Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School (1914)
The Masonic Club and Hall, Chatham (1905)
Children
Mary Bond (m. Stanley Skinner, 1910)
George Edward Bond was a British architect and surveyor based in Chatham, Kent, active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was responsible for the design of numerous residential, civic, and religious buildings throughout Medway and Kent, often working closely with local builder Charles Edward Skinner.[2]
George Edward Bond (July 1853 – 20 May 1914)[3] was celebrated in his obituary as “the most expert architect this part of Kenthas known.”[4] He came to Medway in 1883 to serve as Clerk of Works and foreman for William Callund’s practice, where his first significant assignment was supervising the construction of Bernard’s Palace of Varieties in Chatham. Soon after, he partnered with James Nash to rebuild Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School on Rochester High Street.[5][6]
In 1886, Bond launched his own practice—George E. Bond Architect and Surveyor—at Victoria Buildings, 384 High Street, Rochester.[7] His inaugural design is thought to have been “Ingleside,” a villa on Chatham’s Maidstone Road that now functions as the Medway Registrar’s Office.[8] He designed several notable public buildings, including Chatham Town Hall (1898–1899), the Medway Conservancy Board offices on Rochester High Street (1909), the Theatre Royal on Chatham High Street (1899),[9] the Baptist Church on Crow Lane,[10] the Liberal Club on Castle Hill,[11]Chatham Free Library, and the Aveling & Porter building on Strood Esplanade.[12] Unfortunately, the Aveling & Porter premises were demolished by Medway Council in 2010.[13] In addition to these, his work encompassed a range of houses, churches, and shopfronts.[14]
Pier Chambers building (1094), viewed from Medway Street in Chatham, Kent, England.
By 1904, his growing practice warranted the construction of bespoke offices at Pier Chambers on Chatham’s Sun Pier[15], in which Bond relocated to, where he entered into a partnership with architect Frank T. Goring.[16]
In addition to his public commissions, Bond designed numerous private residences, including his own home—St Ronan’s—on King Edward Road, Rochester (built in 1909 and now incorporated into The King’s School). His initials remain visible on the concrete corbels beside the entrance.[17] He frequently worked with builder Charles Edward Skinner—who would later become his son‑in‑law—on projects for local leaders such as W. D. Driver, then Mayor of Chatham.
A staunch Liberal, Bond chaired the Rochester Liberal Club from 1904, designed the classical Freemasons’ lodge on Manor Road in Chatham in the same year, served as a trustee of the Chatham Savings Bank, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1908. From 1909 until 1913 he was President of the Society of Architects.
Bond passed away at St Ronan’s on Wednesday, 20 May 1914, and was interred at St Margaret’s Cemetery on Maidstone Road, Rochester.[18]
TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF GEORGE EDWARD BOND JULY 4th 1853 – MAY 9th 1914 ALSO OF SARAH BOND FEB. 10th 1854 – JUNE 9th 1942 "Lord in hope we give back what was given yielding one we love to thee"
Notable projects
Residential
69 and 71 Maidstone Road, Chatham – Pair of seven-bedroom semi-detached homes (c. 1900–1902).[19][20]
124 Maidstone Road, Chatham – Designed between 1900 and 1902.[21]
Chatham Town Hall – New addition to the building in the early 20th century, originally designed by George Edward Bond as a town hall before being converted into a theatre.
Prince of Orange Public House – 24 High Street, Chatham.[23]
Religious
Primitive Methodist Church, Mills Terrace, Chatham – Designed in 1893.[24]
The Masonic Club and Hall, 5 Manor Road, Chatham – Designed c. 1905.[25]
Collaborators
Bond frequently worked with Charles Edward Skinner, a local builder based in Chatham. Skinner constructed many of Bond’s buildings, including churches, villas, and public buildings. The two were later linked through family as well, when Bond’s daughter Mary married Stanley Skinner, Charles’ son.[26]
Legacy
Although some of Bond’s buildings have since been demolished[27] or altered, many still survive and continue to shape the architectural fabric of Medway. His designs are characteristic of late Victorian and Edwardian domestic architecture, often incorporating ornate façades, turrets, and thoughtful proportions.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). foma-lsc.org. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2025-11-07. .... Alderman C. E. Skinner whose house Bond had designed and who was the builder for several of his other projects.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. Described in his obituary as "The most expert architect that this part of Kent has known", George Bond certainly left an impressive legacy of buildings in the Medway Towns.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. He was born in Chester on the 4th July 1853, and moved to Medway as Clerk of Works for William Callund architects in 1883. His first major project was to oversee the building of Barnard's Palace of Varieties in Chatham – which was located opposite the Theatre Royal. The architect for the project, James Nash, was obviously impressed with George Bond's work as the following was written - "The attentive and obliging clerk of works was Mr G. E. Bond, who has shown much ability in superintending the whole of the works". George Bond went on to collaborate with James Nash on the rebuilding of Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in Rochester High Street
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. George Bond set up his own business in 1886 as George E. Bond, Architect and Surveyor, at Victoria Buildings, 384 High Street Rochester ....
