George Meek

• Born                      1849 at Hull
• Died                       9 October 1924. 23 Cranley Gardens, Highgate, London

George Meek was born in Hull and was articled to Richard George Smith of that city while attending Hull Commercial School and Hull School of Art

George Meek joined the Manchester Corporation Surveyors Department about 1872 (notwithstanding the death notice) and over a career spanning 30 years rose from draughtsman to chief architectural assistant - effectively city architect - at a salary of £270 per annum. At the beginning of the twentieth century Manchester Corporation had serious concerns regarding the building side of the City Surveyor’s department, matters which came to a head in January 1902. Problems with a workshop building in Jackson’s Row and a housing scheme in Miles Platting for which Meek was deemed partially responsible provided the necessary excuse. At the meeting of the Town Hall Committee in January 1902 a resolution was passed that George Meek had forfeited the confidence of the committee and that he be requested to send in his resignation. The city council subsequently advertised for a City Architect at a salary of £600 per annum. Following his effective dismissal, Meek commenced independent practice in Manchester in 1902.

Address
c1872-1902    Manchester City Surveyors Department
1895        G Meek Engineering Assistant Manchester City Surveyors Dept (Slater - Public Officials)
1901         G Meek. architect to Corporation
1908        George Meek MSA 20, Leinster Chambers, 4, St Ann’s Square.
1911        George Meek MSA, 4, St Ann’s Square.
1914        18 Leinster Chambers 4 St Ann’s Square, Manchester

Residence
1881        68 Derby Street, Moss Side, Manchester
1901        Chorlton cum Hardy (census)
1909        4 Princes Avenue Talbot Road Stretford
1911        4 Hornby Road, Warwick Road, Stretford
1914        4 Hornby Road, Old Trafford
1924        23 Cranley Gardens, Highgate, London

Reference    Manchester Guardian 9 January 1902 page 9
Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 January 1902 page 9
Reference    Manchester Guardian 6 February 1902 page 4
Reference    Who’s Who in Architecture (1914)