#10929, George John VULLIAMY

In July 1836 re entered the office of Sir Charles Barry, with whom he remained till 1841.  He then went abroad and visited France, Italy, Greece, Asia Minor and Egypt.  Whilst travelling he was employed by Henry Gally Knight to make drawings for his work on the Ecclesiastical Architecture of Italy between 1842 and 1844.  Returning to England in 1843, he commenced practising as an architect and subsequently assisted his uncle, Lewis Vulliamy.  He exhibited designs in the Royal Academy in 1838 and in 1845.  He erected a mansion at Dyffryn, Monmouthshire and the Swiss Protestant church in Endell Street (1853).  He became a member of the Royal Archaeological Institute in December 1848 and acted as secretary for some time.  He exhibited objects of interest at the meetings of the institute on several occasions.

On 15th March 1861 he was elected superintending architect to the Metropolitan Board of Works and thenceforth devoted all his time to the work.  He designed for the board some buildings in Victoria Street, several fire-brigade stations and the pedestal and sphinxes for Cleopatra's Needle on the Embankment along with the nearby Camel benches.  He resigned his appointment in May 1886 on account of ill-health and died later that year.