User:Northcote Lea/Arthur Billing

Arthur Billing

Arthur Billing FRIBA was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1824 and educated at Reading Grammar School. He was the son of Richard Billing (1784-1853) and the brother of Richard (1814-84) and John (1817-63), all surveyors and architects. He married in 1855 and died on 13 April 1896 in Fulham.

Billing trained in the office of Benjamin Ferrey in London from 1847 and commenced independent practice in 1849, his office being on The Strand. In 1851 he read a paper 'On mural painting and the decorations of churches generally', mainly historical but ending with a plea for the increased use of painted decoration. He worked in partnership with Arthur Shean Newman (1828-73) as Newman & Billing from 1860 in Tooley Street, Southwark until Newman's death. Both on his own and in partnership he built mainly churches and warehouses in London and the home counties. He also served as Surveyor to Guy's Hospital and to St Olave's District Board of Works. In 1890 he took his son Arthur Ernest Billing (1857-1920) into partnership; they were joined by Joseph William Rowley in 1893, the practice title then becoming Arthur Billing Son & Rowley. Billing retired in 1894.