Thomas Penson
1790-1859
Border Architect
Thomas Penson 1790-1859
Thomas Penson was born in Wrexham, and in around 1809 studied with Thomas Harrison, the Chester architect and bridgebuilder. In 1814 he married Frances, daughter of wealthy ironmaster Richard Kirk.
Penson became county surveyor for Montgomeryshire in 1817, and of Denbighshire in 1819. He was also surveyor for the Montgomeryshire Turnpike Trusts.
In about 1823 he moved to Oswestry, expanded his private architectural practice, and also took an active interest in the proposed new Welsh railways. He was elected to Oswestry town council in the 1830s and became mayor in 1840.
Thomas Penson was a prolific architect, designing bridges, churches, private houses and public buildings. He worked in a variety of styles, and in the 1840s was a pioneer of the use of terracotta.
Two of his sons, Richard Kyrke Penson, and Thomas Mainwaring Penson also became architects.
Text: Frances Ward
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