Summary
Clement Stretton, born in 1879, was the third generation christened as Clement andf followed in their footsteps choosing a professional career. He grew up and was educated in Leicester. Articled in 1896 he won a bronze medal for building construction in the South Kensington Examinations and was elected as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, later to become a Fellow. He commenced practice in Leicester in 1904. Clement was a keen sportsman, golfer and motorist and is remembered for his quiet manner, unselfish character and sound judgement. More of his life can be read in the RIBA obituary here.
| Archive link | Link to Clement’s documents and images |
|---|---|
| No of documents | 14 |
| No of Images | 14 |
| Born | Monday, 12 May 1879 |
| Birthplace | Leicester |
| Died | Tuesday, 30 May 1950 |
Family:
Clement married Winifred Gertrude McNarny in 1906 and they had two daughters, Joan and Monica, neither of whom married.
Career:
Clement started his architectural practice in Leicester in 1904 and was responsible for the design and erection of a wide range of buildings including factories, domestic properties, the Roman Cathoic church at Aylestone and, with George Nott, the well-known Leicester Palais-de-Danse. Due to il-health he retired from practice in 1947.
Notable aspects:
• Accompanied his father on a tour of America in 1893, a record of which is here
• Designed the Leicester Palais-de-Danse
• President of the Leicester Branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects 1935-37
• Systematically visited every church and building of historic importance in Leicestershire producing three volumes of records and notes now in the RIBA’s reference library.
• Family home badly damaged by bombing in WW2.
Death:
Clement’s father bought the Freehold to a piece of land for a Vault in Leicester Cemetery, the Deed for which can be seen here. Three generations of the family are burried here. These pictures show the Vault in 2016.
| Place of Death | Leicester |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Winifred Gertrude (Née McNarny) |
| Father | Clement Edwin Stretton |
| Mother | Alice Hannah (Née Thompson) |
| Sibling-1 | Alice Stretton |
| Child 1 | Joan Winifred Alice Stretton |
| Child 2 | Mary Monica Stretton |