GUNDRY, Thomas (1830-1869) was born in England and practised as an architect and civil engineer in Toronto from 1859 until his unexpected death there a decade later. He was recorded in the following offices:
Thomas Gundry, architect & Civil Engineer, Toronto, 1859-December 1861
Hay & Gundry, Architects, Toronto, Dec. 1861 - June 1862 (with William Hay)
Gundry & Langley, Architects, Toronto, July 1862 - October 1869 (with Henry Langley)
No information can be found on his education or training of Gundry in England. He appears to have emigrated to Canada in 1854 to work on the Grand Trunk Railway; he is likely the same 'Thomas Gundry' of Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario who was preparing a map of that town in 1854 (Long Point Reformer [Simcoe], 14 March 1854). In testimony before the Commission of Inquiry in connection with the Ottawa Parliament Buildings on 26 January 1863 he stated that he was '.....an architect and civil engineer, and have followed the profession for seventeen years. I have been nine years in Canada....' (Canada, Sessional Papers, Dept. of Public Works Report No. 3, 1863). By 1859 he was confident enough to establish his own practise in Toronto as an architect, civil engineer and briefly as a contractor with a 'Mr. Beachell', with whom he submitted bids for the construction of the Toronto Gaol (City of Toronto Minutes, 1859, Appendix, 390). In late 1861 he and William Hay established a partnership as 'Hay & Gundry, Architects & Engineers' (Globe [Toronto], 9 Dec. 1861, 3, advert.). This convenient arrangement was intended to cover Hay's prolonged absence from Toronto while he attended to business in Bermuda and made an extended visit to Great Britain, but when Hay decided to remain in Scotland, Gundry was forced to look elsewhere for a new business partner.
His professional reputation was considerably enhanced in July 1862 when he was joined by Henry Langley (1836-1907), a talented and enterprising young architect whose knowledge of ecclesiastical design enabled this new partnership to flourish. While Gundry's experience in practical building and civil engineering no doubt proved helpful in the office, it can be said with some certainty that the skillful designs for major commercial and religious works executed by the firm came from the hand of Henry Langley. Gundry died suddenly on 2 October 1869 in Toronto, and left an estate of more than $4,000 to his wife and daughter. Henry Langley continued the practise, with various partners, for more than thirty-five years (obituary in the Globe [Toronto], 5 Oct. 1869, 2; OA, York Co. Wills, 829).
GUNDRY & LANGLEY
Ecclesiastical Works
WHITBY, ONT., All Saints Anglican Church, Dundas Street West, 1865-66; later addition of a Sunday School by Henry Langley, 1870 (Whitby Chronicle, 8 Nov. 1866, 2, descrip.; dwgs. at OA, D. Coll. 1178-82)
TORONTO, ONT., St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Bond Street, sacristy, 1864; tower and spire, 1865-66; dormers and clerestory windows by H. Langley, 1870 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1, descrip.; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, 1864, 1865, 1870; Candace Iron, "Henry Langley and the Creation of a Catholic Gothic Revival Identity in Ontario", in A Medieval Legacy - Essays in Honour of Prof. Malcolm Thurlby, 2020, 305-08, illus. & descrip. [online]) )
TORONTO, ONT., St. Peter's Anglican Church, Bleeker Street at Carlton Street, 1865-66; addition by H. Langley, 1872 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1, descrip.; J.R. Robertson, Landmarks of Toronto, iv, 36-40, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at OA, Horwood Coll. 452a; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library; A. Carr, Toronto Architect Edmund Burke, 1995, 25, illus.)
