Francis Penty (1841–1919) was an English and New Zealand architect. Penty initially worked in Yorkshire and elsewhere in England before immigrating to New Zealand. In New Zealand Penty formed several partnerships and designed over 200 buildings during his career, primarily in Wellington. Penty's most notable works are the Hunter Building and Carrigafoyle. Several of his buildings have registration with Heritage New Zealand and many are scheduled with the Wellington City Council. Early life Francis Penty was born in 1841 in the village of Naburn, Yorkshire, England. Penty attended school in York and articled to an architect active in York and Halifax. Penty later worked as a draughtsman with Thomas Worthington. Architectural career Scant information is available on Penty's English career but Penty is known to have worked as an architect for the Royal Engineers and later worked for the London & Northwestern Railway Company for 12 years.
In 1887 Penty came to New Zealand aboard the Kaikoura. Penty set up a private practice in Wellington and by 1905 had designed around 200 homes. Penty's first partnership was with Leonard Joseph Forde, lasting from 1893 to 1898, when Forde left New Zealand. Forde handled the Masterton branch focusing on the Wairarapa whilst Penty focused on Wellington. Penty entered a competition to design the Wellington Public Library but came in third place. Penty was suspended from the Wellington Association of Architects after criticising the prices of fellow members.
Penty formed a partnership with Edward Blake in July 1903. Penty and Blake's partnership produced over a hundred buildings. The pair also won the design for Victoria College (now Victoria University of Wellington), the Hunter Building, as it is now known, is registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand. Penty's partnership with Blake ended in 1909. Following the end of this partnership he entered one with Charles Lawrence. He remained in this partnership until his death in 1919.
Penty was a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects but left in 1911 over a dispute on policies around pricing. Penty rejoined in 1913 after a solution had been agreed upon. Political Career Penty served as a Wellington City Councillor from 1892 to 1895. Penty advocated for improving sanitation in the city during his time on the council owing to his background as a sanitation engineer. Personal life Penty is believed to have arrived in New Zealand as a widower. In 1904 he married his second wife. Penty lived in Island Bay with his wife, in a house of his own design. Penty was president of the Victoria Bowling Club, member of the Yorkshire Society of New Zealand, and honorary member of the Wellington Rowing Club. Penty was a philanthropist with a notable donation being that of a contribution towards purchasing a lioness for the Newtown Park Zoo. List of works Name Date Image Note Ref24-26 Courtenay Place1895Scheduled with the Wellington City Council244 The Terrace1898Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandDuke of Edinburgh Hotel1898Demolished in 1975 89 Brougham Street1890234 Oriental Parade1900Scheduled with the Wellington City Council34–42 Willis Street1900Demolished in 2011Preston's Building1902Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandHunter Building1903Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New ZealandCarrigafoyle1903Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New ZealandShanghai Restaurant1904Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandTownsend and Paul warehouse1905Scheduled with the Wellington City Council. Architect unknown but presumed to be Penty & Blake.8 Patrick Street ('Spiro')1906Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand18 Patrick Street ('York')1906Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand43 Adelaide Street ('Suburban')1906Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandWellington Bowling Club Pavillion1906DemolishedThistle Hall1907Registered with Heritage New Zealand as part of the Cuba Street Historic AreaMurray, Roberts & Co. Building1907Scheduled with the Wellington City CouncilPan Hellenic Association Building1907Scheduled with the Wellington City CouncilJames Smith Building1907Building was substantially altered in 1932 to have an Art Deco facade. Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New ZealandANZ Bank building, Palmerston North1912ANZ Bank building, Wairoa1915Circa Theatre1916Scheduled with the Wellington City Council
References