William Scorer - Architect of Yorke Road School - Croxley Green History Project

William Scorer 1843 - 1934
Architect of Yorke Road School

With the links of All Saints Church to architect John Norton and even more probable links to Sir George Gilbert Scott whose son Giles Gilbert Scott was the architect for the All Saints extension in 1907, (the extension was finally completed by Temple Lushington Moore) we have always assumed that the link to the building of Yorke Road School would have been between these architects and it would have been easy to find the architect.

Sadly we perhaps wasted a lot of time in searching for the magical link to those more famous architects but now we have to agree that the architect was William Scorer for the following reasons;

1874 Tender for Yorke Road School as advertised the the Building News

1874 Tender that appeared in the Jan Jun edition of the British Architect

William Scorer placed at least two adverts for builders to tender for the building of Yorke Road School and for a school at West Hyde. Below he also placed an advertisement to tender for the Girls School in Rickmansworth and so we can be confident that William Scorer was the architect of three schools in the local area.

1873 William Scorer advert for a Girls School in Rickmansworth (The Architect). It was actually for the extension to the National school in Parsonage Road, Rickmansworth

William Scorer worked in Liverpool for Henry Sumners for two years. We have to assume that he would have known Edward Robert Robson during this time as Robson was Surveyor to the City of Liverpool and William Scorer went on to work for Edward Robert Robson for 7 years.

In 1870 the Education Act was passed and new schools had to be built as quickly as possible and Edward Robert Robson (1836-1917) was appointed to be chief architect for the new London School Board. We know that William Scorer worked for Edward Robert Robson for 7 years and, from other records, the 7 years would have needed to be between these dates 1868-1874. It is likely that William Scorer moved to London at a similar time as Edward Robert Robson.

Edward Robert Robson worked for Sir George Gilbert Scott who also worked on a Lincoln church with Henry Goddard when William Scorer was Goddard's pupil and so again we have to assume that William Scorer would most likely have met Sir George Gilbert Scott and would have certainly gone to his lectures at R.I.B.A as a student.

We are unsure if William Scorer ever visited Croxley Green but we do now know that he was most probably responsible for one of our historic buildings and so a timeline of his life is below.

1843 - The Birth record for William Scorer shows he was born at Burwell, Louth, Lincolnshire on Wednesday 5th December 1843

The Birth Record of William Scorer in 1843

1843 - 10th December - William Scorer was baptised ay St. Michael's Church Burwell, Louth, Lincolnshire

Baptism Record of William Scorer - 10th December 1843

1851 - William Scorer is living at home and is shown as a Scholar on the 1851 Census living on the family farm at Burwell, Lincolnshire.

1861 - William Scorer is now a pupil architect and was living at 122 High Street, Lincoln in the household of architect and surveyor Henry Goddard.

1865 - During his time at the Lincoln College of Art, William Scorer was awarded "1 Medal for a drawing from the cast, and a certificate"

1868 - On 8th January 1868, William Scorer was admitted to the Royal Academy (Schools) to study architecture.

1871 - William Scorer on the 1871 Census and is a lodger residing at North Street Peterborough. William's brother John Norton Scorer was at school near Wisbech at the time and this may be the reason that William Scorer was in Peterborough.

1872 - 1st November - William Scorer was admitted the Architectural Association School in London. "Originally occupying a local inn, the Architectural Association grew from an occasional night school to a self-governed educational institution with a burgeoning global reputation."