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. His first design is believed to have been 'Ingleside', a house in Chatham Maidstone Road that later became the Medway Registrar's Office.
↑ Historic England. Chatham Intra, Medway, Kent: A Desk-Based Assessment(PDF). One of the leading architects of Chatham and Rochester was George Edward Bond (1853-1914), responsible for numerous public buildings, including Chatham Town Hall (1898-90),the Medway Conservancy Board office in Rochester High Street (1909) and the Theatre Royal, Chatham High Street (1899) ....
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. The Baptist Church in Crow Lane,The Baptist Church in Crow Lane,
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. The Liberal Club on Castle Hill ....
↑ The City of Rochester Society - Councillors and decision making(PDF). 2009. The unlisted Aveling and Porter building is one of only a handful of buildings of architectural and historic significance in Strood. It dates ¢.1906 and was designed by local architect George Bond as the headquarters of Aveling and Porter, manufacturers of agricultural engines.
↑ "Bulldozers Move in on Strood's Edwardian Gem - SAVE Britain's Heritage". SAVE Britain's Heritage. Archived from the original on 2025-08-03. Retrieved 2025-11-07. Medway council has started demolition of the Aveling & Porter Building in Strood, Kent. 12/02/10: Confirmation today that demolition is well underway and the site will be used as a temporary car park!
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. By 1904 his business had expanded to necessitate purpose-built offices at Sun Pier.
↑ Historic England. Chatham Intra, Medway, Kent: A Desk-Based Assessment(PDF). p.41. He is known to have had an office in Chatham Intra at Victoria Buildings before moving to the Sun Pier Chambers, when he was in partnership with another architect, Frank T. Goring.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07. George Bond also built many private houses and villas including his own house, St Ronan's (1909) in King Edward Road, Rochester (now part of the King's School). His initials can still be seen embellished in the front doorway.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). www.medway.gov.uk. p.1. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2025-11-07. Bond also designed a large villa for the site between 71 and 79. However, this was never built and the land was not developed until the 1930s.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). www.medway.gov.uk. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2025-11-07. who was responsible for .... several of the larger properties including numbers 63, 69-71 ....
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). www.medway.gov.uk. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2025-11-07. .... who was responsible for Chatham Town Hall and the Chatham Theatre Royal designing several of the larger properties including numbers 63, 69-71, 79 and 124.
↑ Historic England. Chatham Intra, Medway, Kent: A Desk-Based Assessment(PDF). p.41. Several buildings in Chatham Intra have been attributed to Bond including Sun Pier Chambers (Fig. 33) and The Prince of Orange Public House, No. 24 Chatham High Street ....
↑ "Chatham Historical Society - Primitive Methodist Church". chathamhistoricalsoc.chessck.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-11-07. Plans were drawn up by George Bond, the ubiquitous local architect, and building work was commenced in 1893 by the prolific local builder and borough councillor, Charles Skinner.
↑ "Chatham Historical Society - Masonic Hall Chatham". chathamhistoricalsoc.chessck.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-11-07. This building, which still stands on the steeply rising Manor Road, was the work of George Bond, the prolific local architect .... The Club was opened in 1905 and Bond designed it in the ornate "English Renaissance" style popular during the Edwardian period. The exterior is of light bricks with Monk's stone dressings.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). foma-lsc.org. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2025-11-07. Mary later married Stanley Skinner the son of the builder, Alderman C. E. Skinner whose house Bond had designed and who was the builder for several of his other projects.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). cdn.ymaws.com. p.16. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2025-11-07. Chatham - Chatham, Phil. Carnegie, Arch. George Bond, 1904 ext. 1961-62, B (24.10.03) p. 414, dem. 1980s.
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