Trenwith Lovering Wills was born on 14 February 1891 in Oxton, Birkenhead, Cheshire, the elder son of John Trenwith Wills (1844-1915) and Florence Elizabeth Wills née Lovering (1852-1926). The 1891 census shows him living at 35 Kingsland Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead with his parents and a female general domestic servant. His father was shown as a representative of the Press Association. He was baptised on 21 June 1891 at Christ Church, Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire.
The 1901 census shows him living in Church Road, Formby, Liverpool, with his parents, his brother John Godfrey Wills (1893-1918) and a female general domestic servant. His father's occupation was recorded as a commercial correspondent in Liverpool for the Press Association. His brother would be killed in action as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in France.
He was a Royal Academy Schools student from 29 November 1910 to December 1920 and in the 1911 census he is shown as an architectural assistant and student, boarding at the home of Frederick and Florence Mary Chandler at 10 Gauden Road, Clapham.
During World War One he enlisted initially as a private in the 1st County of London Yeomanry (Middlesex, Duke of Cambridge's Hussars), service number 3620, until he was commissioned and served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery. He entered Egypt on 28 April 1915 and was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
In 1923 he entered into partnership with Gerald Wellesley (1885-1972), later the 7th Duke of Wellington, as Wellesley and Wills (Architects). They were responsible for a great many works including alterations made to Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire. In the 3rd quarter of 1923 his marriage to Mary Stuart Russell (b.1895) was registered in the West Derby, Lancashire, registration district.
1925 telephone directories show him listed at 24a Yeomans Row, Chelsea and they are also listed in telephone directories from 1935 at 19 Keats Grove, Hampstead, NW3. This Hampstead address is confirmed in the 1939 England and Wales Register where is shown as an architect living with his wife.
In the 2nd quarter of 1951 he married Simmone Louise P. Linssen A.R.I.B.A. (1914-1994) in the Kensington registration district. Electoral registers in the 1950's and 1960's show them living at both High Jumps Cottage, Jumps Road, Churt, Farnham, Surrey and 24 Yeomans Row, Chelsea.
He died, aged 81 years, on 7 October 1972 at High Jump Cottage and when probate was granted on 11 April 1973 his effects totalled £49,182.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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