Welsh Journals

Sir Charles Tamlin Ruthen (1871-1926), Architect by Gren Neilson Sir Charles Tamlin Ruthen was born on 22nd October 1871 in Eldon Street, Westoe, South Shields, County Durham, the son of John, a Master Mariner, and Harriet (nee Tamlin). He attended the local elementary school and then had technical training at the Newcastle Corporation Science and Arts School. He served as a pupil surveyor in the office of Matthew Hall, the Borough Surveyor at South Shields. In 1890 Ruthen secured an appointment to George Bell, the Borough Surveyor at Swansea. Having progressed in his profession as an architect, he commenced practice in Swansea on his own account in 1896, with offices in Bank Chambers, Heathfield Street. He married in 1894 Matilda Jane Westlake, daughter of a local haulage contractor, W.B. Westlake, at one time a Town Councillor. Their first home was in Gorse Lane (now King Edward Road), then they lived in Terrace Road, and, in about 1910, moved to Northampton Gardens. In 1921 Ruthen purchased Y Derwen Fawr, an estate in Sketty, from Jeremiah Clark Richardson, a member of a prominent Swansea family. The Ruthens had one child, Jennie, who married Garfield Attwood Watkins. Sir Charles spent large sums improving the Derwen Fawr estate, which, in addition to the main residence included three cottages and seventeen acres of land. He altered the house and laid out acres of land as lawns and flower beds. The Italian Garden, for which he bought costly stonework from Italy, was reported to have involved an outlay of over £ 20,000. The Ruthens frequently gave the use of the grounds for garden parties and other purposes. Among the guests who stayed there were Lloyd George (then Prime Minister) with his family; and other Cabinet Ministers. Ruthen was a member of the Swansea Town Council, representing the St Helen's Ward from 1906 to 1908. He showed a particular interest in housing matters, was a member of the Harbour Trust and became a Borough magistrate. During the First World War he served in the Special Constabulary and as a Captain in the R.A.S.C. (Motor Transport). An active member of the Liberal Party, his clubs listed in Who's Who for 1926 included the National Liberal and Swansea Liberal. Interested in foreign travel, another of his clubs was the Swiss Alpine and one of his publications was An Architect's Holiday with a Camera in Northern Italy. In addition to his Presidency of the Society of Architects he served for four years as President of the Institute of Structural Engineers.