Willoughby Theobald Monzani was an engineer and musician. (Note: this image shows his father.) With James Warren, he developed the Warren Truss girder which was used in the construction of many bridges. He was also a proficient flautist.
Born Camberwell. 1841 lived at Park Street, now Parkway NW1. 1848 lived at St. James's Terrace, Blue Anchor Road, Bermondsey (now Southwark Park Road).
The obit. in the Kentish Gazette Tuesday 22 August 1854 has "'W. T. Monzani, favourite flute player, late of the Royal Italian Opera..."
Source: .
Willoughby Theobald Monzani was born on 11 May 1804 in Camberwell, Surrey (now Greater London). He was the second of the eight children of Tebaldo Monzani (1762-1839) and Pleasant Monzani née Price (1775-1840). On 8 April 1805 he was baptised in St George's Church, Hanover Square, Westminster, Middlesex (now Greater London).
His seven siblings were: Teresa Mercy Monzani (1802-1804); Peregrine John Baptist Monzani (b.1807); Theophilus Antonie Monzani (b.1808); Theobald Perregrine Monzani (1811-1872); Jane Elizabeth Monzani (1813-1851) and Thomas Tommaso Monzani (b.1816).
The 1819 edition of the London Post Office Directory shows his father trading as Monzani & Hill, Patent Flute and Clarinet Manufacturers, and Music Sellers, at 24 Dover Street.
On 12 May 1818 Monzani junior became an apprentice to his father (described as "Citizen and Musician") and was indentured to serve for seven years. On 19 May 1825 upon the completion of his apprenticeship he was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London by servitude in the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
On 22 July 1832 he married Louisa Metcalf (1802-1885) in St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent.
He is shown as a musician in the census that was undertaken on 6 June 1841. He was living in Park Street, St Pancras, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his wife and three children: Willoughby Monzani (1833-1886); Catherine Monzani (b.1835); Ellen Monzani (1839-1866), his brother Thomas Monzani (b.1816), together with a female servant.
In the census that was conducted on 30 March 1851, he was shown as a musician residing at 9 St James's Terrace, Bermondsey, Surrey (now Greater London), with his wife and three of their children: Catherine Monzani; Ellen Monzani and Mary Jane Anne Juliet Monzani (1841-1909).
He died, aged 50 years, on 29 July 1854, his death being registered in the 3rd quarter of 1854 in the Thanet Registration District, Kent.
He is shown as "W T Monzani" on the memorial plaque attached to the Joiner Street railway bridge in Joiner Street at the junction with Tooley Street, London, SE1.
We could find no image of the son but found this drawing of Monzani senior with his flute irresistible so, breaking all our rules, we display it here.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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