Daniel Wynne-Thomas

• Birth date         3 October 1890 at Pontantown Carmathenshire 
• Married (1)      1913 Madge Carter at Bolton
• Married (2)       Melrose Atherton (nee Booth), solicitor. One son (Peter 1934-2021) and one daughter (Obituary Peter Wynne Thomas)
• Married (3)       Diana - two sons (Derby Evening Telegraph 26 August 1954)
• Death date       27 March 1969

The son of Thomas Thomas, Carmarthen Dairy, 149, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff, Daniel Wynne-Thomas was born on 15 December 1890 at Pontantown Carmarthenshire. He was educated at Severn Road School and Howard-Gardens Secondary School, Cardiff, before serving his article served his articles with Sir Beddoe Rees of Cardiff while attending Cardiff School of Art between 1906 and 1910. On completion of his articles, he also spent six months travelling in France.

Wynne-Thomas next gained practical experience through a succession of architectural offices. He worked as an assistant to Bradshaw Gass and Hope, Bolton (1910-11? Census records show he was resident in Bolton in 1911) George H Widdows, Education Office, Derby, (1911), D. Pugh Jones, Cardiff (1912), and James Forbes, Middlesborough (1913). On completion of his war service, he returned to Bradshaw Gass and Hope before commencing independent practice in Bolton in 1922

During the First World War Daniel Wynne Thomas served firstly with the Royal Engineers in 1915 and the Honourable Artillery Company for three years 1916-1918 rising to the rank of captain. He was again called up to serve during World War II. In 1941 he was posted to Chetwynd Barracks at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, and bought a house in Attenborough, Nottinghamshire. 

Daniel Wynne-Thomas was married three times. In 1913 he married Madge Carter the daughter of accountant and member of Bolton’s professional elite. By the autumn 1933 he had apparently divorced Madge and married his second wife Melrose Atherton Booth, born at Bolton in 1906 and trained as a solicitor. Their son, Peter Wynne-Thomas*, was born on 30 July 1934 in Manchester. When Daniel was called up to serve in World War II, Peter and his sister were sent away to boarding school.  From the ages of six to ten Peter attended school in Oswestry, Shropshire then Belmont School in Hassocks before arriving at Lancing College, Sussex, in September 1947. About this date Daniel Wynne Davies divorced yet again and married Diana. By 1955 they were living with their two sons in Derby. Although it is not possible to prove a direct link between his divorce in 1933 and his professional life his commissions show a marked decrease in quantity and value after 1933. 

Daniel Wynne-Thomas died on 27 March 1969 at his home: 14 Ireton Grove, Attenborough, Nottinghamshire. Probate published in the Nottingham Guardian on 19 June 1969 recorded that he left an estate valued at £23,308 (with duty of £495).

*Peter Wynne Thomas, the son of his second marriage, trained as an architect but achieved fame as a cricket writer and archivist


Address
1915             Glenthorne Nunthorpe S O [Building News 22 January 1915 p117]
1921             D Wynne Thomas MSA. Old St Paul’s Vicarage, Bolton (BN 23 Sept 1921 p184)
1922-1923    D Wynne Thomas Jubilee Buildings Bark Street Bolton (MG 15 June 1922 p1)
1928             Wynne-Thomas and Button LRIBA 25 Mount Street Bolton (June 1928)
1928             Wynne-Thomas and Button 14 Acresfield Bolton (August 1928)
1929             Wynne-Thomas and Button LRIBA 25 Wood Street Bolton (March 1929)
1932             Wynne Thomas and Button 25 Wood Street Bolton
1934             Wynne Thomas and Button 25 Wood Street Bolton

Residence
1932        D Wynne Thomas, architect “Bodnant” Regent Road, Lostock Park, Bolton
1941        Attenborough, Nottinghamshire
1955        55 Park Road, Derby [Derby Evening Telegraph 26 August 1954]
1969        14 Ireton Grove, Attenborough, Nottinghamshire. Death notice

[1954        Peter Wynne Thomas Bengal House, Elm Avenue, Attenborough, Nottinghamshire]

Reference    RIBA Kalender 1911
Reference    RIBA Fellowship Candidate‘s Statement
Reference    Western Mail 18 January 1923 page 8
Reference    Ian French with assistance by Andrew Hodson “Daniel Wynne-Thomas FRIBA – Professional Standing and Architectural Significance”