1874-1881 - Aged 37, William Scorer joined "E" Company of Artists Rifles. His obituary reads;

WILLIAM SCORER—JANUARY 22nd, 1934

Scorer joined ‘E’ Company on October 6th, 1874 and left in 1881.
Having been in practice in Lincoln, and for a time diocesan architect, Scorer was an Associate of the R.I.B.A., and first went there to assist in clerical work during the War; still at work in Conduit Street until a week before his death, he celebrated his ninetieth birthday shortly before Christmas. He had a lively sense of humour and was not intolerant to modern ideas in architecture.
When the details of his will were published on March 23rd, it was seen that, subject to a large number of bequests, he had left one-half of the residue of the property to the Regiment, " . . . the income to be applied for the help and benefit of wounded, sick and necessitous officers and men of the Artists' Corps, especially those of ‘C’ Company, of which he was formerly a member ; any residue to be applied annually for prizes in shooting or any other way considered by the officer commanding as calculated to promote the military efficiency of the Battalion."
Here was one who still remembered his Corps over fifty years after severing active connection; would that there were more of his kind.
AR Gazette No 11 1934. P.10

With thanks to Patrick Baty for sharing the obituary

1875-1879 - William Scorer was living at 7 Burleigh Street, London that was just off The Strand (though admittance to the Architectural Association School would indicate he lived there in 1872)

William Scorer living at 7 Burleigh Street, London

1876 - William Scorer was in business with fellow architect William Curtis Brangwyn as they submitted illustrations for Nottingham Educational Buildings that were very much in the Gothic style of Sir George Gilbert Scott.

1876 Submitted design by William Curtis and William Scorer for Nottingham Educational Buildings

1880 - William Scorer must have moved back to Lincoln in this year as he was in business as Messrs. Watkins and Scorer and had taken on work for the borough Workhouse in Lincoln. The partnership was mutually dissolved on 31st December 1883

1881 - William Scorer is back living in Lincoln and is a lodger living at 78 Newport, Lincoln.

1891 - William Scorer on the 1891 Census is still a lodger but has now moved along the road to 49 Newport, Lincoln.

1901 - William Scorer aged 57 is living back on the family farm at Sudbrooke, Lincoln with his recently widowed Mother. William's father died on 25th January 1901 and as the 1901 census was on the night of 31st March 1901, we have to assume that help was needed on the farm and he was at home to support his mother as part of a close-knit family and as the eldest sibling.

1911 - William Scorer was a resident at the White Hart Hotel Lincoln. Around this time William Scorer was the surveyor for the Lawn Hospital (Private Lunatic Asylum) and visits would have been a few minutes' walk from the White Hart Hotel.

c1920-1921 During these years, William Scorer moved as a resident into the Hotel Stuart in Richmond. We have to assume that he moved to Richmond to be near his siblings who were;
Anne Scorer (1852-1935) who lived with another sister Susan Elizabeth Scorer (1854-1933) both living at 31 Friars Stile Road, Richmond. (It appears that Susan Scorer was known locally for teaching German)
Albert Edward Scorer (1863-1936) who lived at 56 Queens Road, Richmond. He was a solicitor with offices at 16 The Green, Richmond. Solicitors Dixon Ward are at this address nowadays and confirmed they released Grant of Probate for Albert Edward Scorer to E A V Scorer on 5th March 1937 (but most probably it was his son Edward Veitch Alberton Scorer)

An advertisement for the Hotel Stuart in Richmond, Surrey

1921-1934 William Scorer was clearly living at the Hotel Stuart, 102 Richmond Hill, Richmond Surrey between these dates as he appears in the 1921 Census there and was recorded dead there on 22nd January 1934

1933 - William Scorer's 90th Birthday. The party numbered over 70 people and took place at the Florence Hotel, Piccadilly, London. The total age of guests added up to well over 2,000 years. William Scorer was the oldest member of the family at the time.

The following verse, commemorating William's 90th birthday gives a lovely impression of his family, working life and character. It also talks about him going to the ARIBA headquarters in Conduit Street and he may have regularly met Sir George Gilbert Scott (President 1873-1876) there:

In Burwell village on the Wolds, not far from Louth's old town
there lived a grand old gentleman of credit and renown.
His name was William Scorer and his wife was just Susan
he had no other relative, he was an only son.

