John Samuel Phene

John Samuel Phene FRGS, FSA, FRIBA (1822 – 11 March 1912)[1] was a British architect,[2] who lived in Chelsea, London, for more than 50 years.

[3] He was born the son of William Phene, a London businessman and educated at King's Lynn Grammar School, Durham University and Trinity College, Cambridge.

[5] An apocryphal story reports that his wife died on her wedding day, leading to Phene preserving the room in the mansion where the reception had been held.

2 Upper Cheyne Row, Chelsea, adorning it with a variety of fixtures and ornaments, which led to it being called "Gingerbread Castle".

[8] He spent little time in London, preferring to travel the world collecting various interesting artefacts and artwork, and filled the mansion's gardens with numerous statues and ornaments.