Engineering Timelines - Thomas Penson junior

Thomas Penson

born 5th May 1790, probably Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales, UK
died 20th May 1859, Bryn Tail farm, Groeswen, Caerphilly, Wales, UK
buried Holy Trinity church, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales, UK
era Georgian / Victorian

A biographical summary

Thomas Penson junior is usuaully remembered for his road bridges in Wales, where he was County Surveyor for Montgomeryshire and Denbighshire for many years. However, his prolific output as an architect, civil engineer and surveyor includes buildings of all kinds as well as bridges. He was part of an engineering mini-dynasty that consisted of his father, Thomas Penson senior (1760-1824), and two of his sons — Richard Kyrke Penson (1815-85) and Thomas Mainwaring Penson (1817-64).

Details of Penson's early education are unknown, but he did become a student of renowned Neo-classical architect Thomas Harrison (1744-1829). Harrison's influence on Penson's bridge schemes is clear, particularly in relation to Llanymynech Bridge (constructed 1826-28) and Long Bridge at Newtown (1827, extended 1857). Penson's work also reflects the design philosophy of Thomas Telford (1757-1834), who worked in north Wales and was Surveyor of Public Works in neighbouring Shropshire.

One of Penson's first recorded projects was the rebuilding of Overton Bridge on the River Dee south of Wrexham. In August 1813, the single-span masonry bridge that his father had been constructing collapsed. Penson senior was dismissed and, supervised by architect John Carline II (c.1758-1834), his son took over, realising the double-arch sandstone crossing we have today.

Penson worked with materials other than stone, such as cast iron and terracotta, and the wide range of his projects demonstrates his versatility as an engineer. He worked on more than 30 buildings — including seven schools, seven churches, goals, workhouses and residential buildings — and at least 36 bridges, new and reconstructions. His cast iron bridges at Llandinam (1846), Abermule (1852-53) and Caerhowel (1858) exemplify Telford's principles.

As County Surveyor for more than 40 years, his schemes contributed significantly to the improvement and general development of road links in mid and north Wales. He held public office — as Mayor (1840) and Alderman (1841) of Oswestry in Shropshire, close to the Welsh border, and as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire (1852). He was also a Member (equivalent to a Fellow today) of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (1848).

Fittingly, after his death in 1859, he was buried in the grounds of Holy Trinity church in Gwersyllt near Wrexham, which he had designed in 1850-51. His last project, the masonry Cilcewydd Bridge in Powys was completed posthumously in 1861 by his son Richard.

1790	Born (5th May) to Thomas Penson senior (1760-1824, engineer) and Charlotte Brown (d.1824), his brother was John William Todd Penson (1796-1826, artist)
1814	Marries (18th August) Frances Kyrke (1789-1856), daughter of Wrexham ironmaster Richard Kirk (1747-1839, surname later changed to Kyrke) and lives in Overton Cottage, their ten children include Richard Kyrke Penson (1815-85, County Surveyor of Montgomeryshire, Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire), Charlotte Elizabeth Penson (c.1816-46), Thomas Mainwaring Penson (1817-64, County Surveyor of Cheshire and Flintshire), Eleanor/Ellinor (Ellen) Venables Penson (born c.1823), James Penson (born c.1826) and Caroline Mary Penson (1830-97)
1817	Appointed County Surveyor of Montgomeryshire (now Powys), a post he holds for the rest of his life
c1820	Becomes County Surveyor of Denbighshire
c1823	Sets up office at 35 Willow Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, and lives with his family at 19 Willow Street
1839	Elected an Associate of ICE, inherits (14th May) a house at Gwersyllt Hill, Wrexham, from Richard Kirk and remodels it in neo-Jacobean style
1840	Becomes Mayor of Oswestry
1841	Transferred (17th August) from Associate to Member of ICE
1844	Articles of partnership (24th May) between "Thomas Penson of Oswestry, Salop, architect and surveyor and Richard Kyrke Penson of Oswestry, architect, eldest son", signed and sealed by both parties
1848	Becomes (20th March) Fellow of RIBA
1852	Appointed (3rd August) Deputy Lieutenant of Denbighshire
1859	Dies (20th May) at Gwersyllt Hill, buried Gwersyllt Church (27th May), will proved (9th December), his total effects amount to nearly £16,000

Selected works

Overton Bridge, River Dee, Wrexham, Wales, UK .... 1813-1816
Llanymynech Bridge, River Vyrnwy, English-Welsh border, UK .... 1826-1828
Long Bridge, Newtown, River Severn, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1827, 1857
Montgomeryshire County Gaol, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1830-1832
Vaynor Park estate buildings remodelling, Berriew, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1840-1853
St David's church, Newtown, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1843-1847
Llandinam Bridge, River Severn, Llandinam, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1846
Pont Dyffryn, Dyffryn Arth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK .... 1847
Pont Glanbran, Dyffryn Arth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK .... 1847
Pont Rhydsaeson, Dyffryn Arth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK .... 1847
The Butchers Market, Wrexham, Wales, UK .... 1848
Holy Trinity church, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, Wales, UK .... 1850-1851
Abermule Bridge, River Severn, Brynderwen, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1852-1853
Caerhowel Bridge, River Severn, Trwstllewelyn, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1858
Cilcewydd Bridge, Cilcewydd, Powys, Wales, UK .... 1861

All items by Thomas Penson
Everything built ... 1790 - 1859

Sources

Alec Skempton ed., Penson, Thomas, Jr. (1790-1859), A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 1: 1500-1830, Thomas Telford Publishing Limited, Institution of Civil Engineers, London, pp.518–519

Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, Yale University Press, London, 3rd edition, 1995

Richard Haslam, Powys, Pevsner Architectural Guides, Yale University Press, London, January 1979