Biography
Percy Edward Thomas was born on 13 September 1883 in South Shields, the son of a sea captain from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, with whom the family often travelled. The family moved to Cardiff during the 1890s, and Captain Thomas died at sea in 1897.
Percy Thomas began work in a shipping office, but changed to a career in architecture on advice from a phrenologist. In 1903 he won the architecture competition at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Llanelli. After several years working in England, he began collaborating with Ivor Jones of Cardiff, and they went into partnership in 1913.
During World War I he joined the Artists Rifles in 1915, and served on the Western Front.
After the War he returned to Cardiff. He was commissioned by David Davies, 1st Baron Davies of Llandinam, to design the Temple of Peace in Cathays Park.
As a designer of civic buildings, such as Central Police Station, Bristol, Swansea Guildhall (1930–34) and Hiatt Baker Hall, Bristol (1966), he was a rival to Arthur John Hope. Other works by him included the campus of Aberystwyth University. He was elected president of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1935 (until 1937) and awarded their Royal Gold Medal in 1939. He was knighted in 1946.
Percy Thomas became seriously ill in 1962, retiring from the company in 1963. He died on 19 August 1969.
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