Thomas Mainwaring Penson

His father and grandfather, who were both named Thomas Penson, were also surveyors and architects.

[2] Thomas Mainwaring initially designed buildings in the area of the practice, including stations for the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway.

This has been designated by English Heritage at Grade II in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

[4][5] He is credited with pioneering the Black-and-white Revival (vernacular or half-timbered) style in the city during the 1850s.

They include Crypt Chambers (1858) in Eastgate Street, which is in Gothic Revival style,[10] Queen Hotel (1860–61) opposite Chester railway station, which is Italianate,[11] and Grosvenor Hotel (1863–86) in Eastgate Street, which is constructed in a mixture of timber-framing, brick and stone.