Thomas Penson
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Thomas Penson, or Thomas Penson the younger, (c. 1790 – 1859) was the county surveyor of
Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, Flintshire to the east, Wrexham to the southeast, Powys to the south, and Gwynedd and Conwy to the west. Rhyl is the largest town, and Ruthi ...
and
Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire ( ) was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was named after its county town, Montgomery, Powys, Montgomery, which in turn was named after ...
, and an innovative architect and designer of a number of masonry arch bridges over the River Severn and elsewhere.


Family

He was the son of Thomas Penson the elder (c. 1760 – 1824), who had been the county surveyor for
Flintshire Flintshire () is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, the Dee Estuary to the north-east, the English county of Cheshire to the east, Wrexham County Borough to the south, and Denbighshire to the west. ...
from 1810 to 1814, but had been dismissed when the bridge at Overton-on-Dee collapsed. Thomas Penson the younger completed its replacement. Thomas Penson the younger had two sons:
Thomas Mainwaring Penson Thomas Mainwaring Penson (1818–1864) was an English surveyor and architect. His father and grandfather, who were both named Thomas Penson, were also surveyors and architects. His grandfather Thomas Penson (c. 1760–1824) worked from an of ...
(died 1864) and
Richard Kyrke Penson Richard Kyrke Penson or R. K. Penson (19 June 1815 – 22 May 1885) was a Welsh architect and artist. Richard Kyrke Penson was a leading Gothic Revival architecture, Gothic Revival architect. His work, covered the counties of Pembrokeshire, Ca ...
(died 1886), both of whom were architects and practised in
Chester Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
.


Training and career

Thomas Penson was a pupil of the architect and bridge designer Thomas Harrison of Chester. He became a fellow of the
RIBA ''Riba'' (, or , ) is an Arabic word used in Islamic law and roughly translated as " usury": unjust, exploitative gains made in trade or business. ''Riba'' is mentioned and condemned in several different verses in the Qur'an3:130
in 1848 and an associate of the
Institution of Civil Engineers The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is an independent professional association for civil engineers and a Charitable organization, charitable body in the United Kingdom. Based in London, ICE has over 92,000 members, of whom three-quarters ar ...
in 1839. He was appointed Montgomeryshire county surveyor in 1817, a post in which he continued until 1859. He was also the surveyor for the Montgomeryshire Turnpike Trusts and was responsible for the design of many new roads in the county. He became county surveyor for Denbighshire around 1820. He had married Frances Kirk, daughter of the Wrexham iron master Richard Kirk (1747–1839) in 1814, and at first lived at
Overton-on-Dee Overton () or Overton-on-Dee is a village and Community (Wales), community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. A former ancient borough, borough and market town, it is situated close to the England–Wales border, Welsh-English border on the edge ...
, but by 1823 he had moved to
Oswestry Oswestry ( ; ) is a market town, civil parish and historic railway town in Shropshire, England, close to the England–Wales border, Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5 road (Great Britain), A5, A483 road, A483 and A495 road, A495 ro ...
, where he set up his office known as "Penson's Chambers" at 35 Willow Street, while he lived at 19 Willow Street. In 1839, his wife inherited from her father
Gwersyllt Gwersyllt () is an urban village and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. The densely populated village is one of Wrexham's largest and is situated in the north western suburbs of the city, bordering the nearby villages of Llay, Cefn-y ...
Hall or Hill near Wrexham, which Penson remodelled in
Neo-Jacobean The Jacobethan ( ) architectural style, also known as Jacobean Revival, is the mixed national Renaissance revival style that was made popular in England from the late 1820s, which derived most of its inspiration and its repertory from the Engli ...
style, and which became their home. Among Penson's pupils were J. W. Poundley, who was to become the Montgomeryshire county surveyor in 1861, and the Welsh poet
John Jones (Talhaiarn) John Jones (19 January 1810 – October 1869), known by his bardic name of Talhaiarn, was a Welsh poet and architect. Life and reputation Jones was born at the ''Harp Inn'' (now known as ''Hafod y Gân'') in Llanfair Talhaearn, Denbighsh ...
. Penson was Mayor of Oswestry in 1840.


Later life

Penson and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Denbighshire in 1852. He died at Gwersyllt on 20 May 1859.


