John William Hance

• Born               1 March 1810 Kingston upon Thames, Surrey Son of John and Sophia Hance
• Christening     26 October 1810, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey
• Marriage (1)   18 December 1838 to Harriet, daughter of John Mollineux at Collegiate Church, Manchester
• Marriage (2)   31 July 1847 to Maria daughter of John Mollineux at St Paul, Liverpool
• Died               16 September 1848 at Kensington

John William Hance was born on 1 March 1810 at Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, the son of John and Sophia Hance. Although nothing is yet known of his education and training, he soon developed into a highly skilled architectural artist. In 1831 he was awarded the Silver Isis Medal for an original drawing of the north end of Westminster Hall by the London Society of Arts Manufacturing and Commerce, and again in 1833 the Society of Arts large silver medal for an original design for the interior of a picture gallery. {Newtons London Journal of Arts and Sciences page 367]

About 1835, John William Hance moved to Manchester, where he was employed by the architect Thomas Witlan Atkinson, having for his contemporaries in the Manchester office, Don Cuffley; R B Critchlow, (later of Southampton); J E Gregan; Edward Hall FSA, F T Bellhouse and others.

On the formation of the Manchester Architectural Society in February 1837, he became Honorary Secretary, continuing in this role until 1841, and exhibiting drawings regularly at the Architectural Society Conversazione. In 1840 he sought to establish himself as an architect and surveyor in Manchester with limited success. His only known work in the early 1840’s was a Gothic villa in Bury New Road, Higher Broughton. About 1843, he moved to Liverpool where he established himself as an Architectural Ornament and Figure Manufacturer. In February 1847 he was declared bankrupt leading to the cancellation of his role as Liverpool agent for the Ladyshore Terra Cotta Works .

Jonh William Hanne married twice. Firstly, on 18 December 1838 he married Harriet, daughter of John Molineux, at the Collegiate Church, Manchester. She died in 1844 by which time the family were living in West Derby,  Liverpool. On 31 July 1847 he married Maria Molineux at St Paul, Liverpool. Again her father is listed as John Molineux and it is assumed that she was the sister of his first wife.

He is believed to have died in Kensington, London, on 16 September 1848 and was buried in Brompton Cemetery.


Address
1835             J W Hance, Architectural Artist, 24 Charlotte Street
1840             Mr J W Hance, architect and surveyor, 24 Cooper Street,
1841-1842    John William Hance, architect, 24 Cooper Street Manchester. Hon Secretary Manchester Architectural Society

Residence
1831            Edwards’ Place, Kensington (London Journal of Arts and Science)
1833            11 Montpelier Square Brompton
1834            Montpelier Square Brompton
1841            Broom Lane, Higher Broughton, Salford (1841 Census)
1843            West Derby, Liverpool

1843        Liverpool 
1847        John William Hance, South John Street, Liverpool. Agent for Ladyshore Terra Cotta Works
Late of South Johns Street ceased to be their agent. [Liverpool Albion 15 March 1847 page 1]

1847           4 Slater Street, Liverpool

Reference    Civil Engineer and Architects Journal Vol 1 page 348
Reference    Civil Engineer and Architects Journal Vol 2 page 149

updated 6 March 2026