Collection: John Strubbe Collection

Description

The collection comprises around 300 plans, together with drawings, photographs, negatives and documents relating to the architectural works of John Alexander Strubbe (13/06/1920 - 12/05/2013). It covers a wide array of building types including houses, water treatment works, reservoirs, factories, a water tower, hotels, churches, corporate buildings and the architects own homes.

Early works include drawings of existing structures and architectural elements, fictional designs created while learning the principles of architectural drawing from his uncle, the architectural artist Edmund John Thring, coursework for his studies at Regent Street Polytechnic (1938-1939), and work as an assistant to Guy Morgan and Partners.

J A. Strubbe began his own practice in 1948, moving into 36 St George’s Road, Isleworth. During this time, he worked on projects for Saunders Roe and designed the Coronation decorations for Marconi House and the Gaiety Theatre, Strand.

In 1952 his practice moved to Beaufort Studio, Ham, where he stayed until retirement in the 1980s. Notable works during this period include: extensions to the Salvatorian College, Harrow; The Island Hotel, Tresco; industrial buildings for SARO, Manbre Sugars and Metal Propellers Ltd; High Down rocket testing site, Isle of Wight; Scammonden Reservoir, Lowestoft Water Tower, Stithians Dam, Drift Dam near Penzance, Weirwood Treatment Works, Sutton Bingham Treatment works and Ardlingly Water Treatment Works. He also designed a family holiday home known as Moonacres at Beaulieu.

He won civic trust awards for his work on Lamaload Dam, Capel Dewi Water Treatment Works and Elsham Wolds Water Treatment Works. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1956.

In the 1970s and 1980s he worked on Linden House, situated next to Beaufort Studio, and moved there after retirement.

He moved in the mid-1990s to Swithunsgate, Winchester, designing the interior fittings.

The collection also contains designs for competition entries which were not constructed. These include: the Fleet Air Arm Memorial (Lee on Solent), Coventry Cathedral, Uganda Electricity H.Q, Liverpool Catholic Cathedral, Toronto City Hall, Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Civic Centre, Westminster Parliamentary building, Wisley Garden Pavilion, The Australian Parliament building and buildings for Marine Parade in Dover.

The collection comprises the following series: files of photographs, letters, cuttings and other documents divided by site (JSC01/01); drawings and watercolours (JSC01/02); Certificates (JSC01/03); an album of photographs and cuttings detailing multiple projects (JSC01/04); plans (JSC01/05); plans mounted on board (JSC01/06); plans in rolls (JSC01/07); large format photographs (JSC01/08); The Royal Academy of Arts Exhibition list of works and contractor payment books (JSC01/09); Negatives (JSC01/10, JSC01/11, JSC01/12.)

Content

Rights

© Historic England Archive