Wanganui, Hornsey Lane 1885

Comment by Karl on June 29, 2018 at 10:16

The Katherine Mansfield connection

Comment by Natalie K on July 1, 2018 at 9:57

What a shame. What is the random reference to Wanganui? That is where my parents are from in New Zealand. 

Comment by Hugh on July 4, 2018 at 23:26

Thanks for the link, Karl. 

Comment by Hugh on July 4, 2018 at 23:32

Natalie, take a look at the post Karl links to. Walter Graves was both the owner and architect of the house.

Here's a bit I found about him online:

Born in 1846 or 1847, he was articled to William Finch-Hill and Edward Paraire of Oxford Street and attended the South Kensington Art School. He then worked as Draughtsman and Clerk of Works in various practices before, in 1875, leaving to take up a position as Surveyor to the New Zealand Railway.

After three years building railways he established his own practice designing a theatre, a church, a public gymnasium and shops at Wellington and nearby Wanganui before returning to England to practice at 11 Queen Victoria Street in London in 1880.

Much of his work in London was factories, shops and offices with some refurbishment of existing buildings as well as shops and houses in Margate. He became a Fellow of the RIBA in 1891. Later works included private residences and a large block of flats for the Metropolitan Railway to which he was also Surveyor. He died relatively young in 1907 at Sandy in Bedfordshire.

Comment by Angela on July 5, 2018 at 14:35

Well done on finding the NZ connection Hugh!

Comment by Angela on July 5, 2018 at 14:36

One more

Comment by Hugh on July 5, 2018 at 15:32

What year were they married? I've found Huntingdon House on the map. It was just down the road from Wanganui on the corner of Sunnyside Road. 

Comment by Hugh on July 5, 2018 at 15:59

Fanny's mother died in 1900. Her father in 1903/4. Huntingdon House was sold in 1904:

London Standard, May 14 1904

Comment by Angela on July 5, 2018 at 17:40

They were married in 1884 in Christ Church, Crouch End Hill.

Fanny was 13 years younger than Walter.

Comment by Hugh on July 5, 2018 at 19:04

This from The Building News and Engineering Journal, 1883 (Vol 44, P 534)

For repairs and conservatory to Huntingdon House, Hornsey, for Mr. S. W. Francis. Mr. W. Graves, architect

I was wondering if Walter and Fanny met whilst he was working for her father. But perhaps there's not a long enough gap. I wonder of the building plot for Wanganui (and perhaps even the house) was a wedding present? You can see from the sale byFrancis's trustees that his land holdings in Hornsey Lane added up to more than just Huntingdon. Ach, who knows.

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