Thomas Drew [also known as Sir Thomas Drew] was born in Belfast, Ireland on 17 September 1838 and was articled to Sir Charles Lanyon (1813-1889) in 1854. He was clerk of works for two buildings, and superintendent for Sir Charles Lanyon from 1858 to 1861.
In 1861-62 Drew was briefly in partnership with Thomas Turner (?-1891) in Belfast. In 1862 he moved to Dublin where he was employed as principal assistant to William George Murray (1862?-1871) from 1862 to 1867. In 1865 while still working in Murray's office, Drew was appointed Diocesan Architect of Down Connor and Dromore.
In 1867 Drew left Murray's office and established his own practice in Dublin.
Drew was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (FRIAI) in 1863 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1874. He was also elected an Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy (ARHA) in 1870, and a full member (RHA) in 1871. From 1884 to 1910 he was Professor of Architecture at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin from 1884 to 1910. From 1895 to 1907 he was President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. In 1900 he was knighted for his services to architecture. He died in Dublin on 13 March 1910.
Drew worked primarily as a church architect and during his long career designed, altered or restored over 100 churches and cathedrals. He was Consulting Architect of Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, and Armagh Cathedral. Notable among his secular buildings was Ulster Bank, College Green, Dublin (1887-91); and Graduates Memorial Building, Library Square, Dublin (1899-1902).
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The Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940 contains a chronological list of nearly 230 works by Drew. See Here
Avery, Derek. Victorian and Edwardian Architecture. London: Chaucer Press, 2003
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
Murray, Albert E. 'Sir Thomas Drew, P.R.H.A., L.L.D." a memoir'. Royal Institute of British Architects Journal vol. 17, 27 August 1910 pp. 737-740
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 98, 19 March 1910 p. 332
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 98, 4 June 1910 p. 647