TORONTO, ONT., Primitive Methodist Church, Alice Street, addition, 1865; burned 1874 (Globe [Toronto], 11 April 1865, 3, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., St. Stephen's-in-the-Fields Anglican Church, College Street at Bellevue Avenue, rebuilding after the fire, with new Rectory, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library)
TORONTO, ONT., St. George's Anglican Church, John Street, new Parsonage, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
OIL SPRINGS, ONT., Anglican Church, c. 1866 (Sarnia Observer, 5 Feb. 1869, 3, advert. for auction; inf. Charles Addington, London)
TORONTO, ONT., Alexander Street Baptist Church, 1866 (Globe [Toronto], 28 May 1866, 2, descrip.; O. Thompson, Toronto in the Camera, 1868, 30, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library)
OSHAWA, ONT., Wesleyan Methodist Church, Simcoe Street at Bagot Street, 1867-68; gallery 1875; burned 1919; restored (Globe [Toronto], 4 June 1867, 2; Oshawa Vindicator, 3 June 1868, 2, descrip.; Canadian Illustrated News, iii, 21 Jan. 1871, 34, 44, illus. & descrip.; Christian Guardian [Toronto], 15 Sept. 1875, 294, descrip.; dwgs. at OA, D. Coll. 902-07)
PORT HOPE, ONT., Baptist Church, John Street at Augusta Street, 1867-69 (Globe [Toronto], 4 June 1867, 2; dwgs. at OA, Horwood Coll. 566)
PORT HOPE, ONT., St. John's Anglican Church, Pine Street at South Street, 1867-68; Sunday School, 1875 by Langley, Langley & Burke (Globe [Toronto], 4 June 1867, 2; dwgs. at OA, D. Coll. 876-81; 882-3)
WHITBY, ONT., St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Gifford Street, 1867-68; burned 1901 (Globe [Toronto], 4 June 1867, 2; dwgs. at OA, D. Coll. 1187; Candace Iron, "Henry Langley and the Creation of a Catholic Gothic Revival Identity in Ontario", in A Medieval Legacy - Essays in Honour of Prof. Malcolm Thurlby, 2020, 307-10, illus. & descrip. [online])
STRATFORD, ONT., St. James Anglican Church, Mornington Street, 1868-70; tower 1909 (Stratford Beacon, 25 March 1870, 2, descrip.; S. Silcox, History of St. James Church 1840-1924, 11-14; dwgs. at OA, D. Coll. 1076-82)
TORONTO, ONT., St. John the Evangelist Church, Victoria Square, Stewart Street at Portland Street, new Parsonage, 1867 (Globe [Toronto], 13 July 1867, 3, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, St. Patrick's Street, school and Priest's House, 1867; church by Henry Langley, Dummer Street, 1869-70 (Globe [Toronto], 6 May 1867, 3, t.c.; 21 May 1867, 2, descrip.; 27 April 1870, 1, descrip.; Canadian Freeman [Toronto], 9 June 1870, 2, descrip.; Leader [Toronto], 21 Nov. 1870, 4, descrip.; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library; dwgs. at OA, Horwood Coll., 451; Candace Iron, "Henry Langley and the Creation of a Catholic Gothic Revival Identity in Ontario", in A Medieval Legacy - Essays in Honour of Prof. Malcolm Thurlby, 2020, 310-15, illus. & descrip. [online])
ANCASTER, ONT., St. John's Anglican Church, Highway 2, 1868 (Canadian Churchman [Kingston], 13 May 1868, 2, descrip.; Spectator [Hamilton], 2 Jan. 1907, 5, historical article on the church, with illus. & descrip.; dwgs. in the possession of St. John's Church, Ancaster)
PORT DALHOUSIE, ONT., St. John's Episcopal Church, 1868 (St. Catharines Constitutional, 25 June 1868, 2, descrip; 3 Sept. 1868, 2, descrip.)
TORONTO, ONT., Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Trinity Street near Yonge Street, alterations and new reredos screen, 1868-69 (Globe [Toronto], 27 June 1868, 2, descrip.; 25 March 1869, 1, descrip.)
