Harold Arthur Woodington was born in 1866, the seventh of the nine children of William Frederick Woodington (1830-1922) and Sophia Elizabeth Woodington née Looker (1834-1920). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1866 in the Newington Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London). His paternal grandfather was William Frederick Woodington A.R.A. (1806-1893).
In the 1871 census he is shown as aged 4 years and living at 25 Knowle Road, Brixton, Surrey (now Greater London), with his parents and six of his siblings: Frederick William Woodington (b.1855); John Looker Woodington (1857-1943); Elizabeth Sophia Woodington (1857-1940); Flora Mary Woodington (1860-1946); Bianca Rose Woodington (1865-1930) and Horace Augustus Woodington (1869-1916). His father was described as a fine art sculptor.
When the 1881 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 14 years and still residing at 25 Knowle Road, Brixton, with his parents and seven of his siblings: Frederick William Woodington - a mechanical draughtsman; John Looker Woodington - an engine turner; Elizabeth Sophia Woodington - a teacher of music; Flora Mary Woodington; Edith Helen Woodington (b.1862) - a daily governess; Bianca Rose Woodington, who was now calling herself Blanche Rose Woodington and Horace Augustus Woodington. His father was described as a sculptor.
On 1 March 1885 he was baptised at St Paul's Church, Onslow Square, West Brompton, Surrey (now Greater London), where the baptismal register confirms his family were still occupying 25 Knowle Road, Brixton and that his father was a sculptor.
On 15 June 1889 he married Louisa Hannah Bellringer (1863-1936) at St Saviour's Church, Lambert Road, Brixton Hill, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as age 22 years, a bachelor and an architect living at 47 Endymion Road, and his wife was described as aged 26 years and a spinster residing at 63 Arlingford Road, Brixton, the daughter of Henry Wayland Bellringer, an architect.
On 11 July 1889 he was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools to study architecture.
He is described in the 1891 census as aged 24 years and an architect living at 52 Endymion Road, Brixton, London, with his wife and their two children: Arthur Harold Woodington (1890-1959) and Basil Reginald Woodington (1891-1892), together with a lodger and his wife.
The 1900 edition of the Post Office London Directory shows him listed at 72 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey (now Greater London).
Westminster electoral registers in 1901 show him qualified to vote as a rate payer occupying offices at 130 Jermyn Street, London, but that his place of abode was 72 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath. However, the 1901 census shows him as aged 34 years and an architect living at 15 Ashlake Road, Streatham, London, with his wife and five of their children: Arthur Harold Woodington; Muriel Beatrice Woodington (1892-1975); Alfred Paul Woodington (1894-1978); Louisa Edith Woodington (1896-1979) and Owen Wilfred Woodington (1900-1956).
The London A-Z telephone directory in 1908 shows him listed as Woodington, Harold A., Archtct & Survyr. 130 Jermyn St.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 44 years and an architect living with his wife, who had given birth to eight children of which only seven were still alive and residing with them in an eleven roomed property at 36 Thrale Road, Streatham Park, London SW: Arthur Harold Woodington - a pupil on a farm; Muriel Beatrice Woodington; Alfred Paul Woodington - an architect's pupil; Reginald Henry Woodington (1896-1955) - at school; Louisa Edith Woodington - at school; Owen Wilfred Woodington - at school and Marjorie Mary Woodington (1904-1991).
His death, aged 50 years, was registered in the 4th quarter of 1916 in the Epsom Registration District, Surrey. Probate records confirm that he died on 15 December 1916 at Branthwaite, The Crescent, Belmont, Sutton, Surrey (now Greater London). His body was buried on 21 December 1916 in the churchyard of St Dunstan's Church, Cheam, Sutton. Probate was granted on 17 March 1917 to his widow and his effects totalled £1,007-14s-5d.
He is shown as Harold A Woodington on the Royalty Mansions plaque in Meard Street, Soho, London, W1.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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