James Gasgoigne Lynde

• Born      25th of January, 1816 Westminster
• Married 16 June 1841 Susanna Weller (daughter of Timothy Weller) at St Margaret’s Westminster.
• Died       15 March 1883 aged 67 years at the Orchard, Gore Street Greenheys
• Funeral 19 March 1883 Brooklands Cemetery

James Gasgoigne Lynde was born in Westminster on 5 January, 1816. He was articled to James Simpson, Past-President Inst. C.E., and served his pupilage in the office of the Chelsea Waterworks Company at Thames Bank, of which Company his father was at that time the Secretary.

In the early part of 1839 he obtained employment on the Hull and Selby railway under the late James Walker, Past-President Inst. C.E., where he remained until 1841. The engineering profession was rapidly expanding, as a result  of  the rise and progress of the railway network, and in that year James Simpson took James G Lynde into partnership. The firm of Lynde and Simpson, of George-street, Westminster not only had under their charge the Chelsea and Lambeth Waterworks, but carried out new works at various large towns. Alterations and improvements were made at Manchester for the Company then supplying water, and a new well was sunk into the New Red Sandstone. In the spring of 1848 the partnership was dissolved, at which time J G Lynde commenced to practice on his own account, which he did until appointed in 1857 City Surveyor to the Manchester Corporation

George Shorland was dismissed as Manchester city surveyor on 24 June 1857 following irregularities in respect of the Hulme Street Tunnel over the River Medlock. The architect Richard Lane agreed to act as necessary until a new city surveyor was appointed, principally to supervise the Queens Road viaduct over the River Irk, then under construction. He continued to supervise the works to completion, even after the appointment of J G Lynde, who was instructed to carry out no more than a watching brief. Claims that Lynde was responsible for the design are thus over-stated

In September 1857 the general purposes committee reported that 53 applications for the appointment of surveyor to the Manchester Corporation had been received as a result of the advertisement placed in the newspapers. Six short-listed – C E Cawley, Manchester; Henry Werigg, Preston; G W Stevenson, Halifax; Hugh Wilson, Blackburn; James G Lynde, Westminster; and W H Stephenson, York. The committee recommended the appointment of James Gascoigne Lynde at a salary of £750 per annum. The council finally ratified the appointment after some debate – many supporting the application of C E Cawley (qv) as the local man

Among the more notable undertakings carried out under the supervision of James Gasgoigne Lynde was the Prestwich reservoir, for the supply of water to the higher portions of the district, and the 30-inch main from Godley reservoir to Prestwich; the improvement of the river Medlock, the construction of the Corporation Gasworks at Bradford Road, Philip’s Park and Cemetery, the widening of Deansgate, the improvement of the River Medlock. He prepared the plans for the laying out of Alexandra Park, and, more recently, those for the Southern Cemetery, the Smedley Road bridge crossing the river Irk, the Waterloo bridge which crosses the Irwell in Stangeways, the Irwell-street bridge in connection with the Quay-street improvements and the Prince’s bridge which provides communication between Manchester and Salford by way of Hampden-street, Oldfield Road, were all constructed from his designs.

The City Surveyor’s Department was partly architectural and was responsible for the design of fire and police stations and markets. As City Surveyor, J G Lynde was actively engaged in the project for the new Town Hall, acquiring a site for the new Town Hall and had prepared reports on all seven sites examined. He also made a careful study of the existing and future requirements of the various departments and on 10 October 1866 he submitted plans to the New Town Hall Sub-Committee suggesting the mode of providing the required accommodation. Also involved in the administration of the subsequent architectural competition, formulating the brief and acting as professional advisor to the sub-committee

In December 1878 J G Lynde resigned his post as city surveyor, fearing a conflict of interest between his role advising the corporation and work being undertaken by his son. The Council, accepted his resignation with regret, accepting recognising and appreciating the honourable motives which had induced him to take the step. They also took the opportunity to record their sense of the ability, integrity, and zeal with which he has served the Corporation for a period of twenty-one years, and their best wishes for his future prosperity.'

From December 1878 until the time of his death, he practised in Manchester in partnership with his son, Mr. James Henry Lynde, M. Inst. C.E., the firm being principally engaged in arbitrations, Government inquiries, and legal questions. He was still attending his office on 13 March 1883, only a day or so before his death.

In 1833 James Gascoigne Lynde, became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and at the time of his death was one of the oldest members of the Institute, having completed his 50th year of membership. Mr Lynde was a member of the Geological Society in London and a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and past President (1875-6) of the Incorporated Association of Municipal Engineers. On 16 June 1841 he married Susanna Weller (daughter of Timothy Weller) at St Margaret’s Westminster. They had eleven children including James Henry Lynde born 23 July 1843(qv).

James Gascoigne Lynde died suddenly at his residence, the Orchard, Gore Street Greenheys, on Thursday 15 March 1883, the funeral, being held at the cemetery, Brooklands, on Monday 19 March at one o’ clock.

Address
1833    30 Great George Street, Westminster
1854    37 Great George Street, Westminster
1861    James G Lynde. Town Surveyor, Town Hall, King-street, Manchester (Slater's Directory)
1871    James G Lynde. City Surveyor, King-street, Manchester (Slater's Directory)
1873    James G Lynde. City Surveyor. 21 Cross Street (Slater's Directory)
St Ann’s Street Manchester

Residence
1855    88 Ebury Pimlico
1858    Lawton Essex
1861    223, Brunswick Street, Oxford-street, Chorlton-on-Medlock (Slater's Directory)
1871    223, Brunswick Street, Oxford-street, Chorlton-on-Medlock (Slater's Directory)
1881    12, The Orchard, Gore Street Greenheys Chorlton-on-Medlock (1881 Census)

Obituary     Manchester Guardian 17 March 1883
Obituary    British Architect
Obituary    Manchester Official Handbook 1884
Obituary    Institution of Civil Engineers Minutes of the Proceedings

Reference : davidmanger.co.uk. The Lynde Pedigree

Image : Proceedings of the Incorporated Association of Municipal Engineers 1992 frontispiece