WALTER HENRY BELL

DEATHS OF TWO WELL-KNOWN TOWNSMEN

MR. W.H. BELL; MR W.J. BUTLER [NOT INCLUDED AS HE WAS BURIED AT SHAW)

Two well-known townsmen have passed away during the week. Mr. Walter Henry Bell, who has practised as an architect in the town for nearly 50 years, and Mr. W. J. Butler, a builder, who was a member of the Town Council for 10 years. Walter Henry Bell was the fifth son of the late Mr. Robert Bell, and was the oldest architect practising in the town. It is well over 50 years ago he was articled to Messrs. Barnes and Flint, whose office at the time was where the Conservative Club is situated.

In his long career, Mr. Bell has had much to do with the building development of the town and countryside during the last four decades. The older houses on the south side of St John's-road are some of his earlier work, but the best example of this is the fine modern house which he designed for Alderman Rankin in the Andover-road. He was engaged for many alterations to business premises in the streets of the town and was the architect of quite a number of village chapels built for Nonconformist Churches. His work for public bodies included housing schemes for the Kingsclere Rural District Council and the up-to-date casual ward which has been recently opened at the Newbury Poor Law Institution.

Mr. Bell was educated at Newbury Grammar School. For many years he was prominently associated with the Newbury Congregational Sunday School as a teacher and the school organist. At one time his services were in demand at entertainments as a reciter. For many years he was Secretary of the Technical Institute.

Mr. Bell was married twice, and his second wife survives him with a son and daughter of the earlier marriage. His son, Mr. Fritz Bell, occupies an important post with the Western Telegraph Co. at Buenos Aires, and his daughter, Dorothy, who is married lives at Regina, Canada.

Opening of the Salvation Army “Barracks” in Northcroft-lane contained in the Newbury Weekly News of 25th January 1894.

Mr. George Head, of Burghclere. has carried out the work in a very satisfactory manner from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Walter H Bell, the architect.