CLERE, Frederick de Jersey 1856–1952

Born Lancashire, son of Rev. Henry Clere, later Vicar of St. Mary's Church in New Plymouth. Trained as architect with Edmund Scott of Brighton and came to New Zealand 1877. In 1883 appointed Diocesan Architect in Wellington. As well as designing more than a hundred churches in such places as Wanganui, Hastings and New Plymouth in addition to those around Wellington, he was responsible for a series of homesteads in more-or-less Elizabethan style, many about the turn of the century in the Rangitikei district. Exhibited: Fine Art Assoc, Wtn 1883–84, ASA 1884 as a Wanganui painter, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wtn from 1889 and was on Society's first Council. Painted mainly watercolours, some being of buildings he had originally designed. A watercolour of surf boats in the New Plymouth roadstead dated 1884 is in Taranaki Museum. Building plans in Turnbull.