MATTHEWS, Edward (c. 1802-1850) was recorded in several sources as an architect and as a builder in London, Ont. during the period from c. 1833 until his death there on 22 June 1850. The Burial Register for St. Paul’s Anglican Church in London, Ont. notes that an “Edward Matthews, Builder, aged 48 years, was buried on 24 June 1850.” He arrived in London, Canada West from Warwickshire, England, about 1833, and was among several contractors who helped to construct portions of the Welland Canal. In 1843 he was one of 35 architects and engineers who submitted a design in the competition for Brock’s Monument in QUEENSTON, ONT. Matthews proposed a 150 ft. tall stone shaft surmounted by a ‘colossal figure of Sir James Brock’ (OA, MU 296, Brock Monument Papers, Design No. 27, descrip.). His scheme was passed over in favour of the winning design prepared by Thomas Young of Toronto.
Matthews appears to have had some architectural training before the date of his arrival in Upper Canada, but soon after settling in London, Ont. he became a Government contractor charged with responsibility to build (and perhaps design) the Military Barracks and Garrison for British Army regiments, and situated in Victoria Park, London. In 1834 he built (and may have designed) the original part of ‘Eldon House’, the historic Regency-style house still standing at 481 Ridout Street, London, and constructed for the owner John Harris. In 1845 he served as architect to St. Peter’s Anglican Church, TYRCONNELL, ONT. and designed a new belfry and spire for the church (A.F. Docker & J.E. Pearce, St. Peter’s Church Tyrconnell, Ontario 1827-1928, 34-5).
Matthews became heavily indebted from his involvement in land speculation in London in the late 1840‘s, and died in London, Ont. by suicide “…while in a state of temporary insanity” on 22 June 1850 (Orol Miller, Gargoyles & Gentlemen: A History of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London 1834-1964, 1966, 45, 50, 70-1; inf. Charles Addington, London, Ont.)