Bridges

Penson's work as a bridge-builder in Montgomeryshire has been surveyed in detail by C R Anthony, who lists 62 bridges built to Penson's designs in that county. He relied on contractors to build his bridges, such as David Davies, who built the approach roads to
Llandinam Llandinam () is a village and community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, central Wales, between Newtown and Llanidloes, located on the A470. As a community, Llandinam is made up of the village itself, small hamlets including Plas Dinam and Little Lo ...
bridge in 1846. In February 1852, the Severn flooded, damaging a number of bridges for which Penson went on to design replacements. Penson designed a two-span cast iron arch bridge at Caerhowel in 1858 to replace a timber structure destroyed by floods. Against his advice, a suspension bridge designed by James Dredge had been built in 1854, only to collapse four years later under the weight of three lime wagons, killing one man. Other bridges credited to Thomas Penson include: *Caersws Bridge, at
Caersws Caersws (; ) is a village and community (Wales), community on the River Severn, in the Wales, Welsh county of Powys; it was formerly in Montgomeryshire. It is located west of Newtown, Powys, Newtown, halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. ...
, 1821, three elliptical masonry arches *
Long Bridge Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mens ...
, at
Llanidloes Llanidloes () is a town and community on the A470 and B4518 roads in Powys, within the historic county boundaries of Montgomeryshire (), Wales. The population in 2011 was 2,929, of whom 15% could speak Welsh. It is the third largest settleme ...
, 1826, three-span masonry arch bridge which replaced a wooden bridge *Long Bridge, at Newtown, 1827, masonry arch widened by Penson with cast iron arches in 1857 *Felindre Bridge, at Mount Severn, 1848, segmental or elliptical masonry arch bridge *Short Bridge, at
Llanidloes Llanidloes () is a town and community on the A470 and B4518 roads in Powys, within the historic county boundaries of Montgomeryshire (), Wales. The population in 2011 was 2,929, of whom 15% could speak Welsh. It is the third largest settleme ...
, 1849, masonry arch bridge *Brynderwen Bridge, at
Abermule Abermule () is a village lying on the River Severn 6 km (4 miles) northeast of Newtown, Powys, Newtown in Powys, mid Wales. The A483 road, A483 Swansea to Chester trunk road, the Cambrian Line railway, connecting Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury, ...
, 1852, 33m span cast iron arch bridge *Cilcewydd Bridge, 1861, masonry arch bridge *New Bridge over the river
Dee Dee or DEE may refer to: People Surname * Dee, an alternate spelling of the Welsh surname Day * Dee, a romanization of several Chinese surnames, including: ** Those listed at Di (surname) ** Some Hokkien pronunciations of the surname Li () ...
*
Llanymynech Llanymynech is a village and former civil parish straddling the Wales-England border, border between Powys, Wales, and Shropshire, England, about north of the Welsh town of Welshpool. The name is Welsh language, Welsh for "Llan (placename), L ...
Bridge over the River Vyrnwy. *Sontly Bridge, Wrexham. Dated 1845. Ironwork cast R & W Jones of the Ruabon Foundry.


