Charles Tamlin Ruthen [also known as Sir Charles Tamlin Ruthen] was born in Westoe, South Shields, County Durham, England on 22 October 1871 and was articled to Matthew Hall - Who's Who in Architecture 1914, 1923 and 1926] in South Shields from 1886 to 1890. He also attended Newcastle School of Art. After working as an assistant in South Shields Borough Surveyor's Office, and as Assistant Surveyor to Swansea Corporation, he commenced independent practice as an architect in Swansea, Wales in 1896.
Ruthen was President of the Institute of Arbitrators, and of the Institution of Structural Engineers; H.M. Director-General of Housing, Ministry of Health, from 1921; Member of Council of the London Society; member of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Sanitary Institute; President of the Society of Architects in 1920-21; appointed by the War Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, in January 1907 (in conjunction with Sir Leonard Powell) "to investigate and report upon the use made by Government Departments of their office accommodation"; in January 1918 he was appointed Chief Inspector and Deputy Controller of Accommodation for London Area; in January 1920, he was appointed Consulting Chief Inspector of Government Accommodation. He was also a member of the Grants Committee, Ministry of Labour; member of the General Advisory Committee, Empire Timber Exhibition, 1920; appointed by H.M. Government as Head of a Commission to visit Belgium in September 1921, "to inquire into and report upon housing and labour conditions in Belgium": appointed in April 1923 a member of the Inter-Departmental Committee, "to survey the price of Building Materials"; and in 1924 appointed a member of the Government Committee upon " New Methods of House Building."
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1912 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1918.
Ruthen's address was given as Bank Chambers, Heathfield Street, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales in Wales in 1912 and 1926; and 5 Northampton Gardens, Swansea, Glamoragan, Wales in 1912 and 1914; and 44 Bedford Row, London in 1923 and 1926. He died on 22 October [or 24 September - sources differ] 1926. His death was registered in Swansea, Wales
Architectural work by Ruthen included 29-47 Dillwyn Road, Sketty, Glamorgan, Wales (1905); 1-11 De le Beche Road, Sketty, Glamorgan, Wales (1906); Pantygwydr Baptist Church, Brynmill, Swansea(1906-07); Mond Buildings, Union Street, Swansea, Wales (1911); Carlton Cinema, Oxford Street, Swansea, Wales (1913-14); and Exchange Buildings, Swansea, Wales (1913-14); conversion of existing building into the Albert Hall Cinema, Cradock Street, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales (c.1922).
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Hotel Cameron; Mond Buildings; Pantygwydr Chapel; Swansea Exchange Buildings; Carlton Theatre and Restaurant; Albert Hall; Pictorium; Nurses' Home, operating theatre, male and female Imbecile blocks, etc., for the Swansea Board of Guardians; "Cambria Daily Leader" buildings; and many other works in Swansea and district. The remodelling of the Manchester Hotel, Aldersgate Street; the Bedford Head Hotel, Bedford Square; and the Hotel de Provence, Leicester Square; and other works in London. [Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
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
Neilson, Gren. ‘Sir Charles Tamlin Ruthen (1871-1926), architect’. Gower. Journal of the Gower Society vo. 50, 1999 pp. 6-14
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1926