Early Years
Ernest Townsend was born in Parliament Street in Derby, the youngest of James Townsend's five children. His father was a coach builder with Holmes of Derby (later Sanderson & Holmes). Coach building had been the Townsend profession practised for at least three generations. James' father, William, had moved to Derby from Bitton in Gloucestershire in the late 1850s. However by the age of eight, Townsend's caregiver was his elder sister.
His early education was at Abbey Street School and at the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a firm of architects, Wright and Thorpe (later known as T.H. Thorpe Associates), practising at 23 St James St, Derby. Thomas Harrison Thorpe, the junior partner, recognised Townsend's artistic ability immediately and a lifelong friendship developed between them.
Read more about this topic: Ernest Townsend
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or years:
“next to of course god america i
love you land of the pilgrims and so forth oh
say can you see by the dawns early my
country tis of centuries come and go
and are no more what of it we should worry
in every language even deafanddumb
thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry
by jing by gee by gosh by gum”
—E.E. (Edward Estlin)
“In a few years there will be only five kings in the worldthe King of England and the four kings in a pack of cards.”
—Farouk I (19201965)