Walter Hindes Godfrey was born on 2 August 1881, the eldest of the six children of Walter Scott Godfrey (1855-1936) and Gertrude Annie Godfrey née Rendall (1855-1922). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1881 in the . His father was a Director of a Wine & Spirit Company and the family were living at .
Our Picture Source, his and the give much information about this man. He was both an architect, specialising in restoring and adapting historic buildings, and an historian, who founded the in 1941, now absorbed by Heritage England.
In the 1901 census he is shown as an architect's assistant living at 'Farleigh', Berlin Road, Catford, with his parents and five siblings: Gertrude Mary Godfrey (1883-1939), George Gordon Godfrey (1886-1949), Catherine Hope Godfrey (1893-1977), Margery Annie Godfrey (1895-1956) and Helen Ruskin Godfrey (1899-1960), together with a female domestic servant. (Berlin Road was renamed as Canadian Avenue in 1918).
He married Gertrude Mary Warren (1884-1955), the marriage being registered in the 2nd quarter of 1907 in the . Their eldest daughter, Margaret Lucy Godfrey was born on 14 March 1908 in Radlett, Hertfordshire and Gertrude Mary Helen Godfrey (1909-1994) was born on 22 May 1909, also in Radlett. Kelly's Directory of Hertfordshire listed him in 1908 at 3 Watling Street, Radlett.
The 1911 census shows he was living with his wife and two daughters at 'Kingsdown' 3 Watling Street, Radlett, Hertfordshire. His occupation was recorded as an Architect. Their son, Walter Emil Godfrey (1912-1982), was born on 13 September 1912. On 26 January 1921 their third daughter, Marion Hastings Godfrey (1921-2000), was born and her birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1921 in the .
Telephone directories in 1914 & 1916 show him listed at 11 Carteret Street, Victoria, and from 1928 to 1931 at 18 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1. He was listed from 1933 to 1938 at 19 Queen Anne's Gate, SW1. Meanwhile telephone directories also show him listed in Sussex; from 1923 to 1929 at both 'Corners' Buxted, Uckfield and at 92 High Street, Lewes, from 1929 to 1937 at , from 1937 to 1939 at Lewes House, , from 1941 to 1944 at 'Thebes', Church Lane, Lewes and from 1946 to 1957 at 81 The Causeway, Steventon, Abingdon, Berkshire.
The 1939 England and Wales Register shows him and his family living at . His occupation was recorded as an Architect, F.R.I.B.A. whilst his son was shown as a student at the Royal Institute of British Architecture. (His son would later become a founder of the Carden & Godfrey practice).
In the 1950 Birthday Honours List, as the Director of the National Buildings Record, he was made a Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Probate records confirm that his address remained as 81 The Causeway, Steventon and that he died, aged 80 years, on 16 September 1961 in the . Probate was granted on 19 December 1961, jointly to his daughter, Marion Hastings Godfrey, and his solicitor, Dudley Charles Clarke. His estate totalled £19,219-10s-6d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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