Alexander William Mills

• Born        8 May 1814 at London
• Died       22 November 1905 at Bowdon

Alexander William Mills was born in London 8 May 1814 (RIBA Directory and trained in the office of J James Bunstone Bunning, the architect of the Coal Exchange, London and at the time architect to the City of London. During the evenings he attended classes at the chambers (in Furnival’s Inn) of Mr George Maddox, a professor of architecture, at that time an old man and a violent enthusiast, but a thorough master of his art. George Maddox was for some time the principal assistant to Sir John Soane, and subsequently helped in the education of almost all the successful architects of the period, including Cockerell, Decimus Burton (who was entirely educated as an architect by him), Gilbert Scott, etc. George Maddox used to say “no man could be an efficient architect unless he was, like Michelangelo, a sculptor and a painter as well.” He was one of the earliest founders, along with David Roberts, of the Suffolk Street Gallery.

After completing his articles, A W Mills entered the office of Richard Tattersall in Manchester, where he acquired the practical knowledge so useful to him in later days. After spending some time in Manchester, his old friend and master, James Bunstone Bunning (whose pupil he had been for some five years or more) proposed that he should join him in Manchester and they remained together some time. Bunning, however, remained in London, leaving the Manchester business entirely in the hands of the junior partner. The business was established in 1838, and after the retirement of J B Bunning, was continued by Alexander W Mills alone until 1853, when he took into partnership his pupil, James Murgatroyd; the firm then became Mills and Murgatroyd and was carried on with equal success until his retirement in 1882, when he left the entire business to his junior partner.

When in July 1838 designs were invited for proposed additions to the Exchange-room, he was awarded first premium in the competition, and thus became the architect to the Manchester Exchange, a position which he held until his retirement from active work in the profession in 1882. A further extension of the building was found to be necessary in 1845 and of this work Mr Mills was also the architect. The building was completed in 1848. It was used for the reception of the late Queen Victoria on the occasion of her visit to Manchester in 1851, and henceforth was permitted to be known as the "Royal" Exchange. In 1868(6?) an Act of Parliament was obtained for the building of a new Royal Exchange and anonymous plans were submitted. The two sets which secured the approval of the directors were found to be those prepared by A W Mills and his partner, James Murgatroyd, and they were awarded the first premium of 500 guineas and the second of 200 guineas. The building was opened in two portions, the first in October 1871 and the second three years later.

In 1854 Mills and Murgatroyd were appointed architects for the new workhouse at Crumpsall and continued as architects to the Manchester Guardians until 1931. The numerous extensions alterations and additions undertaken by the practice over the years, while not the most glamourous, provided “bread and butter” work and a steady stream of income.

Alexander Mills was heavily involved in the formation of the Manchester Society of Architects in 1865. He was President of MSA in 1869-71and elected FRIBA on 22 January 1877. Mills lived in Bowden and died there on 22 November 1905 aged 91 years. He left £92.046 gross, £86,897 net of which £21,000 was left to various Manchester Institutions. To the MSA he bequeathed £8,000 of which at least £5000 was to be set aside to form a permanent source of income. In addition, he left “such of his plate and household effects as his trustees shall select to the Manchester Society of Architects for furnishing a building for rooms for the use of members and students of the said Society, or for ornament or instructive purposes in any building under the control of the Society.” The residue of his estate was left to his late wife’s niece. [Holden - Presidents of MSA.]

Alexander William Mills died on the 22 November 1905 at his residence, “Newbie,” Green Walk, Bowdon, in his 92nd year. Interment took place at Bowdon Parish Church on Saturday 25 November 1905 at 12 o'clock. A W Mills had lived for a great part of his life in Bowdon and took a leading role in the restoration of Bowdon Parish Church undertaken in 1858 at which time he held the office of church warden. He was a justice of the peace for the county of Chester.

Address
1839    Alexander Mills, 47, Princess Street, Manchester
1839    Alexander William Mills, architect and surveyor, 2 Cross Street Manchester (March 1839)
1841    Alexander William Mills, architect and surveyor, 2 Cross Street Manchester
1850    A W Mills, architect and surveyor. Exchange Chambers, Bank Street
1851    A W Mills, architect and surveyor. Exchange Chambers, Bank Street
1860    Mills & Murgatroyd architects and surveyors. Exchange Chambers, Bank Street
1861    Mills & Murgatroyd architects and surveyors. Exchange Chambers, Bank Street
1871    Mills & Murgatroyd architects and surveyors 12 Half Moon-street
1873    Mills & Murgatroyd architects and surveyors 12 Half Moon-street
1877    Mills & Murgatroyd 27 Strutt Street Manchester

Residence
1851    A W Mills. Church Bank, Bowdon (Slaters Directory)
1861    A W Mills. Church Bank, Bowdon (Slaters Directory)
1871    A W Mills Newbie, Bowdon (Slaters Directory)
1894    “Newbie,” Green Walk Bowden (Slaters Directory)
1905    “Newbie,” Green Walk Bowden (MG death notice)

Obituary
Reference    British Architect 5 January 1906 Page 4
Reference    Builder 9 December 1905 Page 626- Obituary
Reference    Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects, 9 December 1905 page 89-90
Reference    Manchester Guardian Thursday 23 November 1905 Page 12 – death notice
Reference    Manchester Guardian Friday 24 November 1905 Page 7 Col 6 - Memorial Notice
Reference    Manchester City News 25 November 1905. Page 6 Column 1
Reference    Building News 5 January 1906 Page 53 Column 2
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 January 1906 - Will of Mr A.W. Mills