Family of Charles William BEVIS and Florence WILLS

Husband:	Charles William BEVIS (1854-1927)
Wife:	Florence WILLS (1868-1936)
Marriage	Q3 1911	Portsmouth, Hampshire

Husband: Charles William BEVIS

Charles William BEVIS, Bevis charles william

Charles William BEVIS, Bevis Charles W

Charles William BEVIS, Charles W Bevis Portsmouth United Reform Church architect

Charles William BEVIS, 1884, age 30, Portrait of C W Bevis

Name:	Charles William BEVIS^1,2
Sex:	Male
Name Suffix:	JP
Father:	Charles BEVIS (1831-1890)
Mother:	Emma Matilda PINK (1831?-1901)
Birth	30 Dec 1854	Portsea, Hampshire³
Residence	1871 (age 16-17)	St Paul²
Residence	1881 (age 26-27)	6 Pelham Road⁴
Occupation	1881 (age 26-27)	Architect & Surveyor⁴
Residence	1901 (age 46-47)	14 Elm Grove, Portsmouth, Hampshire¹
Occupation	1911 (age 56-57)	Architect⁵
Marriage Count		2
Child Count		12
Residence	1911 (age 56-57)	14 Elm Grove, Southsea, Hampshire
Occupation	1920 (age 65-66)	Lt Colonel⁶
Residence	1926 (age 71-72)	1 Nettlecombe Avenue, Southsea, Hamsphire⁷
Death	25 Apr 1927 (age 72)	Southsea
Probate	1927	Portsmouth, Hampshire
	Probate: Charles William of Varenna, 1 Nettlecombe Avenue, Southsea, Hampshire, died 5th of April 1927. Probate London 19 may to florence Bevis Widow, Richard henry Percy Bevbis, Architect and Arthur Wilfrid Thompson Customs Officer, Effects £13616 11s. 2d. Resworn £13616 11s. 2d

Wife: Florence WILLS

Florence WILLS, Florence Wills

Florence WILLS, 1915?, age 47, Charles William Bevis with Florence (Marmie) Wills

Florence WILLS, Florence Wills

Name:	Florence WILLS³
Sex:	Female
Father:	Douglas WILLS (1840-1878)
Mother:	Sophia KING (1840-1902)
Birth	1868	Portsmouth, Hampshire
Death	28 May 1936 (age 67-68)	Portsmouth, Hampshire
Burial	1936	Milton Cemetary, Portsmouth

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (1) - shared note

Bevis, Charles William

1881 6 Pelham Road, Architect abd Surveyor 171

1887 Medowleigh, Hillsborough Crescent, builder 165

1887 20 Norfolk Street, Architect 165

1887 Gloucester Chambers, Norfolk Street 166

1898-1901 14 Elm Grove, architect 1

1923-1937 Bevis & Son, Yarborough Road 1

1938-1946 Bevis & Son, 13 Grove Road South 1

Trained by George Rake145

Buildings

1890 Pearl Buildings, Commercial Road 40

1892 Higher Grade School, Fawcett Road 40

1895 George Street Wesleyan Sunday School 117

1896 Edinburgh Road Congregational 4,89

1911 Victoria Road South, Congregational 40

1912 Student Hostel, Milton 40

In 1899, the ornate Pearl Building (nowknown as Charter House) wasconstructed to the north of the terraces by C W Bevis. This produced a grand landmark in the city which was, untilthe latter half of the last century, one of the tallest buildings on the island

RoadNumber/nameCon. AreaDateDescriptionVICTORIA ROAD SOUTHVictoria Road United Reformed Church1911 Brick with stone window surrounds; tower (formerly with spire). Described by David Lloyd as ”Arts & Crafts Perpendicular‘ Prominent in townscape from several roads. Designed by C. W. Bevis.

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (2)

The London Gazette dated October 06 1908, HAMPSHIRE FORTRESS.

The undermentioned officers, from the 1st

Hampshire Royal Engineers (Volunteers), are

appointed to the unit, with rank and precedence

as in the Volunteer Force. Dated 1st April,

1908 :—

Headquarters; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles

William Bevis.

Quartermaster and Honorary Captain William

Pearce.

No. I (Works) Company; Captain and

Honorary Major WiJliam Henry Fry.

No. 2 ( Works) Company; Captain Theophilus

William Mead.

No. 3 ( Works) Company; Lieutenant Charles

Thomas Bevis.

No. 4 (Electric Lights) Company; Major

Edward North.

Lieutenant Richard Henry Percy Bevis.

Second Lieutenant George Edwin Couzeus.

No. 5 (Electric Lights) Company; Captain

Henry Duncan Gilbert.

Second Lieutenant VValter Bovce Brown.

No. 6 (Electric Lights) Company; Captain

Arthur Vivian White.

Second Lieutenant Percy George King.

j^o. 7 (Electric Lights) Company; Supernumerary

Captain (Honorary Lieutenant in

the Army; Anthony Poigriard Lambert.

