GEORGE GREY WORNUM 1888-1957

George Grey Wornum (1888-1957) (with one of his three children)

Winner of the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 1952, his most famous work is the Royal Institute of British Architects' own headquarters in Portland Place, London, completed in 1934. He also contributed to the first class interiors of the original "Queen Elizabeth" liner, and designed the current layout of Parliament Square (which, though greatly praised in an article in "The Times" on 13 November 1952, is under threat of alteration and realignment to cope with the heavy traffic of recent years). He studied architecture under the guidance of his uncle, Ralph Selden Wornum. In 1923 he married the American designer Miriam Alice Gerstle (1898-1989).

His most notable work outside the UK is the English Girls' College in Alexandria, Egypt; founded in 1935 and now known as the El Nasr Girls' College.

He designed the street lamps and lamp-posts still seen in many parts of central London.

His work also included blocks of flats in the "Modern Movement" style, such as Hartington Court, Lansdowne Way, Stockwell and Clareville Court, Clareville Grove, Kensington. Photographs of these and some of his other works are available on the RIBA website.

In 1936 he was asked by Westminster and the City of London to co-ordinate all the street decorations for the Coronation of Edward VIII. (Article and photograph: "Daily Sketch" 23 July 1936). This event was of course subsequently cancelled when the new King abdicated. Modifications to the plans were then made for the Coronation of George VI on the same intended day: 12 May 1937.

In 1946 he collaborated with John Gloag on "House out of Factory", a book about the practical side of the design, production and construction of pre-fabricated houses in the aftermath of the Second World War. (Book published by George Allen and Unwin, 1946)

In later years he spent time in Bermuda for health reasons. He died in New York City just two days before he would have been honoured with a CBE in the Birthday Honours List.