The architect Francis Mawson Rattenbury was born on 11 October 1867 in Leeds, and died on 28 March 1935 in Bournemouth. However, most of his work was done in Canada. He was one of British Columbia's most famous architects, his grandest chateau-style hotel being the Empress, which stands proudly on Victoria's Inner Harbour on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
"Francis as Reeve of Oak Bay."
Rattenbury's main contribution to architecture in BC was not in the originality of his designs but rather his ability to bring a new level of sophistication to architectural imagery there — one which satisfied the aspirations of the province at a crucial time in its political development. His buildings, which made use of Rattenbury's strong command of architectural vocabulary, reflected Imperial connections and raised the level of building technology and craftsmanship.
After 1918 Rattenbury secured few commissions, being preoccupied with litigation against provincial acquisition of his northern lands for veteran resettlements. Nevertheless his work for the CPR [Canadian Pacific Railway] — the Crystal Gardens (1921-25) and Secord Steamship Terminal in Victoria — exhibit his continuing command of civic and ornamental design. — "Rattenbury, Francis Mawson"
Biographical Material
Works
[*** = Online so far]- Roedde House, Vancouver (1893)***
- B.C. Provincial Legislature, Victoria (1893-98)***
- Nanaimo Court House, Nanaimo (1895)***
- Bank of Montreal, Victoria (1896) (now the Irish Times Pub)***
- Bank of Montreal, Rossland (1898)
- Bank of Montreal, Nelson (1899)
- Lieutenant Governor's Residence, Victoria (1901, destroyed by fire in 1957)
- Victoria High School (Fort Street location), Victoria (1901, demolished in 1953)
- Phoenix Hospital, Phoenix (1901, demolished)
- Burns manor (1903)
- Janet Clay House, Victoria (1904)
- The Court House, Vancouver (1906-12)***
- Merchant's Bank, Victoria (1907)***
- Court House, Nelson (Designed 1903, completed November 1908, supervising local architect, Alexander Carrie)
- Empress Hotel, Victoria (1904-8, with later additions)***
- Pacific Railway Steamship Terminal, Victoria (1923-1924)***
- Crystal Garden, Victoria (1925)•••
- Merchants' Bank, Nanaimo (1909-1911) (now The Vault Cafe)***
Bibliography
Barrett, Anthony A., and Rhodri Windsor Liscombe. Francis Mawson Rattenbury and British Columbia: Architecture and Challenge in the Imperial Age. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1983.
Elliot, David R. "Rattenbury, Francis Mawson." Canadian Encyclopedia.. Four volumes. Edmonton: Hurtig, 1988. Vol. III: pp. 1828-1829.
"Francis as Reeve of Oak Bay, Victoria, circa 1910." Oak Bay Archives. The Canadian Museum of History. Web. 20 April 2023.
"Rattenbury, Francis Mawson." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Posted 20 May 2008. Web. 20 April 2023.
Created 20 April 2017