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Architect discovers little-known secrets behind Temple Meads
The Victorian gothic revival building now used as the main entrance to Temple Meads has long been attributed to a famous London architect.
But new research has revealed a little known architect from Bristol is actually behind the station building.
The research has been conducted by a modern-day Bristol architect, David Martyn, whose discovery has now been published by Bristol Industrial Archaeology Society.
is needed now More than ever
Temple Meads joint station was begun in 1874 and funded by the Great Western Railway, Midland Railway and Bristol & Exeter Railway, who all shared cramped facilities in Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s original station buildings.
Matthew Digby Wyatt, a famous architect who worked with Brunel on Paddington station, has long been credited with the station’s designs – until now, with Martyn now proving that this section of Temple Meads’ architecture was in fact by Henry Lloyd.
The original designs for the Temple Meads joint station building – image: Network Rail
“It’s unfair that Henry Lloyd’s work has been overlooked for so long and attributed to other people,” said Martyn.
“Bristol needs to reclaim credit for him, and his incredible achievement with the station.”
Martyn has found out that Lloyd’s final bill for design work for Temple Meads was £500, “a huge sum, but his claim was rejected by the station committee and he sank into obscurity”.
Temple Meads’ original tower was destroyed in World War Two – photo: David Martyn
Many of Martyn’s discoveries were made thanks to original drawings from the Brunel Institute at the SS Great Britain.
Martyn, a conservation architect who has lived in Bristol for 20 years, hopes that Historic England will be able to correct the station’s listing description to acknowledge Lloyd.
He hopes that Lloyd might also be commemorated somehow when the restored station building is unveiled.
Main photo: David Martyn
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