Ernest Prestwich

• Born                      29 August 188
• Died                       4 November 1977 at Southport

The youngest son of J C Prestwich and his wife, Ernest Prestwich was born at Leigh in 1889. He attended the Manchester Grammar School before entering the Liverpool School of Architecture in 1906. BA 1910 and MA 1912. Whilst still a student the Liverpool School of Architecture (1906-12), he won a competition to plan the completion of W. H. Lever’s model village at Port Sunlight

Ernest Prestwich joined the family firm of J C Prestwich and Sons but for a time worked for Lever Brothers Architects Department under Lomax Simpson on projects at Thornton Hough, Cheshire and Stornoway, Scotland. Amongst architectural competitions which he won are Civic Centres at Portsmouth and Rugby, war memorials at Blackpool, Harrogate, Doncaster and Leigh, public baths at Leeds and Northampton; Northampton Police and Fire Stations and Courts; Swinton Town Hall (with Percy Thomas) and offices at Knowsley House, Bolton and Midland Bank Building, Cross Street Manchester. He was admitted ARIBA in 1918 and FRIBA in 1928.

Percy Thomas had worked for J.C. Prestwich in 1904, and again from 1907 as chief assistant before leaving to set up his partnership with Ivor Jones. He collaborated with Ernest Jones competition entries for Swinton Town Hall and Tunbridge Civic Centre and the RIBA Headquarters, 66 Portland Place, London.

Address
Bradshawgate Chambers, Leigh, Lancashire,

Residence
1977    Bamber Gardens Southport

Reference    Joseph Sharples: Charles Reilly and the Liverpool School of Architecture