LYNN, William Henry (1829-1915), a leading architect in Belfast, Ireland and partner in the firm of Lanyon & Lynn from 1854 to 1860, and as Lanyon, Lynn & Lanyon from 1860 to July 1872 when the firm was dissolved. Born at St. John’s Point, County Down, Ireland on 27 December 1829, he articled in the office of Sir Charles Lanyon, and was invited by him to become a full partner in 1854. They were joined by John Lanyon, son of Charles, and their firm was active until July 1872 when the partnership was dissolved amid acrimony and controversy. Lynn then worked on his own for the rest of career. He was elected as President of the Royal Irish Architectural Institute in 1885, and was awarded the R.I.A.I. Gold Medal in Dublin in 1911.
In 1875 Lynn was invited by the Earl of Dufferin, who served as Governor-General of Canada from 1872 to 1878, to visit Quebec City and prepare designs for a lavish new chateau, located within the Citadel overlooking the St. Lawrence River, intended to house the Earl and his staff. This project was not built, but several perspective views of the proposed Chateau St. Louis were published in American Architect & Building News [Boston], iv, 16 Nov. 1878, 165 and illus. plates, and in the British architectural journal called The Building News [London], xxxv, 25 Oct. 1878, 422, descrip., with double page illus. plate.
A detailed description of the plans by Lynn for the Old Town of Quebec, including new streets, gates, and a new Esplanade, were published in the Irish Builder [Dublin], xviii, 1 Jan. 1876, 14. An illustrated article on these improvements, with a detailed architectural description of the proposals, appeared in American Architect & Building News [Boston], ii, 14 April 1877, 116-17, with double-page plate illus. These plans were recently illustrated and described in an essay by Georges Drolet, “The Mighty Empire of the Past - Lord Dufferin’s 1875 Embellishment Proposals for Quebec City” in the Society for the Study of Architecture Bulletin, xxi, March 1996, 18-24, illus. The R.I.B.A. Drawings Collection in London holds several original drawings by Lynn showing his proposals for Quebec (RIBA, Dwgs Coll., W4/12 to W 4/14). The City of Quebec Archives holds original drawings by Lynn showing his design for the St. John Gate (City of Quebec Archives, Acc. B 352.10 - St. Jean - 1878). The National Library of Canada holds original pencil drawings by Lynn within their Picture Collection documenting his proposal for a monumental gate to a chateau compound for Lord Dufferin in Quebec City (C 118645 and C 118646). The chateau and the gateway were never built.
Lord Dufferin also commissioned Lynn to prepare designs for an extensive rebuilding and remodelling of “Clandeboye”, his county seat in County Down, Ireland. This elaborate scheme, in the French Renaissance style, is illustrated and described by Mark Bence-Jones in “The Building Dreams of a Viceroy” in Country Life [London], 1 Oct. 1970, 816-19. Additional details of his plans for Quebec City appear in this same journal, 8 Oct. 1970, 900-04, illus.
Lynn died in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 12 September 1915 (obit. Building News [London], cix, 15 Sept. 1915, 308; The Builder [London], cix, 24 Sept. 1915, 219, with list of works; R.I.B.A. Journal [London], xxii, 25 Sept. 1915, 506; xxiv, Feb. 1917, 91; biog. R,I.B.A., Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, ii, 89). An illustrated list of his buildings in Ireland and England up to 1898 was published in The Builder [London], lxxv, 19 Nov. 1898, 458, illus.; A photographic portrait of Lynn appeared in Building News [London], lviii, 17 Jan. 1890.
CHESTER, ENGLAND, Town Hall, 1865-69 (C. Cunningham, Victorian & Edwardian Town Halls, 1981, 66, 270-71, illus.)
SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, Houses of Parliament & Government Offices, 1869, but not built (Builder [London], xxvii, 14 Aug. 1869, 644-47, illus. & descrip.)
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., The Kent Gate, 1876-79 (American Architect & Building News [Boston], iv, 8 March 1879, 77, descrip., with illus. plate).
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., proposal for the St. Louis Gate, 1876 (Canadian Illustrated News [Montreal], xiii, 15 Jan. 1876, 35, 41, illus. & descrip.; H. Kalman, History of Canadian Architecture, 1994, 225, illus.; dwgs. at NAC, 82303/30)
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., proposal for St. John Gate, 1876 (Canadian Illustrated News [Montreal], xiii, 15 Jan. 1876, 35, 41, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at NAC, National Map Coll., 82303/30)
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., proposal for the Chateau St. Louis, a palace and mansion for Lord Dufferin, 1876, but not built (Canadian Illustrated News [Montreal], xiii, 15 Jan. 1876, 35, 41, illus. & descrip.; Building News [London], xxxv, 25 Oct. 1878, 422, descrip., with double page plate showing three perspective views of proposal by Lynn; American Architect & Building News [Boston], iv, 16 Nov. 1878, 165 and illus. plates; dwgs. at NAC, 82303/30; orig. dwgs. by Lynn at NAC, Picture Coll., C 118 645 and C 118 646)
PAISLEY, SCOTLAND, Town Hall, 1879-82 (C. Cunningham, Victorian & Edwardian Town Halls, 1981, 280-71)
BARROW-IN-FURNESS, ENGLAND, Town Hall, 1882-87 (C. Cunningham, Victorian & Edwardian Town Halls, 1981, 282-83)
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND, major additions to Queen’s University, 1910 (Building News [London], xcix, 14 Oct. 1910, 531, descrip.; 546-47, illus. plates)