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James Buckley Wilson was the grandson of James Buckley (1770-1839), and the great grandson of Henry Child (1742-1824), founder of the town’s Brewery.

He designed large scale additions to Bryncaerau Mansion (Parc Howard) between 1882 and 1884 when the Mansion House was transformed to its present day Italianate style with its Belvedere Tower, fine staircase and Doulton-tiled fireplaces. Renovation work continued throughout 1886.

James Buckley Wilson also designed other buildings in Llanelli, including the building situated at the junction of Cowell Street and Stepney Street. Designed in 1891, this Bank Chambers originally housed the South Wales Union Bank, later known as the Metropolitan Banking Company, the fore-runner of Midland Bank PLC.

Although he designed both the Bank Building and Bryncaerau Castle or Bryncaerau Mansion as it was known, he considered the latter to be the more important, and used this when he applied to be admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Institute of Architects.

Important dates in the life of James Buckley Wilson

1846 Maria and James Wilson (1816-1900)  had a son, James Buckley Wilson, who followed in his father’s footsteps and became an architect.

1863 James Buckley Wilson was Articled to his father James Wilson and William John Willcox (1838-1928), for five years from 1863 to 1868. He spent some time in the office of Joseph Clarke (1819/20-1888).

1869 He spent about two years in the office of Robert Richardson Banks (1812/13-1872), and Charles Barry (1823-1900) in the partnership Messrs Banks and Barry, Architects, Westminster Chambers. He travelled throughout Spain, France and Italy.

1872 Applied to become an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) and his address was given as 1 Belmont, Bath, Avon, England. On his application form the Proposers were Charles Barry, J Clarke and J E Gill. He applied on the 5th of November, the Council approved his Associate Membership on the 18th of November and he was elected at the Ordinary General Meeting on Monday 16 December 1872.

From 1872 to 1882 James Buckley Wilson was in practice with his father James Wilson and his partner William James Willcox, in the partnership Wilson, Willcox and Wilson of Bath.

From 1882 he practised on his own at 15 Castle Street, Swansea.

1888 When he applied to become a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1888 his address was given as 15 Castle Street, Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales. On his application form for Fellow membership the Proposers were A Webb, M B Adams and C Barry. His Fellowship was approved by the Council on 9th April and he was elected at the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 11th June 1888.

The same year James Buckley Wilson entered into a partnership with Glendinning Moxham (1865-1946) which lasted until James died in 1900. Their offices were 15 Castle Street, Swansea.

1900 James Buckley Wilson, eldest son of Maria and James Wilson of Bath died at his residence, Trefenna, Swansea; his business address was No 15 Castle Street, Swansea.

Principal works listed on his application for Fellowship of RIBA

St Paul’s Church Bath (1878);

Schools in Llanelly;

Several Churches near Bath and in Somerset, Colerne, Radstock, Ilchester, Charlcombe, Pembrey;

Lansdown College;

Several private dwellings;

Cardiff Club;

Wincanton Hall;

Wilton Music Hall, London;

Principal buildings designed whilst in practice on his own in Swansea

Felinfoel Vicarage (1882);

Restoration of Loughor Church;

Restoration and Chancel Penllergaer Church;

Conservative Club, Gowerton;

Restoration of Penclawdd Church;

Several Villas;

Bryncaerau Mansion (1882-1884);

YstalyferaChurch (1886);

Shops and Villas in Swansea;

Grand Station, Manselton (Brook) Hotel;

Many other buildings including restoration of Berry Narbor Church, near Ilfracombe, Devonshire;

Hospital of the Blessed David, Swansea (1888) (see History of St David’s Hospital founded 1332, published in Mee Series 1888. Archaeologia Cambrensis);

Parish Hall Llanelly (Queen Victoria’s Jubilee).

Obituary

RIBA Journal – Chronicle 1900

MR JAMES BUCKLEY WILSON, of Swansea, whose death occurred on the 6th instant, at the age of 54 years, became an Associate in 1872, and Fellow in 1888. He was educated at Lansdown College, Bath, and served his articles with Messrs Wilson & Willcox, of that city. In 1883, after a prolonged sketching tour in France, Spain and Italy, he started practice in Swansea. His principal early works included the restoration of churches at Loughor and Berry-Narbor, near Ilfracombe; the chancel of Penllergaer Church, co. Glamorgan; Bryn-y-Caerau Castle, at Llanelly; and the Parish Hall, Llanelly. In 1888 he went into partnership with Mr Glendinning Moxham, and the firm thus constituted was responsible for a large number of important buildings in Swansea and district and other parts of Wales, including hospitals, churches, banks, schools, vicarages, private residences etc.

The Builder 15th December 1900

MR JAMES BUCKLEY WILSON – We have also to record the death, on the 6th instant at his residence, Trefenna, Swansea, of Mr James Buckley Wilson, of No.15 Castle Bailey-street, Swansea, aged 54 years. Mr Wilson the eldest son of the late James Wilson, FSA of Glen Avon, Bath, became an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1872 and was elected a Fellow in 1888. He had his education at Lansdown College, Bath, and he served his Articles to Messrs Wilson & Willcox architects, of that city. After studying for a period of six years in London he made a prolonged sketching tour in France, Spain and Italy.

Having settled in practice at Swansea in 1883, he quickly found employment – his principal early works comprising the restoration of the churches at Loughor and Berry-Narbor, near Ilfracombe: the chancel of Penllergaer (co. Glamorgan) Church for Sir J T D Llewellyn, Bart; Bryn-y-Caerau Castle for Mr James Buckley of Llanelly; and the Parish Hall, Llanelly erected in 1888, in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen’s accession.

In 1888 he contracted a partnership with Mr Glendinning Moxham. The firm were [sic] employed in respect of most of the more important buildings and residences in Swansea and its vicinity. They made the plans and designs for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Nurses Home, Swansea, in 1897 and for the new operating theatre at Swansea Hospital (opened on October 28th 1898) built of native stone, in course, with dressings of Bath stone, by Mr Henry Billings of Swansea. Messrs Wilson & Moxham received the award of an “honourable mention” in November 1898 for their designs submitted in the Wrexham County School competition, and were lately appointed architects of the new block of buildings at Llandrindod Wells for the London and Provincial Bank Limited.

Of their other architectural works should be mentioned the New Market, the Metropolitan Bank in Wind-street, the Capital and Counties Bank Limited; St Thomas and St Mark Vicarages; the Eye Hospital, and the Waterloo and Goat-street Arcade – all in Swansea; additions, with an operating-theatre for the Infirmary Brecon (Queen Jubilee Memorial); the Metropolitan Bank, and Castle-buildings, Llanelly; the churches at Ystalyfera and Gowerton, both in Glamorganshire; the Intermediate Schools, Ystalyfera; and the London and Provincial Bank, Neath.