F. de J. Clcre, F.R.I.B.A.

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 12, 1 August 1917, Page 1044

F. de J. Clcre, F.R.1.8.A.

The subject of this notice is an architect who has been with us many years, and one who has done much pioneer and useful work in this city and elsewhere, helping us to formulate and practice new methods which have proved necessary in buildingconstruction to meet our climatic and other requirements, and generally to lay a foundation of rules for the guidance of succeeding architects and builders.

it, reinforced with iron rods, as a means of checking earthquake fractures many years before ferro-con-crete was discovered for practical building construction. These bands were found so effective that their use in this manner was embodied in the bye-laws and made compulsory on all city builders. He was also the first to discard arches over window and door openings using the concrete lintels which are now general. We are able to publish views of Messrs Chapman, Skorrett, Tripp and Blair's building in Hunter Street, Wellington, Hastings Church, and the new A.M.P. Offices in New Plymouth, all of

His early life was spent among the beautiful Somersetshire churches, his father being the Vicar of Tickenham in that county. For many years he was taught drawing by the late well-known Mr. Hagreen the head architectural drawing master at South Kensington, • and afterwards he was duly articled_ to Mr. Edmund Scott of Brighton. On completing his articles Mr. Clere went up to London and joined the Architectural Association meeting there Mr. Aston Webb (now Sir Aston) and other men since become famous. Mr. Clere has always taken a special interest in concrete, a great deal of it being used under his observation in Brighton when it was comparatively new at a building material. In this country he used

which, are of reinforced concrete from Mr. Clere ’s designs. His long residence in New Zealand has enabled him to observe the effects of earthquakes on buildings and the experience thus gained has caused him to drop many recognized English methods of construction. .Although Mr. Clere has designed many of the largest business structures in the Dominion his chief claim perhaps for special recognition lies in his church work. Not only was his childhood spent in a church atmosphere, but he was serving his articles when the Gothic revival was at its zenith, and a most accurate knowledge of mediaeval buildings was demanded from the architect who undertook the restoration or building of churches. Gilbert Scott,

Edmund. Street, William Burgess, Robert Jewell "Withers, James Brooks and others were the great exponents of the Gothic spirit which had been raised by the Pugins as the practical men, Ruskin as the literary enthusiast for truth in all art, and by Walter Scott's romances of the middle ages. While with Mr. Scott Mr. Clere was intimately associated with

is in many other respects a remarkable and unique structure. St. James', Brighton (famous for its connection with the Purchase judgment), was among the other churches which Mr. Scott designed and built while Mr. Clere was with him. On his arrival in London (after the expiry of his articles), Mr. Clere went into the office of Mr. Robert Jewell

the building of the wonderful church of St. Bartholomews in Brighton from the moment its walls rose from the surface till the date of its opening some three years later. This church, which is -the largest aislcless church of modern times, has side walls rising to an internal height of ninety feet and

Withers, who was undoubtedly one of the leading church architects of his time, and before leaving for New Zealand had become his chief assistant. Of the number of churches designed or restored by Mr. Withers we have no record, but we know he is credited with having done forty in one diocese alone.

Soon after his arrival in this Dominion it was recognized that Mr. Clere's training would be of considerable value to the Church, and he was appointed Diocesan Architect on the understanding that all church designing would be entrusted to him. This proviso he found in many ways objectionable, and he himself moved in Synod that it should be altered so that his duties would only require that lie should report on all designs presented to the Diocesan Trustees for their approval. This office he has held for over thirty years, and during his residence in New Zealand he has designed about seventy churches, most of them small, but some, such as those at Palmerston North, Hastings, Peilding, etc., being large. In 1882 on the nomination of the then President, .Sir Horace Jones, Mr. Clere was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and in 1886 lie was raised to the full rank of Fellow being at the time it is believed the youngest in the world. A few years later he was further honoured by being made one of the five honorary secretaries of the Institute scattered over the globe. Mr. Clere is also a member of the Concrete Institute of London, and so keeps in close touch with the latest developments of the use of that material. Although Mr. Clere's residence in New Zealand has been a long one he has made two extended visits to Europe being away from the Dominion the last time nearly two years. On this occasion he was invited to take part in a limited competition for a large stone church in the west of England. Although a. stranger his design was placed first, and he was interested afterwards to find that among his fellow competitors A\as Mr. E. H. Sodding, the gentleman chosen (without competition) by the Bishop of Dunedin for his cathedral.

Mr. Clere's work is characterized by quiet restraint, and he is always successful in impressing the public with the purpose of his buildings, a few of which are illustrated in these pages.