The white washed Priory was their home of that young couple bold and into it there also crept a great and goodly fold;
for do you know to that good man was born a clutch of twelve
and didn't he to bring them up just have to dig and delve?

The eldest boy was William; he was named after Pa
then followed by Jim and Charlie. Ha ha, Ha ha, Ha ha,
next came along poor Bob and Fred; and then to change the luck. Aunt Annie blossomed forth so spry; now isn't she a duck.

Susan and Sally next appear and then to take the bun
there was a strapping farmer lad whose name was Norton John.
Just after this there came a boy but he was not long here
followed by Harry and young Ted and they brought up the rear.

They grew together side by side this merry happy throng
and nearly all did take a spouse before so very long.
In turn these spouses they had kin, and so just now you see
that little family has grown to nearly 153

The eldest son as we have said is named just William plain
he's been through all the stress of life, in sunshine and in rain;
and now he's reached the ripe old age of 90 I believe
and who doth know how many more he's gotten up his sleeve.

He's never married nor been harried by woman's raucous laughter but with boots square and hose so spare and satchel hanging after. He's trudged along, mid sigh and song, from Richmond Hill so gay to Conduit Street for there to meet an A.R.I.B.A.

With beard so white and skullcap tight he sits at office daily
and dodges bus nor makes a fuss at crossing roads so gaily;
he loves dry toast and makes a boast of never drinking water
his tummy rises in surprise and says 'You never oughter'

Let's now apace just face to face give him felicitations
and trust that ne'er dyspecptic snare shall being him palpitations. May real joy without alloy his brimming cup just fill
God bless him long and make him strong, our good old Uncle Will.

With thanks to Helen Lawrence for sharing the poem

1934 - 22nd January - William Scorer died at the Amblecote Nursing Home, 22 Cardigan Road, Richmond, Surrey. His cremation took place at Golders Green on Thursday 25th January 1934 with the Reverend J. M. Lewis officiating.

The record of William Scorer Probate in 1934

1934 - William Scorer Will. From records we have found the following bequests from his £15,129 will that was £14,769 net. All personal belongings were bequeathed to his sisters Anne Scorer and Sarah Ann Elsey as well as 5 family portraits that were to be passed to Leslie Scorer after their deaths.