(To remain seconded.)

Lieutenant Henry Austin Byerley Storry.

Second Lieutenant Stephen Flowers.

(discovered by James Bevis 2007)

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (3)

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 MARCH, 1912.

War Office, 15th March, 1912.

The KING has been graciously pleased to

confer the Territorial Decoration upon the

undermentioned Officers of the Territorial

Force, who have been duly recommended for

the same under the terms* of the Royal Warrant

dated 17th August, 1908: —

Hampshire (Fortress) Engineers, Royal

Engineers; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles

William Bevis.

Captain and Honorary Major William

Henry Fry.

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (4)

Bevis Buildings proposed conservation.

Report to: The Executive, 10th October 2006

Report by: Head of Planning Services

Written by: Bob Colley, Senior Planning Officer, Conservation & Design

POSSIBLE BOUNDARY CHANGES TO THE 'OWEN'S SOUTHSEA' CONSERVATION AREA

1. Purpose

1.1 To consider possible changes to the boundary of the Owen’s Southsea Conservation Area.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That the boundaries of the Owen’s Southsea Conservation Area be changed to include South Portsmouth United Reformed Church, together with the adjoining No.6 Victoria Road South within the conservation area and to exclude a small part of the Waitrose car park from the area as shown on the attached drawings.

3. Background

The proposal stems from concerns about the future of South Portsmouth United Reformed Church. It is considered appropriate to also include the adjoining No.6 Victoria Road South. The proposal to remove a small part of the Waitrose car park from the area resolves a long standing anomaly.

Section 60(2) of the Planning(Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires local authorities to periodically review the boundaries of their conservation areas.

South Portsmouth United Reformed Church

3.1 This church was built in 1911 to the designs of C. W. Bevis. It is a red brick building with stone window surrounds and other details. The church is in a neo-perpendicular style and has a prominent tower. A spire was removed some years ago.

3.2 The church is a prominent local landmark that features in views along both Victoria Road South and Victoria Road North. It closes views westwards down Victoria Grove and features in views along Albert Road

3.3 Whilst the church remains in ecclesiastical use it is exempt from listed building and conservation area controls. These controls would apply once ecclesiastical use ceased. However as the church is not a listed building nor in a conservation area there is currently no planning control over demolition.

3.4 The Church is included in the non statutory Local List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Interest. This is a material consideration in any planning application but does not afford demolition control.

3.5 I consider that the most expedient way to extend planning control to this building would be to include it within a conservation area. The church adjoins two conservation areas. It immediately adjoins the Owen’s Southsea Conservation Area that was designated in 1977. It was formed from a number of existing conservation areas with some additional areas including Cavendish, Hereford and Stafford Road, together with the west side of Victoria Road South. The church was not included at that time, but it immediately adjoins this conservation area.

3.6 The church is also close to the Campbell Road Conservation Area which was designated on 2 March 1972 and extended to include Victoria Grove on 14 February 1989. The East Southsea Conservation Area includes the eastern side of Victoria Road South up to No.15.

3.7 Consideration was given to inclusion of the church in the conservation area some years ago. The church were not in favour at that time and no further action was taken.

3.8 The Church have been consulted and object to the inclusion of the building in a conservation area.

6 Victoria Road South

No.6 is a two storey late victorian detached house. It has a yellow brick frontage and is red brick on the side elevation. Features include a two storey bay, sash windows and ornamental barge boards.

3.9 The owner of No.6 objects to the inclusion of his property and questions if a conservation area is the best way to protect the church. His objections and my comments on his objection are summarised in Appendix 1.

3.10 It would certainly be possible to include the church within a conservation area but to exclude No. 6. However it is considered a to be a building of architectural and historic interest and it seems appropriate to include it.

Waitrose car park

3.11 The boundaries of this conservation area in the Marmion Road area were drawn before the Waitrose Car Park was constructed and reflect the earlier road layout, so that a small area of the south-east corner of the car park is within the conservation area.

3.12 This serves no useful conservation purpose and it is proposed to modify the boundary to exclude this area as shown on the attached plan. Waitose raise no objection to the proposal.

4. Consultation Undertaken

4.1 Consultations have taken place as follows: -

1. The United Reformed Church was consulted and object to the proposal. No reasons were given for their objection.

2. The owner of No. 6 Victoria Road South was consulted and objects to the proposal. A summary of his objections is noted in Appendix 1.

3. Waitrose were consulted and support the proposal to remove the section of car park from the conservation area.

5. Sustainabilty issues

The proposed inclusion of two buildings in the conservation area should help retain these existing buildings and is therefore sustainable..

6. Conclusions

5.1 That the boundaries of the Owen’s Southsea Conservation Area be changed as detailed above.

5.2 Other options considered and rejected

1. Consideration was given to seeking statutory listing for the church. I consider that given the age of the church it is perhaps questionable whether it would meet the strict criteria for listing early c20 buildings. However Charter House by the same architect C W Bevis is a listed building. Listing remains an option for future consideration.

