Ravenscroft, William

1848 – 1943

The transformation of the inland village of Milford to an up-market seaside resort (incorporating parts of Hordle parish) left an architectural heritage of houses designed by William Ravenscroft. Although many of these primarily Edwardian properties have now fallen victim to the bulldozer and developer, many still remain, including Ravenscroft’s own residence, Briantcroft, in Barnes Lane.

Ravenscroft was born in Reading where his father was a fishing tackle maker. He trained as an architect there, becoming FRIBA in 1892, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries two years later. His first visit to Milford was in 1898, and the first house he designed was Seacroft, which he used intermittently until moving to Milford permanently in 1908.

It is perhaps no accident that Milford-on-Sea (Historical) Record Society was founded the following year, with Ravenscroft as its first secretary. He was a significant contributor to the pages of the Society’s Occasional Magazine over a quarter of a century. His articles were mostly on the church and religious themes, and their importance – and his own continuing interest – is reflected in his 1911 work (of some 40 pages) on Milford church, running, uniquely, to a second Edition in 1936.

A newspaper report in 1934 attributed to Ravenscroft’s architectural work the unimpaired retention of Milford’s old-world character and charm. Consequently, the substantial number of architectural drawings, sketches and paintings held in the archives of Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society, and the large collection of photographs at St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington, provide an invaluable resource for historians.

Sources

Reading Standard 5 November 1943
New Milton Advertiser and Telegraph 10 November 1934, 8 May & 6 November 1943
Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society Occasional Magazine (as below): On web-site: Search ‘Ravenscroft’ for abstracts of Ravenscroft’s articles. [NB All articles currently in process of digitisation.]
Ancestry for genealogical data.

Portrait

William Ravenscroft

Sketch of Wm Ravenscroft by Fuller England 1935: MoSHRS MHR.004477

Contribution to county’s history

Energetic first secretary of Milford-on-Sea Record Society, and substantial and significant contributor especially on church history. Personal archives of Milford’s architectural heritage (MoSHRS and St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery).