Office of Works

The Office of Works was an organisation responsible for structures and exterior spaces, first established as part of the English royal household in 1378 to oversee the building and maintenance of the royal castles and residences.
In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings. It was reconstituted as a government department in 1851, which in 1940 became part of the Ministry of Works.

Organisation and key positions

Surveyor, Comptroller and Architect

The organisation of the office varied; senior posts included Surveyor of the King's Works and Comptroller of the King's Works. In 1782 these offices were merged into Surveyor-General and Comptroller.
After the death of the Surveyor-General and Comptroller James Wyatt in 1813, a non-professional Surveyor-General was appointed: Major-General Sir Benjamin Stephenson. He was assisted by three "Attached Architects": Sir John Soane, John Nash and Sir Robert Smirke. This arrangement ended in 1832 with the formation of the Works Department, when architect Henry Hake Seward was appointed Surveyor of Works and Buildings.
Other positions included Surveyor of the King's Private Roads, various roles with responsibility for gardens, and later, Deputy Surveyor.

Surveyor of the King's Private Roads	Surveyor of Royal Gardens	Deputy Surveyor
1660–1690 Andrew Lawrence 1690–1715 Michael Studholme 1716–1731 William Watkins 1731–1737 Richard Arundell 1737–1756 Thomas Ripley 1756–1757 John Offley 1757–1760 Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet 1760–1771 Hon. Edward Finch 1771–1772 Thomas Whateley 1772–1782 Hon. Henry Fane	1660–1670 Adrian May 1670–1684 Hugh May	1718–1719 Colen Campbell 1719–1735 Westby Gill 1735–1748 William Kent 1748–1758 Henry Flitcroft 1758–1780 Stephen Wright 1780–1782 Robert Taylor
1660–1690 Andrew Lawrence 1690–1715 Michael Studholme 1716–1731 William Watkins 1731–1737 Richard Arundell 1737–1756 Thomas Ripley 1756–1757 John Offley 1757–1760 Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet 1760–1771 Hon. Edward Finch 1771–1772 Thomas Whateley 1772–1782 Hon. Henry Fane	Superintendent of all the King's Gardens	1718–1719 Colen Campbell 1719–1735 Westby Gill 1735–1748 William Kent 1748–1758 Henry Flitcroft 1758–1780 Stephen Wright 1780–1782 Robert Taylor
1660–1690 Andrew Lawrence 1690–1715 Michael Studholme 1716–1731 William Watkins 1731–1737 Richard Arundell 1737–1756 Thomas Ripley 1756–1757 John Offley 1757–1760 Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet 1760–1771 Hon. Edward Finch 1771–1772 Thomas Whateley 1772–1782 Hon. Henry Fane	1689–1700 William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland 1700–1702 Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh	1718–1719 Colen Campbell 1719–1735 Westby Gill 1735–1748 William Kent 1748–1758 Henry Flitcroft 1758–1780 Stephen Wright 1780–1782 Robert Taylor
1660–1690 Andrew Lawrence 1690–1715 Michael Studholme 1716–1731 William Watkins 1731–1737 Richard Arundell 1737–1756 Thomas Ripley 1756–1757 John Offley 1757–1760 Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet 1760–1771 Hon. Edward Finch 1771–1772 Thomas Whateley 1772–1782 Hon. Henry Fane	Surveyor of Gardens and Waters	1718–1719 Colen Campbell 1719–1735 Westby Gill 1735–1748 William Kent 1748–1758 Henry Flitcroft 1758–1780 Stephen Wright 1780–1782 Robert Taylor
1660–1690 Andrew Lawrence 1690–1715 Michael Studholme 1716–1731 William Watkins 1731–1737 Richard Arundell 1737–1756 Thomas Ripley 1756–1757 John Offley 1757–1760 Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet 1760–1771 Hon. Edward Finch 1771–1772 Thomas Whateley 1772–1782 Hon. Henry Fane	1715–1726 John Vanbrugh 1726–1737 Charles Dartiquenave 1738–1760 Thomas Hervey 1761–1763 George Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow 1763–1763 Lord Charles Spencer 1763–1764 John Marshe Dickinson 1764–1769 Charles Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan 1770–1782 William Varey	1718–1719 Colen Campbell 1719–1735 Westby Gill 1735–1748 William Kent 1748–1758 Henry Flitcroft 1758–1780 Stephen Wright 1780–1782 Robert Taylor

Administrative positions

The office also had posts of Secretary, Master Mason and Master Carpenter.