HAMILTON, ONT., St. Thomas Anglican Church, West Avenue South at Main Street East, addition, 1869 (dwgs. at OA, D. Coll. 1750)
TORONTO, ONT., Little Trinity Anglican Church, King Street East at Trinity Street, addition to schoolhouse, 1869 (Globe [Toronto], 7 June 1869, 4, t.c.; Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 10 Sept. 1869, 4)
BROOKLIN, ONT., St. Thomas Anglican Church, 1869 (dwgs. at OA, D. Coll., 1023)
GEORGETOWN, ONT., First Baptist Church, 1869-70 (Canadian Baptist, 10 Feb. 1870, 2, descrip.; dwgs. at OA, D. Coll. 1001-04)
GUELPH, ONT., Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Quebec Street, 1870-71; new galleries 1896 (Guelph Weekly Advertiser, 23 June 1870, 2, descrip.; Guelph Daily Mercury, 28 Oct. 1896, 1; dwgs. at OA., D. Coll. 991)
GUELPH, ONT., St. George's Anglican Church, Lower Wyndham Street, 1870-73 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 26 April 1869, 1, descrip.; Canadian Church Magazine, i, Sept. 1887, 359-60, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library)
Institutional Works
(works (in Toronto unless noted)
BOY'S HOME, George Street, 1863 (Leader [Toronto], 13 June 1864, 2, descrip.; Canadian Illustrated News, iii, 11 Feb. 1871, 83, 92, descrip. & illus.; A. Carr, Toronto Architect Edmund Burke, 1995, 77, illus.)
NEW CITY BATHS, Adelaide Street West near Yonge Street, 1864 (Globe [Toronto], 17 June 1864, 2, descrip.; Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1, descrip.; dwgs. at OA, Horwood Coll. 452)
NORTHERN RAILWAY PASSENGER STATION, West Market Street at the Esplanade, 1866-67; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 21 Aug. 1866, 3, t.c.; 11 June 1867, 2, descrip.; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library)
GIRL'S HOME, Gerrard Street East at Seaton Street, 1868; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 13 Jan. 1868, 2, t.c.; 1 June 1868, 2, descrip.; Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1, descrip.)
LONDON, ONT., Hellmuth Ladies College, near Proof Line Road overlooking the Thames River, 1868 (Daily Advertiser [London], 15 Dec. 1868, 2, descrip.; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library; A. Carr, Toronto Architect Edmund Burke, 1995, 77, illus.)
TRINITY SCHOOL HOUSE,Trinity Street, south of King Street East, addition of the west wing to the existing school built in 1848, and now called Enoch Turner School House, 1869 (Globe [Toronto], 7 June 1869, 4, t.c.)
BISHOP STRACHAN SCHOOL, also called Wykeham Hall, College Street at Terauley Street, 1869-70; demol., (Daily Leader [Toronto], 24 March 1870, 3, descrip.; Globe [Toronto], 20 June 1870, 4 descrip.)
Commercial & Industrial Works
QUEEN'S HOTEL, Front Street West, major additions, 1862-63; addition, 1867; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 12 Feb. 1863, 2, descrip.; 8 Oct. 1867, 2, descrip.; Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1)
ALDWELL'S BREWERY, William Street, new office, vaults, storehouse and cellars for John A. Aldwell, 1863; additions 1866; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 26 March 1863, 2; 8 May 1866, 3, t.c.)
JOHN MACDONALD & CO., Wellington Street East near Yonge Street, warehouse, 1863; additions 1866, 1878; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 26 March 1863, 2, descrip.; 26 Aug. 1864, 2, descrip.; 28 May 1866, 2, descrip.; Mail [Toronto], 29 May 1879, 4; W. Dendy, Lost Toronto, 1993, 82-3, illus.)
GOODERHAM & WORTS CO., Trinity Street at Mill Street, new malting house, office, distilling tower and storehouse, 1863 (Globe [Toronto], 26 March 1863, 2, descrip.)
WHITBY, ONT., Bank of Montreal, Brock Street, 1863 (Globe [Toronto], 12 Aug. 1863, 3, t.c.)
INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, East Market Square, addition, 1863 (Globe [Toronto], 1 Sept. 1863, 3, t.c.)
