Lynford Tudor Splendor

 Lynford Fine English Tudor 

The following is taken from the Brisbane Council Heritage Register.

This fine Tudor Revival home is possibly the best example of this style of house in Brisbane. Designed by notable architect, E.P. Trewern, it was constructed in 1928 for successful businessman, James W. Clifford Isles, of Isles, Love & Co. At this time the suburb of Hamilton, established as the locale for large estates of wealthy settlers, was subdivided and became the desired address for Brisbane's successful middle classes.

Eric Trewern is referred to by most architectural historians as the person who introduced the Spanish Mission style and Tudor style house to Brisbane in the years between the two world wars. Casa Ana at Hamilton and Santa Barbara at New Farm are two of his finest examples. Lynford is the first of his Tudor style homes and still stands today as Brisbane's finest original example. Pictures do not do justice to this superbly maintained example built almost 100 years ago. Eric or E. P. Trewern's designed homes demand a premium today firstly for the role they played in Brisbane's housing architecture and secondly for the innovative designs that Trewern incorporated for his discerning clients. 

The following is taken from John W. East's document "Suburban Eclecticism - The Brisbane Architect Eric Percival Trewern (1895 - 1959) and his work" 

Lynford, the house with which Trewern introduced the Old English style to Brisbane, was erected in 1927-28 at Hamilton for James W. Clifford Isles, director of the auctioneering firm of Isles, Love and Co. He was a man of considerable means, and the contract price of £4,200 exceeded even that of Santa Barbara. With this budget, Trewern was able to design a building which exemplified all the fine craftsmanship which is one of the abiding charms of Brisbane's Old English houses.

A multiplicity of building materials makes the exterior particularly interesting. The ground floor is mostly in face brick or quarry-faced porphyry. The upper floor is a competent imitation of traditional English half-timbered construction, with dark adzed beams standing out against the pale stuccoed walls. A large double chimney dominates the front elevation, with a prominent (and no doubt purely decorative) S-shaped tie-bar set into it. The roof of red Marseilles tiles is steeply pitched, with numerous gables, these being half-timbered, or weatherboarded, or simply stuccoed. There is an oriel window at the side, and one of the upper rooms at the front is jettied out above the ground floor. All of this makes for a complex and varied composition.

The solid oak door opens onto a stair-hall panelled in oak, with a wide oak staircase incorporating twisted newel posts. The lounge which opens off this has at one end a large brick fireplace, with a freestone surround rising to a Tudor arch. The walls have a panelled wainscot and the ceiling is heavily beamed. One side of the lounge opens into an enclosed sun-porch, with windows on all three sides, overlooking the garden. At the rear, the lounge opens onto a stone-paved piazza and so gives direct access to the garden. The lounge also connects via sliding glass doors to the dining room, which is panelled to the level of the platerail, and lit by a large window with deep reveals. On the upper floor are the bedrooms and bathroom and a large sleeping porch, with views to Moreton Bay.

James W. Clifford Isles

J. W. C. Isles was a third generation Brisbane businessman with his grandfather being James Isles of Brisbane and Queensland's Finney Isles Drapery business. Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 23 May 1894 to James Thomas Isles and Henrietta Love. James William Clifford Isles married Jocelyn Vyvyan Salisbury and had 2 children. He passed away on 10/05/1967 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His father James Thomas or J. T. Isles founded the auction firm Isles Love in conjunction with James Love. The following taken from the Courier Mail of 1934 provides the background to the firm Isles, Love and Company who James W. Clifford Isles was a director. 

James Thomas Isles - Founder of Isles Love and Company Auction House

Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Wednesday 5 December 1934, page 25

MR. J. T. ISLES DEAD

Noted Business Man SERVICES TO CITY

Mr. J. T. Isles, a director of Isles, Love, and Co., Ltd., died yesterday at his home In Charlton Street, Ascot. He had long been a prominent member of the Business community of Brisbane, and was identified with movements for the welfare and progress of the city, and for benevolent objects, until five weeks ago he had been engaged in the activities of his firm. His last illness then supervened on a stroke. In his youth Mr. Isles was associated with many other young men then notable for their athletic prowess, and some later to be well known in civic or commercial life. Among them were his partner (Mr. James Love), his three brothers, and Messrs. T. Welsby, E. Markwell, Stombuco, J. E. ('Did') Harris, Mark Harris, F. Trimble, and E. Colclough. The friendships of those days were maintained by Mr. Isles throughout the years. Mr. Isles was born in Fortitude Valley in April, 1866. In childhood he accompanied his parents to England, and he received his early education at the famous Bluecoat School, in London, and in Scotland. On their return to Brisbane he attended the Brisbane Grammar School. His father (Mr. James Isles) was a co-founder with Mr. Thomas Finney, of the firm of Finney, Isles, and the young J. T. Isles, after experience with Farmer's, in Sydney, joined that business. In October, 1889, he joined Mr. James Love in partnership in the firm now known as Isles, Love, and Co., Ltd. In subsequent years he became a director of the City Electric Light Co. and Clifford Love and Co. (Sydney), and he had copra interests in the Solomon Islands. 

