William Chadwell Mylne

Who was William Chadwell Mylne?

William Chadwell Mylne, FRS was a British engineer and architect.

He was descended from a Scottish family of masons and architects, and was the second son of Robert Mylne, surveyor to the New River Company, and builder of the first Blackfriars Bridge in London.

Initially, William's elder brother Robert was intended to take over his father's business, but when Robert opted for a military career, William began to assist his father, surveying land for the Eau Brink Cut, on the River Great Ouse, in 1797. He also undertook work on the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal. In 1804 he was employed by the New River Company as assistant to his father, and upon his father's retirement in November 1810, he became chief engineer of the Company, a post he held until 1861.

From 1819 Mylne was engaged in laying out residential streets on the New River Company's property at Clerkenwell, including Myddelton Square, Amwell Street, Inglebert Street, and River Street. Mylne later designed the gothic St Mark's Church in Myddelton Square, and Clerkenwell Parochial Charity Schools.

Mylne designed several bridges, including the iron Garret Hostel Bridge in Cambridge, and repairs to the Caversham Bridge in Reading. He also entered the 1827 competition to design Clifton Bridge in Bristol. Other architectural works include a card room at Stationers' Hall, London, Harpole Rectory in Northamptonshire, and his own home, Flint House, Great Amwell.