Architect. He designed high quality houses in London and south-east England, as well as housing developments for working men in London and Birmingham. A large proportion of his work comprised thirteen stations on what is now the London Underground Central Line. His gives some further details of his accomplishments.
Harry Bell Measures was born on 17 February 1862 in Richmond, Surrey (now Greater London), the elder child of Henry Measures (1835-1922) and Sarah Measures née Bell (1838-1917). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1862 in the Richmond Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London).
In the 1871 census he is shown as aged 9 years and living at 18 Bedford Square, Brighton, Sussex, with his parents, his sister Alice Emily Measures (1869-1960) and his maternal grandfather, Eversdon Bell (1805-1873) who was an agricultural labourer. His father was described as a coach painter.
At the time of the 1881 census he was listed as aged 19 years, an architect and draughtsman, residing at 23 Bedford Square, Brighton, with his parents, his sister who was shown as a scholar, together with a female domestic servant. His father was described as a master coachbuilder employing three men.
On 24 September 1887 he married Fanny Sefton (1863-1894) in St Patrick's Church, Cambridge Road, Hove, Sussex, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 25 years, a bachelor and an architect, living at 'Highfield', Mayflower Road, Clapham, Surrey (now Greater London) whose father was a coachbuilder. His wife was described as aged 24 years and a spinster, residing at 16 Western Road, Hove, the daughter of William Sefton, a gentleman.
Their daughter, Mabel Endora Measures (1888-1980) was born at 58 Craster Road, Tulse Hill, Surrey (now Greater London). His wife died and was buried on 7 May 1894 in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Byfleet, Surrey.
On 20 April 1897 he married Ellen Clara Johnson (1870-1945) in Immanuel Church, Streatham Common, Lambeth, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 35 years, a widower and an architect & surveyor, living at Barrow Road, Streatham Common, whilst his wife was described as aged 26 years, a spinster residing at Gleneagle Road, Streatham, the daughter of Charles Malcolm Johnson, a retired naval officer.
When the 1901 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 39 years, an architect and surveyor living at 'Sunnyside', Byfleet, Surrey, with his wife and their daughter Winifred Blanche Measures (1899-1981), together with a cook and a housemaid.
In 1907 he was made a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO).
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 49 years, an architect and Director of Barrack Construction War Office, living in a 13 roomed property at 'Kialama', West Byfleet, Surrey, with his wife and his four children: Mabel Endora Measures; Winifred Blanche Measures; Harold Montague Measures (1901-1964) and Margery Phyllis Measures (1908-2006), together with a cook, a nurse and a housemaid.
He was appointed as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the .
He showed himself on his 1921 census return form as aged 59 years, 5 months, an architect and retired Director of Barrack Construction, War Office, living in a 14 roomed property at 'Kialama', Madeira Road, West Byfleet, with his wife, their daughter Margery Phyllis Measures who was in whole-time education and his widowed father - a retired coachbuilder, together with a female general domestic servant.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register, which confirms his date of birth, he is shown as a retired architect, living at 10 Shirley Park Road, Croydon, Surrey (now Greater London), with his wife.
His death, aged 78 years, was registered in the 4th quarter of 1940 in the Croydon Registration District. Probate records confirm that he resided at 10 Shirley Park Road, Croydon and that he died on 10 December 1940. His body was buried on 13 December 1940 in Section H, Grave 283 in the parish of St John the Evangelist Church, Shirley, Croydon. Administration of his estate was granted on 19 February 1941 to his widow and his estate totalled £104-10s-7d.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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