PARRY, Henry Bulkley (1808 - 1840), a native of Pakenham, Co. Norfolk, England, was an early architect working in Montreal, was in partnership with Francis Thompson there from February 1834 until October 1837 (see list of works under Thompson & Parry). After the dissolution of their partnership Parry continued to work as an architect under his own name offering 'plans and specifications, with detailed drawings, for the finishing of any description of edifice' (Montreal Transcript, 19 Oct. 1837, 2, advert.). In early 1838 he prepared elaborate plans for a brewery, malt kiln and distillery for John Molson Ltd., MONTREAL, QUE. (Montreal Transcript, 20 Feb. 1838, 3, t.c.; dwgs. at NAC, Molson Coll. 76703/10, Sheets 163-4, 172). In 1839 he submitted an accomplished neo-classical design in the competition for the main building at McGill College (now McGill University), Sherbrooke Street West, MONTREAL, QUE., but his scheme proved to be the most costly of four different proposals, and the commission was eventually awarded to John Ostell (Ellen James, John Ostell, Architect, Surveyor, 1985, 35-7). Parry received £15 for his plans; his drawings survive and can be found in the Archives of McGill University (MUA, 1766/3/3; C. MacMillan, McGill and Its Story 1821-1921, 134 ff., illus. of the design by Parry, but lacking attribution).
In late 1839 an architectural competition was held for the new Court House & Jail at BYTOWN, ONT. (now Ottawa). Six proposals were submitted, including one from John Ostell, with the First Premium of £ 25 being awarded to 'J.P. Parrey [sic] of Montreal' (Bytown Gazette [Ottawa], 11 Sept. 1839, 3). Presumably this is the same H.B. Parry described here. Parry died unexpectedly in Montreal at the young age of 32 years, on 28 January 1840 (death notice Gazette [Montreal], 30 Jan. 1840, 3; Montreal Transcript, 30 Jan. 1840, 467).