Architectural style

Although a pupil of Thomas Harrison, noted for his use of the Classical and particularly " Grecian" architectural style, this was rarely adopted by Penson. An exception is the once impressive Flannel Market (now Regent Centre) of 1832 at Newtown. For country houses he favoured a
Neo-Jacobean The Jacobethan ( ) architectural style, also known as Jacobean Revival, is the mixed national Renaissance revival style that was made popular in England from the late 1820s, which derived most of its inspiration and its repertory from the Engli ...
style; as at Vaynor, Llanrhaidr Hall and Hill House, Gwersysllt. He also used this style for the Butcher's Market at Wrexham. For churches he adopted an assertive and non-archaeological version of French Romanesque, although St Davids, Newtown, built in brick and terracotta, is also influenced by the North German
Brick Gothic Brick Gothic (, , ) is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Baltic region, Northeast and Central Europe especially in the regions in and around the Baltic Sea, which do not have resources of standing rock (though Glacial erratic, ...
. More particularly he seems to be copying Saint Salvator's Cathedral in
Bruges Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country. The area of the whole city amoun ...
, with buff (rather than the normal red) bricks and has pyramid capping on the pinnacles. Saint Salvator's tower had been remodelled by
Robert Dennis Chantrell Robert Dennis Chantrell (14 January 1793 – 4 January 1872) was an English church architect, best-known today for designing Leeds Parish Church, now Leeds Minster. Early life Chantrell was born in Newington, Southwark, London. His father, ...
following a fire in 1838, and this may provide a connection with Penson The design is probably also influenced by
Pugin Pugin most commonly refers to Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812–1852), an English architect and designer. Members of his family include: * Augustus Charles Pugin Augustus Charles Pugin (born Auguste-Charles Pugin; 1762 – 19 Decem ...
's Roman Catholic
St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham The Metropolitan Cathedral Church and Basilica of Saint Chad is a Catholic cathedral in Birmingham, England. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Birmingham and is dedicated to Saint Chad of Mercia. Designed by Augustus Welby Pugin ...
, which is a slightly earlier example of Brick Gothic revival. It is Penson's innovative use of terracotta at Christ Church, Welshpool that is of particular interest. Christ Church (1839–44) was commissioned by the
Earl of Powis Earl of Powis (Powys) is a title that has been created three times. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1674 in favour of William Herbert, 3rd Baron Powis, a descendant of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (c. 1501–15 ...
and is possibly the earliest example of the terracotta revival in Britain. In this church moulded brownish yellow bricks and terracotta were used for the Romanesque arches of the nave and for the apsidal vaulting of the chancel ceiling Penson was an early and leading exponent of
Romanesque Revival architecture Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, Romanesque Revival buildings tended t ...
and he developed a distinctive style based on the French Romanesque and the earlier Romanesque of the German and Flemish Brick Gothic. He built at least six churches in this style. Romanesque Revival architecture had been introduced in Wales by Thomas Hopper’s "Neo-Norman" or "Norman revival" designs for
Penrhyn Castle Penrhyn Castle () is a country house in Llandygai, Bangor, Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales, constructed in the style of a Norman architecture, Norman castle. The Penrhyn estate was founded by Ednyfed Fychan. In the 15th century his descenda ...
, which were executed between 1822 and 1837. The style of Romanesque adopted by Penson contrasts with the Italianate Romanesque of other architects such as
Thomas Henry Wyatt Thomas Henry Wyatt (9 May 1807 – 5 August 1880) was an Anglo-Irish architect. He had a prolific and distinguished career, being elected president of the Royal Institute of British Architects for 1870–1873 and being awarded its Royal Gold Me ...
, who designed Saint Mary and Saint Nicholas Church in this style at Wilton, Wiltshire, built between 1841 and 1844. The source for Penson’s terracotta appears to have been the brickworks associated with the
Oswestry Oswestry ( ; ) is a market town, civil parish and historic railway town in Shropshire, England, close to the England–Wales border, Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5 road (Great Britain), A5, A483 road, A483 and A495 road, A495 ro ...
coalfield between Trefonen and Morda which were to come into the ownership of the railway engineer
Thomas Savin Thomas Savin (1826 – 23 July 1889) was a British railway engineer who was the contractor who built many railways in Wales and the Welsh borders from 1857 to 1866. He also in some cases was an investor in such schemes. Early life Savin was born ...
. Terracotta was being promoted as cheaper alternative to costly carved stonework for decorative work on churches. The terracotta was produced by casting, which was then fired. Similar designs on the columns and arches can be seen on the porch of the
Llangedwyn Llangedwyn is a village and community (Wales), community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. The population of the community at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census was 402. The community includes the hamlet of . It lies in the Afon Tanat ...
church and Llanymynech, and these are presumably designs prepared by Penson.


Churches

*Holy Trinity, Oswestry, Salop Street. 1835–7. Much altered by Eustace Frere in 1893–4, who added the tower and spire. Penson's church was much plainer with lancet windows and crocketed pinnacles on the nave parapet. *St David's Denbigh. A Commissioner's Church. The tower was completed in 1858, while the nave was pulled down and rebuilt later. *
Christ Church, Welshpool Christ Church, Welshpool was commissioned by the Earl of Powis to commemorate his son, Edward James, the Viscount Clive, having come of age. It was designed by Thomas Penson and completed 1839–44. The church is characterised by its impressive ...
1839–1844. *St David's Newtown 1843–47. A Commissioner's Church. *St Agatha's
Llanymynech Llanymynech is a village and former civil parish straddling the Wales-England border, border between Powys, Wales, and Shropshire, England, about north of the Welsh town of Welshpool. The name is Welsh language, Welsh for "Llan (placename), L ...
, Shropshire, 1845 *St Cedwyn,
Llangedwyn Llangedwyn is a village and community (Wales), community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. The population of the community at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census was 402. The community includes the hamlet of . It lies in the Afon Tanat ...
, Penson added a porch with Romanesque decorative terracotta in the 1840s. *Holy Trinity,
Gwersyllt Gwersyllt () is an urban village and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. The densely populated village is one of Wrexham's largest and is situated in the north western suburbs of the city, bordering the nearby villages of Llay, Cefn-y ...
, Wrexham 1850–51 *
Rhosllanerchrugog RhosllanerchrugogDavies, Jenkins and Baines (eds) ''The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales'', 2008, p.752 (; standardised and also spelled as Rhosllannerchrugog, or simply Rhos) is a village and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It ...
, Wrexham 1852


