Cecil George Butler (1897 - 1947)
Butler estava ativo no subúrbio entre 1922-1938, projetando cerca de 640 edifícios
Vida pregressa
Cecil George Butler nasceu em Wellington, Shropshire, em 30 de março de 1897, o terceiro de quatro filhos. Em 1901, seus pais, John e Elizabeth Butler, moravam em Park Street, Wellington. Seu pai era noivo e jardineiro.
Educação
Depois de ter sido articulado em Shrewsbury sob o comando de Walter Armstrong Richards FSI, Butler participou de cursos noturnos na Escola de Arquitetura Bartlett, University College (1919), e depois como membro do Architectural Association Atelier (1920-21).
Butler foi assistente de Edwin Thomas Dunn de Ilford em 1919-1920, depois de Vernon Crompton de Bedford Row, Londres, 1920-1921, e dos senhores Niven & Wigglesworth em 7 John Street, Bedford Row, 1921-1922.
Ele começou na prática em 1920. Em 1923, ele estava morando e trabalhando na 28 Vereker Road, Baron's Court, em Londres.
Butler tornou-se um ARIBA em 1921, sendo seus proponentes Crompton, Niven e Wigglesworth. Em 1930 ele se tornou um companheiro, com Crompton, Niven e um outro (presumivelmente Wigglesworth) como seus proponentes.
Obras em Hampstead Garden Suburb
Em 1922, Butler foi nomeado arquitecto para as sociedades de inquilinos de co-parceria e inquilinos de Hampstead, a fim de desenvolver Hampstead Garden Suburb e outras propriedades. Ele foi o arquiteto de inquilinos de co-parceria de 1922 a 1933.
Em 1923, ele trabalhou com o arquiteto francês Hector O. Corfiato, em um plano atualizado para o "Novo Subúrbio". Os papéis de nomeação da FRIBA de Butler referem-se a estabelecer o "layout geral, o desenvolvimento de estradas e esgotos na Propriedade". Butler foi ativo em Hampstead Garden Suburb de 1922-1938, projetando cerca de 640 edifícios durante este período.
Lyttelton Court (1929-1930) é um impressionante conjunto de apartamentos - um design marcante de Butler, com varandas embutidas, pilares de pedra, portas Art Déco e alvenaria Arts and Crafts nas chaminés colocadas na diagonal e arcos de tijolos.
Casas como as de Northway, Middleway e Southway (1923-1927) são harmoniosamente projetadas por Soutar e Butler, usando características consistentes. Junções como a Thornton Way-Middleway apresentam grupos simétricos projetados de forma atraente por Butler (1925).
Em Brim Hill, vários desenhos de Butler são interessantes pares semi-destacados assimétricos, como os números 42-48 (1931) e 92-98 (1934).
Nos. 3 e 4 Os Leys têm tijolos decorativos nas portas e na janela central, enquanto os números 6-7 Os Leys têm varandas salientes com varandas em cima. (1933)
Mervyn Miller proclama as casas de Butler em Nos 1-24 Midholm Close (1927) e Nos 1-56 Neale Close (1929) como seu melhor trabalho no subúrbio de Hampstead Garden, com o último ostentando cumes orgulhosos entre blocos limpos, com alpendres e detalhes de alvenaria. .
"Em outro lugar", diz Miller, "Butler jogou em segurança", observando a "conformidade competente e ainda monótona" de suas casas nos números 19 a 24 da Praça do Sul (1934).
Após dezesseis anos prolíficos projetando casas em Hampstead Garden Suburb, Butler retornou a Shropshire e assumiu a parceria em Shrewsbury como Shayles, Butler e Dilke de 1939 a 1941. Durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, ele trabalhou no Departamento de Terras do Ministério da Guerra.
De 1945 a 1947, Butler trabalhou em consultório particular em Shrewsbury; Não se sabe muito de qualquer trabalho deste período.
Morte e legado
Em 30 de abril de 1947, Cecil George Butler morreu após uma operação, aos 50 anos. Ele foi cremado em Golders Green. Os negócios de Butler foram levados adiante pelo Sr. W Elsworth.