£5 to Betty Nuthall. Betty, also a famous tennis player, Betty was the daughter of Stuart Nuthall who owned the Stuart Hotel. Stuart Nuthall was also a member of the Artists Rifles Regiment and must have made an impression on William Scorer as he too had been a member of the Artists Rifles (clarification on dates needed), and bequeathed half of the residue of his estate to the Regiment.
£5 to Laura a waitress at the Hotel Stuart
£5 to Thomas Cook
£5 Angus Gibson
£5 to John Deforges
£5 to William Desforges
£10 to his cousin Jessica Catherine Simpson
£10 to Joseph Harrison Winn of 68 Henry Toad, West Bridgford, Notts.
£10 to Mrs Spalding
£10 to Miss Welch ex resident of the Hotel Stuart
£10 to the St. Hugh Lodge of Freemasons
£10 to the Mark Mason's lodge of Freemasons
£10 to the Ermine lodge of Freemasons
£20 to the Witham Lodge of Freemasons of which William Scorer was an initiate and a Past Master.
£20 to the Royal Arch Chapter of Freemasons
£20 to Nurse Alice Dixon
£20 to the daughters of cousin Samuel Stanton (£10 each)
£20 to Mabel Stanton daughter of Reverend William Redin Stanton
£25 to his brother John Norton Scorer
£25 to St. James the Less Church, Scotland Road, Liverpool
£25 to St. Albans Church Holborn, London
£50 to his nephew Reverend William Edward Elsey Bishop of Kalgoorlie Western Australia
£50 to his sister-in-law Hannah Margaret Scorer
£50 to Louth Cottage Hospital
£50 to Florence Julia (Judy) widow of his late nephew W Reginald Scorer
£50 to Amy Lill of Wood Green, North London
£50 to Edith Lill of Wood Green, North London
£50 to St. Margaret's Church, Princes Road, Liverpool where William Scorer was a chorister at its opening
£50 to the Bromhead Institution
£75 to Bernard Stallibrass for the trouble caused in winding up his estate
£100 to his brother Harry Walter Scorer
£100 to William Weightman
£100 to his niece Jessica Sutthery
£100 to his great nephew Mark Sutthery
£100 to his great niece Joyce Finlinson
£100 to the London Lincolnshire Society. William's brother Albert Edward Scorer was secretary of the London Lincolnshire Society for 32 years until his death in 1925.
£100 to the Lincoln County Hospital
£100 to the Boston Grammar School the income to be applied in awarding a prize or prizes at the discretion of the headmaster in connection with the study of Lincolnshire English history.
£100 to the Lincoln Dispensary
£100 to the Aged Freemason Society for Natives of Lincolnshire
£100 to the Farmers Benevolent Institution
£100 for a stained-glass window to honour his parents (see below)
£150 to his niece Alice Finlinson
£150 to his sister Sarah Anne Elsey
£150 to his sister Anne Scorer
£150 to his sister-in-law Florence Anna Scorer
£150 to his cousin Hannah Knight
£150 to his cousin Mary Knight
£150 to his sister-in-law Charlotte Elizabeth Scorer
£150 to his niece Marjorie Sharp
£200 to his sister-in-law Ethel Maud Scorer
£200 to his brother Charles Scorer for help and kindness over the years
£250 to his nephew James West Scorer
£250 to his niece Agnes Maud Stephens
£250 to his nephew Leslie Norton Scorer
£250 to his niece Katherine Susan Elsey
£250 to his niece Jessie Stephenson
£250 to his niece Florence Sutthery
£250 to his brother Charles Scorer for being executor and trustee of his will
£250 to his niece Mary Hilma Langley
£300 to the Lindsey County Council the income to be applied for the benefit of school children in the parishes of Burwell, Walmsgate and Muckton
£400 split between the living children of Florence Anna Scorer, Edward, Harold, Janetta Scorer
Burwell Cottage and all his land to his sisters Anne Scorer and Ann Elsey
His shares in Dunham Bridge and Louth Corn Exchange to his sisters Anne Scorer and Ann Elsey

After many other bequests, William Scorer left half of the residue (c£4,400) to the 28th Battalion London Regiment (Artists Rifles), the income of which to be applied for the help and benefits of wounded, sick men of the Artists' Corps and especially those of "C" Company of which he was a former member.

The other half (c£4,400) of the residue went to the Royal Institute of British Architects building fund.

The memorial stained glass window to honour his parents

1935 30th August - Sixty two members of the Scorer family met at Burwell Church near Louth to witness the unveiling of a beautiful stained glass window in the east end of the church to perpetuate the memory of his parents Mr William & Mrs Susan Scorer who had both lived at Priory Farm for over 40 years.

A reading was given by Reverend Norman Scorer of South Willingham who was a grandson of the late Mr & Mrs William Scorer.

This Window is Erected in Memory of William Scorer and Susan his Wife who for more than 40 years prior to April 1882 Resided at the Priory Farm in this Parish. Also of William Scorer their Eldest Son who was Born in this Parish 5th December 1843 and Died at Richmond Surrey on 22nd January 1934

Also of Anne Scorer Eldest Daughter of William Scorer who was born at Burwell 24th April 1852 and died at Sudbrooke 7th August 1935

The CGHP appreciate the help and guidance given by the following who assisted in the research discovering a vital lost piece of the school and village history.
Adam Waterton - The Royal Academy
Amy - Architectural Association School
Dixon Ward Solicitors - Richmond
Rose Barling - Richmond Historian
Patrick Baty FSA - Artists Rifles
Pauline Carroll - Churches Conservation Trust