Frederick Minter
Sir Frederick Albert Minter was a British civil engineer most notable for his restoration of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in the 1930s. He was involved in numerous groups and organisations, and was Governor of his alma mater, Framlingham College.
Early life and education
Minter was born in Wandsworth, London, the son of Frederick George Minter of Suffolk and Sarah Gregory of Essex. His father was a surveyor on the Southern Railway who founded the building firm F. G. Minter in 1890 in Putney.Minter was educated at Framlingham College from 1901–04, where he was a member of the football and shooting teams. He then travelled abroad to Egypt, Australia, and New Zealand.
He served with the Royal Marines during the First World War as a captain, serving with the Submarine Miners of the Royal Engineers.
Career
After the war, Minter joined F.G. Minter and worked on numerous projects, including many stores on Oxford Street. He was appointed managing director of the firm after his father's death in 1926.Minter oversaw reconstructions including the Nottingham Exchange and Sadler's Wells Theatre; and new constructions of the Duchess Theatre, the BBC's Broadcasting House, the LCC cottage estate at Roehampton ; and the Fleet Air Arm headquarters, Lee-on-Solent, His postwar structures included the Bracken House in the City of London and the wind tunnel at RAE Bedford.
Minter was most passionate about his work on the restoration of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle and with Hector Bolitho, authored a book about the project in 1925, The King's Beasts. The restoration included the replacement of The King's Beasts, the 41 effigies originally erected on the pinnacles of St. George's by Henry VII. Sir Christopher Wren had ordered the effigies removed in 1682 after condemning the Reigate Stone, the calcareous sandstone of which they were constructed. Wren, who recognized the effigies added structural integrity to the roof, had suggested replacing them with carved stone pineapples, but it was never done. More than two centuries later, Sir Harold Brakspear finally had recommended replacing the effigies as part of his restoration of the chapel. Minter's involvement began with his father, who generously offered to cover the costs of the effigies, which were carved in the firm's own building yard. He also contributed £4,000 to the St George's Chapel Restoration Fund.
After his father died, Minter continued the firm's involvement. He worked closely with architect Sir Charles Peers to install 76 new beasts of 14 types.
Minter's eldest son, Fred, was a chorister at St. George's School at Windsor Castle. The school, which dates to the 14th century, needed restoration and enlargement and Minter also defrayed the cost of his firm's involvement.