Huon Arthur Matear was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland on 10 June 1856. In 1859 he emigrated to Australia but returned to the UK in 1868. He was articled to James Francis Doyle (1840?-1913) in Liverpool, England from 1872 to 1876 and remained as his assistant until 1880 [or 1882 - sources differ].
Matear commenced independent practice in Liverpool in 1882 and was in partnership with Doyle from 1882 to 1887. Following a period in partnership with C.S. Ingham, in 1903 he formed a partnership with Frank Worthington Simon (1863-1933) as Matear & Simon. The partnership was dissolved in 1907. Thereafter Matear appears to have practised alone. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1907
Matear's address was given as Watson Buildings, 4 Harrington Street, Liverpool in 1883; 6 Stanley Street, Liverpool in 1892 and 1897; The Temple, Dale Street, Liverpool in 1900, Orleans House, Liverpool and 20 Weld Road, Birkdale in 1914; and St. George's Hotel, West Bolton Gardens, London in 1915.
Matear's name is not listed in the annual Kalendar Of The Royal Institute of British Architects after the 1915-16 edition. He may, therefore have retired from practice about this time, He died in Esher, Surrey, England on 14 February 1945.
Frimley Hall, Surrey; " Branksome," Buxton: " Briar's Hey", Formby: " Ingleside", Birkdale; " Sawrey-House, Windermere; stores, Cooper & Co., Liverpool; stores. Spiers & Pond, Ludgate, London; Orleans House (offices), Liverpool, £90,000; " Manhattan", Gateacre; Holy Trinity Church and Schools, Southport; St. Andrew's Hall: village at Hadly, Salop — 250 cottages; a large number of cottages at Port Sunlight; additions to Hurst Park, Heyton; St. Luke's, High Park; many large generating stations, engineering works, &c. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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See also Architects of Greater Manchester 1800-1940 [link below]
Armstrong, Barrie and Armstrong, Wendy. The Arts and Crafts movement in the North West of England: a handbook. Wetherby, England: Oblong Creative Ltd., 2006
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 168, 25 February 1945 p. 159
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914