De acordo com o seu obituário no RIBA Journal , Butler construiu apartamentos em Wandsworth "e outras partes de Londres". Ele também trabalhou em Golders Green. Um obituário em The Builderobservou que Butler "desenhou muito trabalho de charme no Hampstead Garden Suburb".
Durante seu tempo no subúrbio, Butler residia em 12a North End Road (c. 1926), 221 Hampstead Way (c. 1930) e 10 Milton Close (1936 - c. 1947).Cecil George Butler (1897 - 1947)
Butler was active on the Suburb between 1922-1938, designing some 640 buildings
Early life
Cecil George Butler was born in Wellington, Shropshire on 30 March 1897, the third of four children. In 1901 his parents, John and Elizabeth Butler, were living at Park Street, Wellington. His father was a groom and gardener.
Education
After having been articled at Shrewsbury under Walter Armstrong Richards F.S.I., Butler attended evening courses at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College (1919), and then as a member of the Architectural Association Atelier (1920-21).
Butler was assistant to Edwin Thomas Dunn of Ilford 1919-1920, then to Vernon Crompton of Bedford Row, London 1920-1921, and to Messrs Niven & Wigglesworth at 7 John Street, Bedford Row, 1921-1922.
He began in practice in 1920. By 1923, he was living and working at 28 Vereker Road, Baron’s Court, London.
Butler became an ARIBA in 1921, his proposers being Crompton, Niven and Wigglesworth. In 1930 he became a Fellow, with Crompton, Niven and one other (presumably Wigglesworth) as his proposers.
Works in Hampstead Garden Suburb
In 1922, Butler was appointed Architect to the Co-Partnership Tenants' and Hampstead Tenants' Societies in order to develop Hampstead Garden Suburb and other Estates. He was the Co-Partnership Tenants’ architect from 1922 to 1933.
In 1923 he worked with French architect Hector O. Corfiato, on an updated plan for the 'New Suburb'. Butler’s FRIBA nomination papers refers to setting down the "general layout, road and sewer development on the Estate,". Butler was active in Hampstead Garden Suburb from 1922-1938, designing some 640 buildings during this period.
Lyttelton Court (1929-1930) is an impressive group of flats - a striking design by Butler, with recessed balconies, stone pillars, Art Deco doorcases and Arts and Crafts brickwork in the diagonally-placed chimneys and brick arches.
Houses such as those at Northway, Middleway and Southway (1923-1927) are harmoniously designed by both Soutar and Butler, using consistent features. Junctions such as Thornton Way-Middleway feature attractively-designed symmetrical groups by Butler (1925).
On Brim Hill, several of Butler's designs are interesting asymmetrical semi-detached pairs, such as Nos. 42-48 (1931), and 92-98 (1934).
Nos. 3 and 4 The Leys have decorative brick surrounds to the doors and central gable window, while Nos. 6-7 The Leys have projecting porches with balconies above. (1933)
Mervyn Miller proclaims Butler's houses at Nos 1-24 Midholm Close (1927) and Nos 1-56 Neale Close (1929) as his best work at Hampstead Garden Suburb, with the latter sporting proud gables amongst neat blocks, with recessed porches and brickwork detailing.
"Elsewhere," Miller says, "Butler played safe," noting the "competent yet dull conformity," of his houses at Nos. 19-24 South Square (1934).
Following sixteen prolific years designing houses at Hampstead Garden Suburb, Butler returned to Shropshire and took up partnership at Shrewsbury as Shayles, Butler and Dilke from 1939-1941. During the Second World War, he worked in the Lands Department of the War Office.
From 1945-1947, Butler worked in private practice at Shrewsbury; not much is known of any work from this period.
Death and legacy
On 30 April 1947, Cecil George Butler died after an operation, aged 50. He was cremated at Golders Green. Butler’s business was carried on by Mr W Elsworth.
According to his RIBA Journal obituary, Butler built flats in Wandsworth "and other parts of London". He did work in Golders Green too. An obituary in The Builder noted that Butler "designed much work of charming character in Hampstead Garden Suburb."
During his time on the Suburb, Butler resided at 12a North End Road (c. 1926), 221 Hampstead Way (c. 1930) and 10 Milton Close (1936 - c. 1947).
