William Fielding

William Fielding has been described as a “one of those steady but undramatic designers who never sought, nor was subject to, the limelight.”(1)  This assessment understates the career of a prolific Wellington architect whose practice in New Zealand included churches, residential work, and commercial buildings including the Working Men’s Club, The Trades Hall and the Evening Post Building, Wellington.

Fielding was born in Lancashire, England and trained with architect John Whitaker. He became a junior partner with John Dent Harker of Manchester and moved to New Zealand in c.1908. He formed his own practice in c.1910 after a brief association with Kilbirnie timber merchants, the Easson Brothers, and work as a draughtsman for Crichton & McKay. His career in Wellington was long and prolific, and produced designs for nearly 300 buildings.

Footnote:
(1) Fearnley, Charles. “Early Wellington Churches” (Wellington: Millwood Press Ltd) 1977.

 

Other sources:
Mew, Geoff & Adrian Humphris. “Raupo to Deco: Wellington Styles and Architects 1840 – 1940” (Wellington: Steel Roberts Aotearoa, 2014) 
NZHPT Glossary
WCC Heritage Inventory 2001