Edwin Seward (1853–1924) was an architect based in Cardiff, Wales.

Biography

Born in Somerset, Seward came to Cardiff aged 16 and studied at the School of Art. He began work as an assistant to architect G. E. Robinson. Seward was one of the individuals at the centre of Cardiff's young art scene. He was the 21st President of the

Cardiff Naturalists' Society The Cardiff Naturalists' Society is a natural history and historical society based in Cardiff, Wales. The Cardiff Naturalists' Society was founded in 1867 to promote the study of natural history, geology, and the natural sciences, taking in archae ...

(founded 1867) which was a hub of intellectual discussion. He tried unsuccessfully to establish a national institution in Cardiff for Welsh art (the Cambrian Academy of Art eventually set up in Conwy) and was a founding member of the South Wales Art Society in 1888. By 1875 Seward was a member of the architecture firm James, Seward and Thomas and went on to build some of Cardiff's most notable buildings in the late 19th century. Whilst in Cardiff, Seward lived in Lisvane house, a property which he remodeled himself and is now Grade II listed. He later retired to Weymouth, Dorset, where he lived until his death.

Works in Cardiff include

Cardiff Free Library Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

in The Hayes (1880–82) * St David's Hospital (1881) * Cardiff Royal Infirmary (1883) * Coal Exchange (1884–88) in Mount Stuart Square * David Morgan department stores building **two arcades in the city centre *

Llanishen Methodist Church Llanishen Methodist Church, also known as Century Chapel, is a listed place of worship in Llanishen, a suburb of Cardiff in Wales. History The church can trace its origins back to a Religious Society in the 18th century, the existence of which ...

*New Trinity Church United Reformed Church (demolished in 1998) at junction of Cowbridge Road East and Theobald Rd. Canton Uniting Church rebuilt on same site.

Works elsewhere

Seward designed the Turner House Gallery (1887/8) in

Penarth Penarth (, ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in the Vale of Glamorgan ( cy, Bro Morgannwg), Wales, exactly south of Cardiff city centre on the west shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay. Penarth is a weal ...

for businessman

James Pyke Thompson James Pyke Thompson (1846–1897) was a British corn merchant who is best known for his philanthropic work towards the people of Cardiff and Penarth in South Wales. Born into a wealthy family in Bridgwater, Somerset, Thompson joined his father ...

. He was the winning architect for the Swansea Harbour Trust Building in

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

and he worked on the widening of the

Wye Bridge The Severn Bridge ( cy, Pont Hafren) is a motorway suspension bridge that spans the River Severn between South Gloucestershire in England and Monmouthshire in South East Wales. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and Wal ...

Monmouth Monmouth ( , ; cy, Trefynwy meaning "town on the Monnow") is a town and community in Wales. It is situated where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. Monmouth is northeast of Cardiff, and west of London. I ...

.Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust, Historic Landscape Characterisation, Wyesham
Accessed 4 January 2012

Notes

External links

Cardiff conservation area appraisalBorders Opens New Superstore In Cardiff 28 SeptemberBBC South West Wales: From Harbour to Hotel
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seward, Edwin 1853 births 1924 deaths Architecture of Wales Architects from Cardiff 20th-century Welsh architects 19th-century Welsh architects People educated at Yeovil School