YONGE STREET, north of Gerrard Street, six stores for John Bugg, 1864 (Globe [Toronto], 21 March 1864, 2, t.c.)
CHURCH STREET, store for Rice Lewis 'near Mr. Lewis's residence', 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
QUEEN STREET WEST, near York Street, three stores for Wallace Millichamp, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
CLARK BROS., York Street near Richmond Street West, warehouse, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
CITY BANK OF MONTREAL, Bay Street at Wellington Street West, 1865; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1; 4 Jan. 1866, 2, descrip.; O. Thompson, Toronto in the Camera, 1868, 12, illus. & descrip.)
CANADIAN BANK OF COMMERCE, s.e. corner of Yonge Street at Colborne Street, major expansion and alterations to the old Ross, Mitchell & Co. Building c. 1865, originally designed by William Thomas in c. 1855 (Octavius Thompson, Toronto in the Camera, 1868, 14, illus. & descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton, of Hamilton, Ont.)
YONGE STREET, near Trinity Street, store for Alfred Piddington, 1865; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
FRONT STREET EAST, near Jarvis Street, alterations to the old Commercial Mills for the Toronto Packing House by William Davies & Co., 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
SOHO FOUNDRY, Beverley Street near Queen Street West, workshops for Dickey, Neill & Co., 1866 (Globe [Toronto], 28 Feb. 1866, 3, t.c.; 28 May 1866, 2, descrip.)
CANADA LANDED CREDIT CO., King Street West opposite Jordan Street, new facade and extensive alterations, 1867 (Globe [Toronto], 31 Jan. 1867, 2, descrip.)
CARTY BLOCK, George Street near Queen Street East, factory for Jeremiah Carty, 1867 (Globe [Toronto], 23 July 1867, 1)
BOULTON'S BLOCK, Church Street at Front Street East, for Mr. Boyd, 1867 (Globe [Toronto], 27 Aug. 1867, 2, descrip.)
W.A. MURRAY & CO., King Street East opposite Victoria Street, new facade and extensive alterations to warehouse, 1867; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 28 Sept. 1867, 2, descrip.)
FRANK SMITH & CO., Front Street East at Scott Street, warehouse, 1868; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 14 July 1868, 2, descrip.; Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1, descrip.)
KING STREET EAST, opposite St. James Cathedral, additions and alterations to commercial block for George Cox & John W. Cox, 1868 (Globe [Toronto], 27 July 1868, 1, t.c.)
HEINTZMAN PIANO CO., King Street West near York Street, factory, 1869; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 12 Feb. 1869, 1)
CAMPBELL & SONS, Front Street West near Bay Street, warehouse, 1869 (Globe [Toronto], 9 March 1869, 1)
RICE, LEWIS & CO., King Street East at Victoria Street, warehouse, 1869; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 14 June 1869, 3, t.c.)
JAMES CAMPBELL & SON, Front Street West near Yonge Street, warehouse, 1869 (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 10 Sept. 1869, 4, descrip.)
Residential Works
JARVIS STREET, at Dundas Street East, residence for William B. Hamilton, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
JARVIS STREET, near Maitland Street, pair of houses for John L. Blaikie and William Alexander, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
JARVIS STREET, near Bloor Street East, residence for F.P. Stow, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
JARVIS STREET, near Carlton Street, residence for Henry Brownscombe, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
JARVIS STREET, near Gerrard Street East, block of houses for Henry Rogers, 1864-65 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
BEVERLEY STREET, near Sullivan Street, two houses for James & Nathaniel Dickey, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
WOOD STREET, two cottages for Henry Morphy, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
ALEXANDER STREET, near Yonge Street, residence for G.H. Backas, 1864 (Leader [Toronto], 2 Jan. 1865, 1)
SCARBOROUGH, ONT., residence for Thomas Elliot at Highland Creek, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 23 March 1865, 3, t.c.)
