residency and police station, Greenough police station and Geraldton hospital.

Retirement

With the death of his wife on 19th July 1884, Jewell retired and was replaced by George Temple Poole then working in Ceylon. Richard Jewell died in 1st June 1891 and is buried in the East Perth Cemeteries near St Bartholomew's Church another one his many designs.

Notes

References

*"Architects of Australia" edited by Howard Tanner, "Richard Roch Jewell" by Howard Tanner pg 38-42. published by Macmillan 1981 ISBN 0 333 29929 9

Persondata
NAME=Jewell, Richard Roach
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=architect
DATE OF BIRTH=1810
PLACE OF BIRTH=Devon, England
DATE OF DEATH=1891
PLACE OF DEATH=Perth, Western Australia