PUBLIC INTEREST 

He was recognised as an authority on taxation and real estate, and was vigorous in championing any public question or cause that he took up, par-ticularly those he regarded as relat-ing to the interests of the city or the State. A friend and business asso-ciate said yesterday that 'he placed the city before himself.' In discussion of public matters he assumed always the role of the constructive rather than of the destructive critic. He never entered parliamentary or civic life, but he was accepted as a strong influence in moulding public opinion, and in the development of Queensland and Brisbane. He was a former chairman of the Brisbane and South Coast Hospitals Board, and a member of the Y.M.C.A., Royal National Association, Rotary and Constitutional Clubs, and the Tax-payers' Association. He held the Diplomas of the Commonwealth Institute of Valuers (Incorporated) and the Real Estate Institute (Incorporated). A keen business man, he was revered also as one who held the confidence of the business community, and was ever ready to advise and help young men with their feet on the first steps of the ladder of life, and assist the distressed. In 1890 Mr. Isles was married to Miss Henrietta Love, a sister of Sir Clifton Love, of Sydney. He is survived by her and their two sons, Messrs. J. W. C. Isles, a director of Isles, Love, and Co., Ltd., and L. L. Isles, secretary of Clifford Love and Co., Sydney, and by a brother (Mr. S. J. Isles). Two brothers (Messrs. J. A. J. and L. H. Isles) predeceased him.

 CHAMPION ATHLETE 

On the old Toowong sports ground, more than 40 years ago, Mr. Isles won footrunning championships and broke records, and in one day won important 150, 250, and 440 yards races. His brother (Mr. J. A. J. Isles) , Mr. James Love, Mr. F. Trimble, and he won the under 20 fours, with Mr. Mark Harris as cox, as members of the Commercial Rowing Club; Mr. E. Colclough's crew being second. He won many cycle races on the old 'high' machines. With the Fireflies Football Club he had many strenuous matches against the Wasps  both are famous old teams, recalled by surviving players. Mr. Isles's greatest service through the Rotary Club was in connection with the crippled children's movement. He was the first president of the Queensland Society for Crippled Children, a position he held until his death, and he assisted greatly in the establishment of the Montrose Home. After a service at St. Augustine's, Hamilton, at 3.30 p.m. to-day, the funeral will leave for the Toowong Cemetery.

James Isles The First Genertaion Isles in Brisbane

The story of Lynford would not be complete without reference to James Isles the founder of the company Finney Isles in partnership with Thomas Finney and certainly the start of the financial opportunuties available to later generations of the Isles family.

James Isles was born in Kinloch, Pershire Scotland on 16 May 1837, the son of Agnes and James. He married Isabella Jane Jackson on 29 September 1862 in Dublin, Dublin. They had five children during their marriage. He died on 3 November 1888 in Brisbane, Queensland, at the age of 51, and was buried there. He arrived in Brisbane in October 1862 on the ship "Flying Cloud". James Isles had met Thomas Finney in Dublin whilst on business there. They both sailed on the "Flying Cloud" and started the firm Finney Isles and Company in the Fortitude Valley. 

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Saturday 3 November 1888, page 4

Death of Mr. Isles

About 10 days ago Mr. James Isles, of tho well known firm of Finney, Isle, and Co. was seized with an attack of apoplexy, whioh was of such a nature as to confine him to his room. He was attended by Dr. Taylor and Purcell, and seemed to get bettor uuder their treatment, but still he was not able to get about. It was not thought that the end was so near, but this morning at 2 o'clock he died suddenly at his residence, at Clayfield. The deceased gentleman, who was well known and respected, was born at Scone, Scotland, in 1837, and was therefore 51 years of ago at the time of his death. He and Mr. Thomas Finney were in business in Dublin 30 years ago, and they have been associated ever since. After some four or five years in Dublin they came out to Queensland together, and in 1864 commenccd business in the Valley. Six years later they removed to a portion of the present premises now occupied by the widely known firm of Finney, Isles, and Co. The business gradually extended until now it is by far the largest drapery establishment in the colony. Some weeks ago a portion of a block of buildings in court of erection for the firm was completed, but the deceased gentleman has not lived to see the completion of that wharehouse which will ever form a monument of the energy, perseverance, and business tact, which have been the characteristics of the firm. Mr. Isles leaves behind him a widow and four sons, the majority grown up, and for whom much sympathy has been expressed in town this morning. The deceased gentleman took little interest in public affairs, the only appointment lie ever held being that of a justice of the peace. His funeral will take place at 2 o'clock on Sunday.

The Finney Isles and Co Building

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finney_Isles_%26_Co_Building

The first building referred to at the time of the death of James Finney was at the corner of Edward and Adelaide Streets and was known as "The City Exchange Building" built in the mid 1880s. The current Finney, Isles or "Big Block" building was not constructed until 1909.