Bernard Frank Matthews was born in Southsea, Hampshire, England on 26 June 1888. He was articled to William Alfred Pite (1869-1949) in London in and remained with him as his assistant, He also attended the Architectural Association Schools in London for four years. He commenced practice as an architect in Portsmouth, Hampshire in 1911. During World War One he served with the Army in India and after the war was appointed Consulting Architect for Military Works in India, Army Headquarters, Simla, India. In 1960 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for "For services to the United Kingdom community in India."
Matthews was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1911 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1920. He was also a Fellow of the Isle of Wight Architectural Association. He was awarded a Banister Fletcher Bursary and was an Architectural Association Prizeman. His address was given as Pearl Buildings, Portsmouth, Hampshire, and 24, Nelson Road, Southsea, Hampshire in 1914; and 7 Old Court House Street, Calcutta, India in 1939. He died in London in 1970.
Woodhead's Bank, Portsmouth; business premises for Walton & Co., Ltd., Portsmouth; premises for Gleve, Matthews 4 Seagrove, Ltd., South Molton Street, London [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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