Ethel Mary charles

Design & Architecture

1871 –1962  

Suggested by Frances Crow  

Frances writes,
“Ethel Mary Charles was a pioneer of her time. She was the first female architect to be admitted to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 1898. 
As a female architect working in what is still a predominantly male profession, Ethel Mary Charles persistence in the late 1800s influenced the direction of women into architecture as a profession.
Ethel worked in Falmouth, primarily on domestic commissions, designing beautiful Arts & Crafts homes for mainly women clients. Her designs for semi-detached houses for Falmouth, can be seen in the RIBA collections.” 

From RIBA:
“The accepted attitudes of the day restricted Ethel from opportunities readily available to her male peers. When wanting to continue her training as an architect, she was barred from attending the Architectural Association School along with her sister, Bessie.
When wanting to join the RIBA, one member attempted to obstruct Ethel’s entry by instigating a campaign based on the premise that “it would be prejudicial to the interest of the institute to elect a lady member.” 

Despite the prejudice Ethel encountered, she continued to pursue her career. After her apprenticeship with Ernest George, she became an assistant to Arts & Crafts architect Walter Cave.
In June 1898, she passed the RIBA examinations for associate membership. Ernest George nominated Ethel and vouched for her abilities and skills, and after initial opposition, Ethel was finally granted membership. 

Ethel stated publicly that the best opportunities for architects were in commercial commissions. However, like many women designers of the period, she was unable to obtain them as they continued to be reserved for men.
As a result, Ethel focused on domestic architecture often commissioned by female clients and modest housing projects such as labourers’ cottages.”