Architect. Born Edward Charles Philip Monson, son of architect Edward Monson, brother of architect Harry Castle Hiett Monson (1877-1961) and father of John Monson. Monson works were frequently products of a family partnership. Information from .
An names 2 of Monson's works in Islington: 1922 Taverner Estate in Highbury Grange and 1936 Brecknock Road Estate (note the triangular bay windows).
The where we found this photo also has: "ECP lost his eldest son and his younger brother to the First World War ... As well as the Town Hall, built in 1925, and Islington’s first housing estate, Halton Mansions, ECP Monson designed the Sutton Dwellings, opposite the Town Hall; Masefield Court, near Newington Green; and Brecknock Road estate, all of which have stood the test of time."
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, expands upon this information. Edward Charles Philip Monson was born on 3 June 1871 in Acton, Middlesex (now Greater London), the eldest of the eight children of Edward Monson (1847-1935) and Mary Monson née Williamson (1848-1918). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1871 in the Brentford Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 22 October 1871 he was baptised at St Mary's Church, Acton, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that his family lived in Acton and that his father was an architect.
In the 1881 census he was shown as aged 9 years, a pupil and scholar, one of ten pupils who were registered at 96 Castle Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, a school run by a Daniel Lloyd and his wife Emma Lloyd.
When the 1891 census was undertaken he was described as aged 19 years and an architect's assistant living at Grosvenor House, Uxbridge Road, Acton, with his parents and his seven siblings: Edith Marian Clarissa Monson (1873-1941); George Herbert Monson (1874-1932) - a solicitor's clerk; Reginald Harcourt Monson (1876-1962) - a scholar; Harry Castle Hiett Monson (1877-1961) - a scholar; Hilda Mary Monson (1881-1958) - a scholar; Kathleen Rowena Monson (1885-1957) and Cyril Archibald Monson (1887-1915), together with a cook, a nurse maid and a housemaid.
On 14 July 1897 he married Marie Louise Sutton (1874-1973) at St Dunstan's Church, East Acton, Middlesex (now Greater London). The marriage register shows him as aged 26 years, a bachelor and an architect residing in Acton Vale, the son of Edward Monson, an architect, whilst his wife was described as aged 22 years and a spinster living in East Acton, the daughter of Charles Thomas Sutton, a gentleman.
He was shown in the 1901 census as aged 29 years and an architect MSA {believed to be a Member of the Society of Architects}, Captain Volunteer Services, living at 24 Rosemont Road, Acton, with his wife and their two children: Edward Charles Sutton Monson (1898-1918) and John William Sutton Monson (1901-1989) together with a lady's maid and a housemaid.
On 5 January 1904 he was initiated as a freemason in the Playgoers Lodge No.2705 that met at the Hotel Cecil, Strand, London. Membership registers held at Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ, show him aged 32 years and an architect who was residing at 24 Rosemont Road, Acton. The following year, along with 14 other freemasons, he successfully petitioned the United Grand Lodge of England to grant a warrant to create a new lodge. This was the Taplow Lodge No.3111 that was duly consecrated on 24 May 1905 and held its first meeting on 21 June 1905 at Skindle’s Hotel, Maidenhead Bridge, Berkshire.
The 1907 edition of Kelly's Directory of Acton lists him as Monson, Major Edward Charles Philip, 24 Rosemont Road, Acton.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 39 years, an architect and surveyor and a Major in the Territorial Forces. He was still living in the ten roomed property at 24 Rosemont Road, Acton, with his wife, their daughter Eilleen Rowena Monson (1903-1998), together with a female mother's help and female general servant.
He showed himself on his 1921 census return form as aged 50 years, an architect and a Major (retired) T.F. living in another ten roomed property at 'Fremingford', Creswick Road, Acton, London, W3, with his wife and their daughter, together with two female general domestic servants, a chauffeur who also had his wife, his two children and his widowed father staying there.
His death was registered as aged 69 years in the 1st quarter of 1941 in the Newton Abbot Registration District, Devon. Probate records confirm his address was 24 Rosemont Road, Acton and that he died on 10 January 1941 at The Osborne Hotel, Torquay, Devon. Probate was granted on 31 March 1941 jointly to his widow, to his son who was described as an architect and to his daughter who was shown as the wife of Francis Charles Coningsby. His effects totalled £19,367-18s-0d.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them