Public buildings

*Llanfyllin Union Workhouse, 1838,
workhouse In Britain and Ireland, a workhouse (, lit. "poor-house") was a total institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment. In Scotland, they were usually known as Scottish poorhouse, poorh ...
for 250 paupers *Newtown & Llanidloes Union Workhouse at
Caersws Caersws (; ) is a village and community (Wales), community on the River Severn, in the Wales, Welsh county of Powys; it was formerly in Montgomeryshire. It is located west of Newtown, Powys, Newtown, halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. ...
, 1838–40 *The Flannel Exchange, Newtown, 1832 * Newtown, High Street. If this is correct, these buildings were completely replaced by
Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...
. *The
Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire ( ) was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was named after its county town, Montgomery, Powys, Montgomery, which in turn was named after ...
County Gaol, Montgomery *
Montgomery Town Hall Montgomery Town Hall () is a municipal building in Broad Street, Montgomery, Wales. It served as the meeting place of Montgomery Borough Council and is a Grade II* listed building. History The first town hall in Montgomery was a medieval half- ...
– upper storey rebuilt in 1828 to provide more spacious accommodation for the quarter sessions *
Oswestry Oswestry ( ; ) is a market town, civil parish and historic railway town in Shropshire, England, close to the England–Wales border, Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5 road (Great Britain), A5, A483 road, A483 and A495 road, A495 ro ...
The Cross Market, 1848–9. *Oswestry The Powis Market, Bailey Head *
Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...
. The
Butcher's Market, Wrexham The Butchers' Market () is an indoor market in Wrexham city centre, Wales. It is situated inside a Grade II listed building on Wrexham's High Street. Built in 1848 to the Neo-Jacobean designs of Thomas Penson and extended in 1879–80, it is one ...
1848 * Wrexham. The Militia Barracks (now Wrexham Museum), Regent Street. Built for the Denbighshire Militia Regiment as a barracks in 1857 by Penson. Built from Cefn sandstone. The barracks moved to a new headquarters on Kingsmill Road in 1877 and the Regent Street premises were converted into a police station and law court. The police vacated the premises in 1976 and the courts in 1977 following the completion of their new buildings in Bodhyfryd. The building then served as part of the art college for twenty years before being taken over as Wrexham Museum in 1996.


Schools

*
Gwersyllt Gwersyllt () is an urban village and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. The densely populated village is one of Wrexham's largest and is situated in the north western suburbs of the city, bordering the nearby villages of Llay, Cefn-y ...
, Church School. *
Llanwnnog Llanwnnog (also spelt Llanwnog) is a village in Powys, Wales. It is located one-and-a half miles north of Caersws in the Community (Wales), community of the same name, on the B4568 road. The Ordnance Survey spell the name with a single 'n'. Bui ...
National School, 1850, *Newtown National School, Canal Road, 1857 *Newtown National School, Kerry Road (Opposite Railway Station) 1843–7. Now demolished. *Welshpool National School, Berriew Road. 1821. Now demolished. *
Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...
, British School, 1844. *
Oswestry Oswestry ( ; ) is a market town, civil parish and historic railway town in Shropshire, England, close to the England–Wales border, Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5 road (Great Britain), A5, A483 road, A483 and A495 road, A495 ro ...
National School, Park Avenue 1841.


Houses

* Aberhafesp Old Rectory 1828–29. *Pentreheylin, Fourcrosses. Brick, Neo-Jacobean House, built for John James Turner c1830. *
Vaynor Park Vaynor Park is a country house in a landscaped park, standing on high ground to the south-west of Berriew village, in the historic county of Montgomeryshire, now Powys. The origins of the house date from the mid-15th century, but the house was ex ...
,
Berriew Berriew () is a village and Community (Wales), community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. It is on the Montgomeryshire Canal and the Afon Rhiw, near the confluence (Welsh: ''aber'') with the River Severn (Welsh language, Welsh: Hafren, Afon Hafr ...
, Montgomeryshire. Neo-Jacobean alterations to existing brick house for J Lion Winder 1840–53. *
Llandyssil Llandyssil () is a village in the community of Abermule with Llandyssil, in Powys, Wales, in the traditional county of Montgomeryshire. It is about two miles from the town of Montgomery, Powys, Montgomery. In 2001 there were 420 inhabitants i ...
Rectory, Montgomeryshire 1858. Alterations to interior, new brick wing and two bay windows * Llanrhaiadr Hall, Denbighshire for W Price, 1842. *Gwersyllt Hall or Hill. Penson's own house. Neo-Jacobean, dated 1841.


