Harry Bulkeley Creswell [also known as H. B. Cresswell] was born Henry Bulkeley Creswell in Streatham, Surrey [now London], England on 18 May 1869 and studied at Trinity College, Dublin. He was articled to Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930) in London in 1890 and remained as his assistant. He also attended classes at the Architectural Association, the Royal Academy Schools, and Lambeth School of Art in London. He was clerk of works under Sir Henry Tanner (1849-1935) in 1895-96, and worked as an assistant in H.M. Office of Works from 1896 to 1898.
Creswell commenced independent practice in London and Rugby in 1899 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA.) in 1906. He was Consulting Architect to the Crown Agents for the Colonies.
In addition to his work as an architect, Cresswell wrote novels and children's books, and contributed articles to periodicals including Architects' Journal, Architectural Review, Punch and Black and White.
Creswell was elected a member of the Art Workers Guild in 1923.
Creswell died in Petersfield, Hampshire on 4 July 1960. His address at the time of his death was 41 Woodbury Avenue, Petersfield, Hampshire.
Works by Creswell included engineering shops at Rugby (1902); Willens & Robinson factory at Queensferry, Flintshire, North Wales (1903); Causton House, Dunchurch (1910) "Stonedge", Leek Wootton (1912); Public Hail and Institute, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (1911); Law Courts and Law Offices, Slerra Leone (1912); offices, Ceylon Government Hallways, Colombo, 1923; St. Philip's Church, Rugby (1913); houses at Rugby and Keston; offices for Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., Luton (1915); and Ceylon Government Railway Offices in Columbo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka (1923). He also designed the Parthenon Room in the British Museum and the College of Agriculture in Mauritius.
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
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Who’s Who in Archutecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914
Who’s Who in Architecture 1923. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1923
'Obituary’. The Builder vol. 199, 1960 p.703