CHURCH STREET, near Gould Street, residence for James H. Rogers, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
WINCHESTER STREET, pair of houses for Richard Yates, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
QUEEN STREET EAST, pair of houses for James & John Taylor, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
WILLIAM STREET, stables, coach house and out-buildings for the residence of Hon. William P. Howland, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
SPADINA AVENUE, additions to 'Englefield', the residence of Robert A. Harrison, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
WELLESLEY STREET EAST, residence for William Davies, 1865 (Globe [Toronto], 8 Nov. 1865, 1)
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, the residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Simcoe Street at King Street West, 1867-69; demol. 1912 (Globe [Toronto], 7 June 1868, 1, t.c.; 29 June 1868, 2, descrip.; 13 Nov. 1868, 1, descrip.; Ontario, Sessional Papers, 1869, No. 6, Appendix C, 'Report of the Architect of the Lieutenant Governor's Residence', 30, 50-52, descrip.; Canadian Illustrated News, ii, 5 March 1870, 280-82, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library; dwgs. at OA, RG 15-13-2-83; W. Dendy, Lost Toronto, 1978, 34-6)
TORONTO TOWNSHIP, 'Erindale', a residence for William Magrath, on the Credit River north of Dundas Street, 1867; burned 1920 (Globe [Toronto], 3 June 1867, 3, t.c.; dwgs. at Peel County Regional Archives, Brampton)
ROSEDALE, subdivision of the Chestnut Park estate of Hon. David Lewis MacPherson, for the erection of villa residences, 1867 (Globe [Toronto], 23 July 1867, 1)
WELLINGTON STREET WEST, at John Street, three houses for E. Hooper, 1868; demol. (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1)
BOND STREET, two houses for George Booth, 1868 (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1)
FRONT STREET EAST, at Trinity Street, major additions to the residence of James G. Worts, 1868; demol. (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1)
JARVIS STREET, at Wellesley Street East, a mansion for Arthur R. McMaster, 1868, and later called Euclid Hall; still standing 2018 and now called The Keg Mansion Restaurant (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1, descrip.; Eric Arthur, Toronto - No Mean City, 1964, 148-49, illus. & descrip., but lacking attribution)
JARVIS STREET, near Wellesley Street East, 'Woodvale', a residence for James Campbell, 1868 (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1, descrip.)
WILLIAM STREET, Yorkville, residence for Charles Scadding, 1868 (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1)
YONGE STREET, near Roxborough Street East, two villas for Hon. David L. MacPherson 'a llittle south of his own residence', 1868 (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 22 Aug. 1868, 1)
GROSVENOR STREET, residence for Thomas Gundry, 1868 (Globe [Toronto], 2 Dec. 1868, 3)
PALACE STREET, at Trinity Street, major addition to residence for William Gooderham, adjacent to his Distillery, 1869 (Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 10 Sept. 1869, 4)
AVENUE ROAD, near Alcorn Avenue, additions to 'Oaklands', the residence of John MacDonald, 1869 (Globe [Toronto], 25 Sept. 1869, 3, t.c.)
COMPETITIONS
SIMCOE, ONT., Norfolk County Court House, 1863. Gundry & Langley entered the competition for the Norfolk County Court House in Simcoe, but their submission was set aside in favour of the design from John Turner of Brantford (Brant Expositor [Brantford], 5 June 1863, 2)
STRATFORD, ONT., Perth County Jail, 1866. The firm of Gundry & Langley were one of four architects who submitted a design for this institution (Stratford Beacon, 7 Dec. 1866, 2, descrip.). The Committee examining the plans could not decide on a winner, and the final decision was deferred by the federal Board of Prison Inspectors.
TORONTO, ONT., Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church, Queen Street East at Church Street, on McGill Square, 1869. Eight architects sent in plans for this important commission, and the First Premium of $200 was awarded to William G. Storm (The Globe [Toronto], 1 April 1869, 1, report on the competition). The second prize of $100 was given to Gundry & Langley, but after objections over the potential construction cost of the winning design, the project was later awarded to Henry Langley.