Lewis Francis Scott Tonar [also known as Lewis F. Tonar] was born in Stoke Cannon, Devon, England in 1860. He was articled to Robert Medley Fulford (1845?-1910) in Exeter, Devon in 1878 and remained with him as his assistant until 1882. He also attended classes at the Architectural Association Schools in London. He worked as an assistant to Arthur Rowland Barker (1842-1915), Diocesan Surveyor, Winchester, for two years and to Keith Downes Young (1848-1929) and Henry Hall (1849-1912) of Young & Hall for a year.
Tonar commenced independent practice as an architect in Exeter in 1889. In the 1920s he was in partnership with Octavius Ralling (1858-1929) as Ralling & Tonar in Exeter and was a member of Exeter City Council Town Planning Committee.
He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911. His address was given as "Rougemont" [and "Rouge Cottage"], Old Tiverton Road, Exeter in 1911 and 1939; 9. Bedford Circus, Exeter in 1911 and 1914; and 16, Bedford Circus, Exeter in 1923. He died in Exeter, Devon on 5 March 1940
St. Mary's Priory, Bodmin: Convent, Bodmin; banks at Tiverton and Honiton; church at Launceston; business premises and baths, &c., Exeter; schools, St. Mary Church, &c.
With Octavius Ralling: At Bodmin, Cornwall: — Public Rooms, St. Mary's Priory, and St. Mary's Convent. New banks (Lloyds), at Honiton, and Tiverton, Devon; swimming bath, Exeter; Turkish bath, Exeter (now converted to business premises); restoration of St. Nicholas' Priory, Exeter; business premises, country houses, etc
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