Thomas (junior) Penson

• Birth date            1791 
• Marriage             18 August 1814 to Frances, daughter of Richard Kirk or Kyrke 
• Death date         1859

Thomas the younger was a pupil of Thomas Harrison of Chester, the distinguished neoclassical architect.' It is likely that he also received practical instruction from his father.  

 Thomas Penson (junior) practised at Wrexham and Oswestry and became County Surveyor of Montgomeryshire in 1817 and of Denbighshire in about 1820/1. succeeding his father in the latter post. He was elected a Fellow of the R.I.B.A. in 1848 and was an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers from 1839. 

On 18 August 1814, Thomas Penson married Frances (born 1793) the daughter of Richard Kirk (1747-1839) the Wrexham ironmaster, and Ellen Venables. Frances, whose surname is shown as 'Kyrke’ on her marriage license, was living at Gresford at the time of her marriage but moved with Thomas to Overton Cottage on the Flintshire side of the Dee and close to the end of the Overton Bridge. Following the elder Penson's dismissal as County Surveyor his son was appointed in 1 814 not to succeed his father in this post but to complete the new Overton Bridge. This must have been the reason for the choice of the newly-weds' first home and it was at Overton Cottage, and its eleven acres of gardens and woodlands picturesquely overhanging the Dee. that the first six of the Pensons’ ten children were born. These first six children are recorded as having been baptised at Overton Church in two groups  of three. In 1819 Richard Kyrke (born 19th June 1815). Charlotte Elizabeth (born 26th September 1816) and Thomas Mainwaring (born 26th October 1817); on 17th August 1821 Frances (born 29th January 1819). Henry (born 23rd March 1820) and Sarah Maria (born 1 July 1821)

By 1823 Thomas and his family had moved to Oswestry; in the graveyard of Oswestry Parish Church is a monument to Hannah Penson, the infant child of Thomas and Frances Penson, who died  on 28 September 1823. Their remaining three children were all born at Oswestry between 1824 and about 1831.  Four of their children and one grandchild are buried in the New Church-yard, Oswestry- "In memory of CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH URWICK, eldest daughter of Thomas and Frances Penson, and wife of William Urwick, of Ludlow. She died of consumption, at Torquay, on the 26th of November, 1846, aged 30 years. In this dispensation of the Divine will, her parents have to sorrow for a most dear and dutiful daughter, and her husband to bemoan the loss of an affectionate wife. Her remains, with those of her only child, THOMAS PENSON URWICK, who died on the 27th of May, 1847, aged 13 months, are deposited beneath." Near this place are deposited the remains of HANNAH PENSON, who died an infant, on the 28th of September, 1823. And underneath lie the remains of SARAH MARIA PENSON, who died on the 25th of April, 1829, aged 8 years. Also the remains of HENRY PENSON, who died on the 1st of May, 1832, aged 12 years; children of Thomas and Frances Penson.'Happy children, early blest, Rest, in peaceful slumbers rest. "' [The History of Oswestry page 148 ]

In addition to his public duties. Thomas Penson (like his father before and two eldest sons after) built up a large and thriving practice as an architect and surveyor in the Oswestry area and contributed significantly to the building and restoration work which took place in thelocality in the first half of the 19th century.

In 1839 Richard Kirk the ironmaster died, and Thomas inherited his home, Gwersyllt Hill, Wrexham through his wife Frances. He remodelled this house in 1841 in his distinctive 'Jacobethan style' and the family subsequently lived there.

Penson somehow found time to be active in public life. He was elected to Oswestry Borough Council in 1835 becoming Mayor in 1840. and Alderman in 1841, On August 3rd 1852, he wasappointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the County of Denbigh. He died suddenly at his home on May 20th 1859 aged 69.' being employed as County Surveyor oOf Montgomeryshire to the end.

 

SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. PENSON. SUMMER HILL. We received intelligence yesterday morning of the death of Mr. Thomas Penson, architect, and surveyor for the counties of Denbigh and Montgomery. He died at his residence, Summer-hill, between one and two o’clock on Friday morning, having retired to rest the previous evening apparently in his usual state of health. As many of our readers will be aware, he addressed a meeting in Wrexham on Thursday at four o’clock, for the purpose of taking measures for the formation of a voluntary Rifle Corps. He was in his 69^th year and had filled the office of surveyor to this county for a period of about 40 years, having succeeded his father who held the appointment for some time before him. Mr. Penson has two sons in the same profession, one residing in Swansea, the designer of St. Mark’s Church, Wrexham and the other residing at Chester, and holding the office of surveyor for the county of Flint. [ Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser 21 May 1859 page  4]

 

Address
1845        Oswestry

Residence
1781-1814    Wrexham
1814            Overton Cottage, Overton, Flintshire
1823            Oswestry
1845            19 Willow Street, Oswestry
184?            35 Willow Street, Oswestry
1841            Gwersyllt Hill (Snow Hill) Wrexham
1859            Gwersyllt Hill (Snow Hill) Wrexham