Benjamin Charles Chilwell was born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England on 28 August 1879 and trained as an architect in Birmingham, England. He also studied at Birmingham School of Art until 1904. He was active as an independent architect in Wednesbury, England from 1903.
By the late 1900s Chilwell had moved to New Zealand, where, with Cecil Trevithick he established an architectural practice, Chilwell & Trevithick in Auckland in 1914. A photograph of a bungalow in Epsom, New Zealand, designed by Chilwell & Trevithick is featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1916 (p.129). The firm was active until at least the 1940s.
Chilwell was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1904 and by the 1930s had been elected a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (FNZIA). His address was given as 8 Springhead, Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England in 1904; and Phoenix Chambers, Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand in 1920 and 1939. He died in Auckland, New Zealand on 1 January 1950
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001