As the main objective is to retain an important feature in the townscape of Southsea conservation area designation seems appropriate in the immediate term.

Signed ………………………………………

Head of Planning Services

Background List of Documents

Section 100D of the Local Government Act 1972

The following documents disclose facts or matters which have been relied upon to a material extent by the author in preparing this report.

1. Letter from South Portsmouth United Reformed Church dated 10 September 2006

2. Letter from the owner of No. 6 Victoria Road South dated 23 August 2006

3. Letter from Waitrose dated 24 August 2006

The recommendations set out above were approved/approved as amended/deferred/rejected by The Executive on 10 October 2006.

Signed ………………………………………………….

(discovered by James Bevis 2007)

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (5)

Marriages GRO Index 1911 December Quarter

WILLS, Florence, Portsmouth 2b / 1129

BEVIS, Charles W. Portsmouth 2b / 1129

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (6)

1911 census records Charles William as widower

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (7)

According to the Portrait of CWB dated 1887, he was worshipful master of the Duke of Connaught Lodge at that time and had also been initiated into the lodge. The date of warrant for the lodge was 1879 and he must have therefore been one of the first initialtes and achieved rapid promotion as he had apparently fulfilled all the offices. IG, JD, SD, JW, SW, and finally WM - of course journalists have been known to get it wrong. (there is a fold in the paper and critically it appears that what I have taken for seven years in practice on his own account is actually eleven....

Confirmed by W.Bro Dave Weekes (Secretary of the Duke Of Connaught Lodge in 2009)

W.Bro. Charles William Bevis was balloted for and initiated into the Duke of Connaught Lodge on Jan 25 1880 his Proposer was John Wesley Gardener and his Seconder was J W Willmott. He was passed on Feb 22 1881 His date of raising is not clear but it was in 1881.He resigned on 25 4 1907

He was Master of the Lodge in 1887 and I can confirm that he was Treasurer in 1894.

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (8)

PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL

The first town hall built on the present site was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) on August 9th 1890.

The previous buildings had all been situated in what is now known as Old Portsmouth. The first stood opposite St Thomas's church (now Cathedral) in the middle of the High Street, but it was an obstruction to the increasing traffic in the street and so was moved in 1838. It was demolished and a new building was situated on the east side of the High Street.

With the rapid expansion of Portsmouth the decision was made by the City Corporation to build a larger more central building.

The land that the current Guildhall is built on was purchased from the War Department, but was previously the site of a brewery and the residence of Sir Thomas Ridge. The site was specifically chosen due to its proximity to the railway system, which was gaining in importance at that time.

Initially there was an idea to have a competion for the design of the building, but eventually it was decided to use the same design as that used for Bolton Town Hall, by Leeds architect William Hill. The Guildhall was constructed at a cost of £140,000, under the supervision of the architect and Charles Bevis of a local company.

On January 10th 1941, the Guildhall was hit by incendiary bombs, during one of the biggest bombing raids on Portsmouth during the blitz of the 2nd world war the building was very badly damaged by fire, only three external walls were still standing.

After the war the Corporation intended to demolish the remains of the building and rebuild a new one. However popular opinion wanted to retain the outside structure, partly for nostalgic reasons and partly as an act of defiance.

The interior of the building was redesigned by Berry Webber, with as much of the outer shell retained as possible. The Guildhall was reopened reopened by Her Majesty the Queen on 8 June 1959.

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (9)

St Judes Church

- Charles William Bevis -

Location

In the south-east corner of the Nave

Memorial Inscription

IN MEMORY OF

CHARLES WILLIAM BEVIS J.P., F.R.I.B.A.

MUCH LOVED HUSBAND OF

FLORENCE BEVIS

CHURCH WARDEN OF THIS CHURCH 1915-1925

WHO DIED APRIL 25TH 1927

I know that my redeemer liveth

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (10)

Probate: Alice Bevis of Elm Grove House, ELm Grove, Southse died 29/10/1909 to the said charles William Bevis £841 2s 4d.

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (11)

Probate: Charles William of Varenna, 1 Nettlecombe Avenue, Southsea, Hampshire, died 5th of April 1927. Probate London 19 may to florence Bevis Widow, Richard henry Percy Bevbis, Architect and Arthur Wilfrid Thompson Customs Officer> Effects 13616 11s. 2d.

Note on Husband: Charles William BEVIS (12)

Probate: Florence of Varenna, 1 Nettlecombe avenure, Southsea, Hamshire Eidow, Died 28 May 1936, Probate London 3 July to Lyndhurst George Groves Solicitor Alice Eliza Emma Thompson (wife of Arthur Wilfred Thompson). Effects £20482 2s. 11d.

Note on Wife: Florence WILLS (1)

Buried in

Note on Wife: Florence WILLS (2)

Death registered at GRO 28 May, 1936 Volume 2b page 757: BEVIS, Florence 68 Portsmouth 2b / 757

Note on Wife: Florence WILLS (3)