Robert Brass

• Birth date            31 March 1831
• Marriage              Jan-Mar 1883 to Ellen Simpson at Kensington
• Death date          19 May 1902 at St Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth
• Funeral                23 May 1902 at St Thomas’s Hospital Chapel 

Robert Brass, the son of William Brass and his second wife, Elizabeth was born at Pentonville, London on 31 March 1831.  His father, William Brass of Old Street, Finsbury and 'The Elms', Leigham Court Road, Surrey, was born in 1781 and died on 14 January 1858.  A builder and contractor, at the time of his death he owned property in the City of London and neighbouring boroughs, of which buildings in Angel Court, Bishopsgate, Cheapside, Lime Street, Old Change and in the borough of Finsbury were the main concerns.  In his will he appointed his eldest son William, half-brother Robert Brass and son-in-law Ernest Grimwade trustees of his estate, to manage it for the benefit of his numerous children when they reached adulthood.

The census of 1851 records Robert Brass as a surveyor and assistant (in the family business?)  and ten years later as an architect. However, little is known of his professional career, save for the plans for St Peter’s Church, Far Sawrey, where he acted as honorary architect. In 1870 he gave up the practice of architecture to take the salaried position of Receiver to St Thomas’s Hospital, London (at £600 a year in 1891). Subsequent census returns describe him as an accountant (1871); a Receiver, Harbour Dock (1881); Receiver, St Thomas’s Hospital (1891); and Secretary, St Thomas’s Hospital (1901). Following his father’s death, he lived with his brother Thomas and sisters Martha and Rebecca, until his marriage in 1883, when he moved to Kensington.

Robert Brass died on 19 May 1902 at St Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth, survived by his widow Ellen.

Address
1866        24, Barnsbury Park, London

Residence
1841        Johnston Green, Islington
1851        Islington Green
1861        Upper Bedford Place, Bloomsbury
1871        63 King Henry’s Road Hampstead
1881        63 King Henry’s Road Hampstead
1890        15 Holland Road, Kensington
1902        15 Holland Road, Kensington

Death notice    Times 21 May 1902 page 1
Reference    Times 3 February 1891 page 10. Management of London Hospitals
Reference    Times 6 February 1891 page 7. Management of London Hospitals
Reference    Times 22 June 1871 – Opening of St Thomas’s Hospital