Penson and the Cottage Ornée village at Berriew

In the late 1830s, at the same time as Penson was working on remodelling
Vaynor Park Vaynor Park is a country house in a landscaped park, standing on high ground to the south-west of Berriew village, in the historic county of Montgomeryshire, now Powys. The origins of the house date from the mid-15th century, but the house was ex ...
in Berriew for John Winder Lion-Winder, he is believed to have been remodelling and building houses in Berriew for the Vaynor estate. As a result of this work
Berriew Berriew () is a village and Community (Wales), community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. It is on the Montgomeryshire Canal and the Afon Rhiw, near the confluence (Welsh: ''aber'') with the River Severn (Welsh language, Welsh: Hafren, Afon Hafr ...
developed as a village with many attractive
Cottage Ornée A cottage, during Feudalism in England, England's feudal period, was the holding by a cottager (known as a cotter or ''bordar'') of a small house with enough garden to feed a family and in return for the cottage, the cottager had to provide ...
houses. Some of these were rebuilt from earlier
timber framed Timber framing () and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs. If the struc ...
buildings, while others were built in a Tudor Revival style and are some of the earliest examples of
Black-and-white Revival architecture The Black-and-white Revival was a mid-19th-century architectural movement that revived historical vernacular elements with timber framing. The wooden framing is painted black and the panels between the frames are painted white. The style was part ...
. Penson’s style can be recognised by the massive brick chimney stacks which have been added to the houses, the ornamental
bargeboards A bargeboard or rake fascia is a board fastened to each projecting gable of a roof to give it strength and protection, and to conceal the otherwise exposed end grain of the horizontal timbers or purlins of the roof. The word ''bargeboard'' is pro ...
to the
gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...
s and in some cases the black and white painting on the brick work to give the impression of timber framing.Alfrey J.(2001), ''Rural Building in Nineteenth-Century North Wales: The Role of the Great Estates'',
Archaeologia Cambrensis ''Archaeologia Cambrensis'' is a Welsh archaeological and historical scholarly journal published annually by the Cambrian Archaeological Association. It contains historical essays, excavation reports, and book reviews, as well as society notes ...
, Vol 147, pg 215, pl.18
Penson appears to be an important innovator in developing rural ''Tudor picturesque'' architecture and his son
Thomas Mainwaring Penson Thomas Mainwaring Penson (1818–1864) was an English surveyor and architect. His father and grandfather, who were both named Thomas Penson, were also surveyors and architects. His grandfather Thomas Penson (c. 1760–1824) worked from an of ...
further developed
Black-and-white Revival architecture The Black-and-white Revival was a mid-19th-century architectural movement that revived historical vernacular elements with timber framing. The wooden framing is painted black and the panels between the frames are painted white. The style was part ...
from 1852 onwards in Chester. A pupil of his John Wilkes Poundley, also built estate housing in the cottage ornée style for Naylor Estates at
Leighton Hall Leighton Hall may refer to: *Leighton Hall, Lancashire *Leighton Hall, Powys Leighton Hall is an estate located to the east of Welshpool in the historic county of Montgomeryshire, now Powys, in Wales. Leighton Hall is a listed grade I property. ...
and Kerry in Montgomeryshire.


References


Literature

*Anthony C. R.''Penson's Progress: the work of a 19th-century county surveyor'', Montgomeryshire Collections, 1995, Vol 83, 115–175 *Colvin H. ''A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840''. Yale University Press 3rd ed 1995,748-49 *Jenkins D. E. "The Penson Dynasty: Building on the Welsh Border 1822–1859'', Oswestry and District Civic Society, 2002, 24pp. *Hubbard E, ''The Buildings of Wales: Clwyd'', Penguin/ Yale 1986, 146–147. *Newman J & Pevsner N. The Buildings of England: Shropshire, Yale 2006. *Scourfield R and Haslam R ''The Buildings of Wales: Powys; Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire'', Yale University Press 2013. *Stratton T ''The Terracotta Revival: Building Innovation and the Industrial City in Britain and Northern America'' Gollancz, London 1993. {{DEFAULTSORT:Penson, Thomas 1790s births 1859 deaths British bridge engineers Welsh civil engineers 19th-century Welsh architects Prisons in Wales Workhouses in England Workhouses in Wales People from Wrexham