So Who Was Ernest Alfred Dakin?

An A-Z of Architects of Loughborough

For a complete list of the A-Z posts please head over to the bloglist 

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So far in this A-Z blogging challenge we’ve heard a bit about

Edward Thomas Allcock

George Harry, and Arnold Montague Barrowcliff

Tom Anderson Collins

Thomas Henry Dobson

all of whom were architects with some connection to Loughborough!

Looking for an entry for the letter ‘E’, I have not found anyone with a surname beginning with ‘E’, with a Loughborough connection, so also tried looking for someone suitable whose first name begins with an E. Hmmm, not much luck there, either.

I did get a bit excited when I found an architect by the name of Edwin Arthur Johnson (1855-1914) who was said to have come from Leicestershire. It turned out he was actually from Leicester, and after some training in Wales, and Croydon, he set up his own independent practice in Abergavenny, so no Loughborough connection there.

I also did a bit of research (well, quite a lot really!) on Edmund Jeeves. He was an architect in Melton Mowbray, and like our Barrowcliff and Allcock, was responsible for designing Melton’s Carnegie Library. Other than that, there were no other Loughborough connections to allow me to present a blogpost on him.

And then I stumbled upon an architect and surveyor called Ernest Alfred Dakin. His life was a bit tricky to unpick, as there was another person with the same name, born around the same time, in Loughborough, but he wasn’t an architect (he worked at the Morris Empress Works at one time).

Architect Ernest Alfred Dakin had been born in Long Whatton in 1883, to farmer Alfred Dakin and his wife Lily Eleanor Ann Booth. At the age of 8, in 1891 Ernest and the family were still living in Long Whatton, and they continued to do so, and at the time of the 1901 census, they were recorded as being at West End. However, by this time Ernest Alfred was aged 18, and was working as a pupil architect. In 10-4 Ernest Alfred took and passed some construction exams in 1904, alongside Willie North Hampton.

Ernest’s father, Alfred died in 1904, so it was Ernest Alfred whose name which appeared on the electoral roll, listed as living at Town Street, Long Whatton. In 1905 Ernest became the Hon Sec of the Long Whatton Conservative Association, and was one of the Masters of Ceremony at a dance held in Long Whatton, the proceeds of which went to the Loughborough Dispensary.

At the time of the 1911 census, Ernest was living with his mother and his sister on Diseworth Road, Long Whatton, and his occupation was listed as assistant architect and surveyor. Ernest served in the First World War, and at the time of his marriage to Rosaline May Allsopp, daughter of the draper, Elijah Herman Allsopp of Market Place Loughborough, on 17 September 1917, he had reached the rank of second Lieutenant. The wedding took place at Loughborough Parish Church; there were no bridesmaids, and the ceremony was of a quiet nature.

In 1918 Ernest’s sister died, and her death was followed very shortly by the death of Ernest’s mother. In 1921 Ernest and his wife, Rosaline were living with Rosaline’s parents at no.109 Ashby Road, and at the time, Ernest was an architect and surveyor working for the town corporation, and based in the Town Hall. In 1925 Ernest was admitted to the register of licentiates of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

In 1929 Rosaline’s father died, and the couple continued to live at the Ashby Road house. Life as an architect meant that Ernest was often called to provide evidence at trials, especially into road accidents. In 1934, he commented upon plans for a property in Coalville which seems to have been occupied illegally.

On 2 June 1936, Ernest’s wife, Rosaline died, and at the time the 1939 Register was taken, Ernest was living at no.109 Ashby Road with his mother-in-law, and is listed as a chartered architect.  

At the time of his death, on 29 January 1944, Ernest Alfred was still living at no.109 Ashby Road, and his effects amounted to £12,860 5s. 7d.

Unfortunately I have been unable to trace any work done, or buildings designed by Ernest Alfred Dakin.

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I'm taking part in the April A-Z Blogging Challenge

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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