# Charles Tringham

Charles Tringham (1841–1916) was a New Zealand architect. Born in Winforton, Hertfordshire, England, Tringham moved to Wellington and established himself as an architect, designing buildings such as the Queen Margaret College Tower and Westoe. Tringham later served as president of the Wellington Association of Architects before later retiring to the Wairarapa as a farmer.

## Early life

Tringham was born in Winforton, Hertfordshire, England, in 1841. It is believed that Tringham was educated in woodworking in England. On December 1864, Tringham arrived in Auckland and gave his occupation as a carpenter. Tringham soon left for Wellington and started a partnership with a builder.

## Transition to architecture

In December 1866, Tringham quit his partnership to work as a builder and undertaker. The following year he was advertising as an architect and receiving architectural contracts. Most of Tringham's early contracts were houses, possibly worker's houses given that single tenders were called for multiple houses. In April 1868, Tringham married Margaret Hunter Bennett, Bennett was the daughter of the Registrar General and this marriage may have elevated Tringham's social status and helped with obtaining high profile contracts. Tringham ended up receiving contracts for wealthy and high class citizens such as Sir William Fox and Thomas Coldham Williams. One of the most notable designs of Tringham's was Westoe, a large Italianate residence for William Fox, second premier of New Zealand. Westoe was possibly inspired by Osborne House and has an asymmetrical façade. Tringham worked almost exclusively within Wellington Province, although he did design the Oruawharo Homestead in Takapau. In 1885 Tringham was responsible for planning the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition.
Tringham was one of the main architects in Wellington up to the 1890s. Tringham was responsible for over 340 designs.

## Later life

In 1895, Tringham was elected as president of the Wellington Association of Architects. Tringham later retired from architecture and took up sheep farming in the Wairarapa, near Featherston until his death in 1916. Outside of architecture Tringham served as a director for different companies, owned shares in mining corporations, and owned land in Petone.

## List of buildings

| Name | Date | Note |
| Turongo Anglican Church | c.1865 | |
| Manners Street Wesleyan Church | 1869 | Burnt down in 1879. |
| Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church | 1872 | Demolished in 1965. |
| Johnston House, Fitzherbert Terrace | c.1873 | Demolished in the 1930s |
| St Patrick's Church, Makara | 1873 | Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. |
| Westoe | 1874 | Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand |
| Plimmer House | 1874 | Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand. |
| All Saints' Church, Foxton | 1876 | |
| St Mark's Church, Wellington | 1876 | Extended in 1888, demolished in 1965. |
| St Thomas' Church, Sanson | 1877 | Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. |
| Queen Margaret College Tower | 1878 | Substantial renovation and extension of an existing building. Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. |
| Oruawharo Homestead | 1879 | Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand |
| New Zealand Shipping Company Office | 1879 | |
| The Pines | c.1875 | Unknown architect, possibly Tringham. Registered as a category B building with the Manawatu District Council. |