Robert Argile

• Birth date            1841
• Marriage              1877 to Ellen Sarah Godkin at the Baptist Chapel, Loughborough
• Death date          5 August 1928
• Probate                22 April 1931, effects £406 10s 8d 

Born in 1841at Ripley, Derbyshire, Robert Argile was the son of Robert Argile senior, engineer, and his wife Elizabeth nee Chapman. It is probable that he started work at Butterley, being listed in the 1861 census as a “fitter of steam engines.” He was educating by his father, and in 1871 he was listed as a “draughtsman.” By 1881 he was described as an “architect and surveyor. By 1884 he had an office in Derby and was undertaking surveying and civil engineering works across the local area. For many years he was also engineer to the Local Board for and was especially concerned with the laying of drains and water supply in the town, something that had long been lacking. At the same time, he was buying land and buildings in the area, becoming a substantial land owner.

Generally, he styled himself principally as a Civil Engineer. Nevertheless, he designed a number buildings locally, designing the Wesleyan Chapel at Mapperley in 1875, the Wesleyan Chapel in Kilburn in 1891 and the Marehay Methodist chapel in 1903. Major works included Langley Building Manchester 1907-1908 and Ripley Hospital in 1911. He may also have assisted his father with the Ripley Co-op buildings in 1880. However, he showed no interest in membership of a professional body and is not listed as an architect in the RIBA Directory of Architects.

In addition, he served on most of the public bodies in the town: not only the Local Board and RUDC, but also the Burial Board, School Board, Higher Education School Managers and Old Age Pensions Committee. He was also elected to the County Council from 1907 to 1913 and was the leader and secretary of the town’s Liberal party. He was one of the founders of the local branch of the YMCA.

Robert Ripley married Ellen Sarah Godkin in the Baptist Chapel in Loughborough, her home town, in 1877 and the couple went on to have three sons and a daughter. He died on 22 April 1928.

Address
1884        Derby

Residence
1871        Wood Street and Chapel Terrace, Ripley
1881-1928    Albert Road, Ripley

Reference    Ripley and District Heritage Trust: The Argile family (including image)