Runtz, Ernest Augustus

DSA Architect Biography Report (April 17, 2008, 7:11 pm Google Search)



Basic Biographical Details
Name: Ernest Augustus Runtz
Designation: Architect
Born: 1859
Died: 15 October 1913

Bio Notes: Ernest Augustus Runtz was born in 1859, the sixth son of JohnJ Runtz of Stoke Newington. A brother, Sir John Johnson Runtz, laterjoined their father's insurance broking firm as J J Runtz & Son, and wasa member of the City Corporation from 1908 and first mayor of StokeNewington in 1900. Ernest Augustus was articled to Samuel Walker, aLondon architect and chartered surveyor, from 1875 to 1880. Then threeyears later in 1883, he was taken into partnership. By 1889 Runtz haddecided to extend the practice into architecture and began takingProfessor Roger Smith's classes at University College when he won theDonaldson Silver Medal for Fine Art. He subsequently spent two years withFrederic Richard Farrow, then secretary of the Architectural Association,and while with Farrow, passed the qualifying exam, He was, however,refused admission as ARIBA because of his partnership with Walker whichhe dissolved on 1 January 1897 in an initially unsuccessful attempt toresolve the matter; he remained temporarily in the same office at 22Moorgate Street after the dissolution of the partnership.
Runtz then recommenced practice as an architect in partnership withAlbert Charles Breden, although it is unclear what the practice title wasthereafter: there is evidence for it becoming Ernest Runtz & Co [Earl &Sell], whilst in 'Academy Architecture' it appears simply as 'ErnestRuntz'. Born about 1864, Breden had been articled to Benjamin Woollardabout 1879-83, had studied at South Kensington and had spent a period asimprover with Theophilus Allen in 1884. He was then successivelyassistant to Augustus Frere, Thomas Mullet Ellis, Edward Dru Drury &Alfred Lovejoy and the Veritys before joining Runtz. While an assistanthe had passed the qualifying exam and was admitted ARIBA on 13 June 1892,his proposers being Frere, Drury and the London architect and surveyorBenjamin Tabberer.

Runtz was one of those selected to compete for the Strand-Aldwychimprovements in 1900. Breden died on 12 January 1903, and Runtz then tookGeorge McLean Ford into partnership, the practice title becoming ErnestRuntz & Ford from that year. Born in 1867, Ford had been articled toShiells & Thomson in Edinburgh 1884-89, and had spent about a year asassistant to James Bow Dunn before moving to London as assistant to JohnBirch. This enabled him to study at South Kensington and theArchitectural Association and pass the qualifying exam in 1892. He wasadmitted ARIBA on 21 November 1892, his proposers being Leonard AloysiusStokes, Arthur Cates and Edward Augustus Gruning.

Runtz had a very large commercial and theatre practice, mostly in aneo-Baroque style, influenced mainly by Belcher and Pite, but withcontinental nuances. His theatres were much admired by Edwin O Sachs in'Modern Opera Houses and Theatres' but more recent opinion has beencritical. The RIBA relented on the issue of his membership in June 1908when he was admitted FRIBA, his proposers being John MacVicar Anderson,Aston Webb and Charles Henry Brodie.

Runtz was the most high-profile casualty of the Finance Act of 1909which, as he himself observed, had made 'real property an unpopular anduncertain investment', but his financial problems had begun several yearsearlier. From 1897 until 1906 his earnings from his practice had averaged?2,500 to ?3,000 per annum, but in 1907 the Law Guarantee & AccidentSociety failed, resulting in a loss of ?600 per annum in fees. In 1908 hehad to resign from the board of the Birkbeck Bank, of which he had been adirector since 1888, 'as a consequence of his losing an action brought byhim as trustee against the other directors'. This resulted in his losinga further ?600 per annum and incurring legal costs. Runtz's practice hadseveral significant commissions in 1908, but in the following year asecond major client, the New London Discount Company, failed, apparentlyowing significant sums, and on 7 September Ford withdrew from thepartnership which was to show a loss of ?406 for that year. Runtz tookhis son Ernest Munro Runtz into partnership as E Runtz & Son, and thepractice returned to profit in 1911 when it made ?683. During these lateyears he and his son sometimes worked in association with Farrow'spractice.

In 1912 Runtz had to have an operation, having been in poor health for atleast a year. Although he had no other income, his wife's London East Endproperties having produced no rental since 1910, Runtz retired from thepractice, probably with the object of insulating both it and his son fromhis rapidly mounting financial difficulties. A judgment against him for?600 resulted in him becoming bankrupt on his own application on 3 April1912, his debts amounting to ?8,387 15s 2d and his assets ?505 5s 3d.

In January 1913 Runtz's discharge from bankruptcy was suspended for theminimum period of two years. He did not live that long, dying on 15October from the after-effects of the operation of the previous year.


Private and Business Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with thisarchitect:
Address Type Date from Date to Notes
22, Moorgate Street, London EC, England Business 1897 *
10, Walbrook, London, England Business 1903
Victoria Street, Westminster, London, England Business 1909 1912

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training
Employers
The following individuals or organisations employed or trained thisarchitect (click on an item to view details):
Name Date from Date to Position Notes
Ernest Runtz & Co 1898 1903 or 1904 Partner
Ernest Runtz & Ford 1904 7 September 1909 Partner
Samuel Walker 1875 1880 Apprentice

Buildings and Designs
This architect was involved with the following buildings or structuresfrom the date specified (click on an item to view details):
Date started Building name Town, district or village Island City orcounty Country Notes
1899 Hotel Metropole Glasgow Scotland
1900 Glasgow Central Stores Glasgow Scotland

References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this architect:
Author(s) Date Part Title Publisher Notes
Architectural History Vol 13 (1970), p79 - list of theatres
Earl and Sell 2000 Guide to British Theatres, 1750-1950 London
Gray, A Stuart 1985 Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical Dictionary
Pike, W T London
Sachs, E O Modern Theatres and Opera Houses

Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
Periodical Name Date Edition Publisher Notes
Builder 24 October 1913
RIBA Journal 1 November 1913 London: Royal Institute of BritishArchitects
The Times 7 September 1909 Notice of dissolution of Runtz & Fordpartnership
The Times 25 April 1912 Notice of bankruptcy hearing
The Times 22 May 1912 Notice of bankruptcy hearing
The Times 29 January 1913 Notice of bankruptcy hearing
The Times 16 October 1913 Obituary


? 2006, Dictionary of Scottish Architects
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Theatre Architect - referhttp://www.theatre-architecture.eu/db.html?personId=2160

AND for fuller information this is the link which provides detailedbiographical information




http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=207819