The Architects: Maurice Adams
Sandra Grant profiles Maurice B Adams, designer of the Church Hall
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Bom in 1849, died in 1933: Maurice Bingham Adams saw the founding of Bedford Park, lived there during its aesthetic heyday, then watched its sad decline between the two world wars.
He had a grandstand view from his editorial chair at the Building News, but as an architect and long-time resident he was constantly switching roles between observer and participant.
When the first houses went up by Turnham Green Station in 1875, Building News was quick to criticise Jonathan Carr's original architect, Edward W Godwin. However, Maurice Adams seems to have been won over to the concept because from 1896 onwards it was his drawings of Bedford Park houses which illustrated a string of articles about the new suburb.
He joined Building News in 1872, having trained in Brighton and then become architect to the borough council. He has variously been described as editor, technical editor and architectural editor, but whatever his title he remained there for over 50 years, combining the role with a private practice and various honorary posts. As a result he had an unrivalled network of contacts in the profession.
He came to Bedford Park in 1878, settling first at 14 Woodstock Road. In 1901 he moved to Edenhurst at 1 Marlborough Crescent.
Originally designed by Norman Shaw, the detached house with its gables and scalloped hanging tiles was probably adapted by its new occupier. Sadly, it was demolished by Acton Council in the early 1960s, just before the newly-formed Bedford Park Society succeeded in having the houses listed. The site is now occupied by a block of flats called St James's Court.
In 1880 Maurice Adams designed 12 and 14 Newton Grove (the former being the home of the Society's late co-founder, Tom Greeves) for the artist John Charles Dollman. Both houses had elaborately carved porches and plaster gables, while the larger (no 14), incorporated a studio on the first floor.
The following year his School of Art opened in Bath Road. Featuring five Queen Anne-style pedimented gables, it was not a particularly successful design; but it was doubtless better than his first effort, which apparently had to be sent to Norman Shaw to be pulled together. Destroyed by a flying bomb during World War II, the School was replaced by Chiswick Polytechnic and is now the Arts Educational School.
He also designed 5 Priory Avenue, and it's possible that he drew up plans for some of the smaller, cottage-style houses in Bedford Park, as seen in Marlborough Crescent, 35 Queen Anne's Grove and 12 Blenheim Road.
His Church Hall, which fits in so harmoniously with Norman Shaw's church, was built in 1887. At the same time he completed the church's north aisle, and also designed the font and pulpit. In 1909 he added the rather Gothic style chapel of All Souls.
During his years in Bedford Park he seems to have amassed various properties. His will mentions numbers 5, 23 and 41 Priory Road (now Priory Avenue), 2 Addison Road, 33 Marlborough Crescent and 14 Woodstock Road.
He designed various buildings round London, as well as fulfilling commissions in the United States and Australia. Among his more local works were almshouses in Chiswick, and the restoration of All Saints, South Acton. He also designed Acton Library, which opened in 1900 – one of many commissions for public buildings he received from Passmore Edwards, owner of Building News.
In addition, he published several architectural books, one co-authored with Norman Shaw and another with Edward W Godwin.
He was married for 60 years to Emily, who died in 1927. Of his six daughters and one son, only four survived him.
Despite his close links with St Michael and All Angels – he was the first churchwarden there – his funeral was held at Chiswick Parish Church, and he is buried in the adjoining cemetery.