Guy Dawber


Sir Edward Guy Dawber, RA was an English architect working in the late Arts and Crafts style, whose work is particularly associated with the Cotswolds.

Biography

Edward Guy Dawber was born in Britain in 1861, at King's Lynn, Norfolk, the son of John Stockdale Dawber and his wife Lois Ellen. He trained in the practice of Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto, supervising their work on Batsford Park, near Moreton-in-Marsh, in the Cotswolds.
In 1896 he married Mary Eccles in Lancashire.
In 1897 Dawber designed St John the Baptist's Chapel, Matlock Bath in Matlock Dale, Derbyshire, when he lived locally. It was the only church designed by him.
Dawber designed the Old Post Office at 25 High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, which was built in Cotswold stone by Espley & Co of Evesham in 1899 and opened on Friday 1 December 1899. He also designed Bibsworth House, Broadway.
Working in the Cotswold vernacular tradition, Dawber became a respected and scholarly architect, designing and converting houses such as Nether Swell Manor and Eyford Park, both near Stow-on-the-Wold. In 1905 Batsford published Dawber's Old Cottages, Farm-houses and other Stone Buildings in the Cotswold District.
He also specialised in laying out and designing gardens.
From 1925 to 1927 Dawber was President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. In 1928 he was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal.
In 1926 he played a prominent part in establishing the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, and became its first President. In that year he worked on the design of the Reptile House at London Zoo, Regent's Park, opened in 1927.
About 1928 he designed many buildings of Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire.
He was knighted in 1936.
He died in London on 24 April 1938; he is buried at St Giles's church with his parents and brother.
Dawber also painted in watercolour.

Works

War memorials