| Office of the Surveyor of Buildings | |
|---|---|
| Department of the Admiralty | |
| Reports to | Board of Admiralty, (1796-1807),Navy Board, (1807-1832), Board of Admiralty, (1832-1837) |
| Nominator | First Lord of the Admiralty |
| Appointer | Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by theKing-in-Council |
| Term length | Not fixed (usually for life) |
| Inaugural holder | Mr.Edward Holl |
| Formation | 1812-1837 |
TheSurveyor of Buildings,[1] also known as theDepartment of the Surveyor of Buildings, was the civil officer initially a member of theNavy Board then later theBoard of Admiralty responsible for superintending, maintaining and improving the BritishRoyal Navy Dockyards, Naval Buildings, and Architectural Works[2] of theAdmiralty from 1812 to 1837.
The office holder evolved out of an earlier post in 1796 when anInspector-General of Naval Works was appointed to superintend theNaval Works Department[3] then under theBoard of Admiralty with responsibility for all civil engineering works in the royal naval dockyards.[4] In 1806 theCommissioners of Enquiry for Revising and Digesting the Civil Affairs of the Royal Navy produced a fourth report (since 1785) in which they recommended the abolition of the Inspector-Generals Department as a semi-autonomous function and recommended the role be re-styled and its responsibilities broadened.[5] In 1807 the title was changed to theCivil Architect and Engineer of the Navy his department then reported directly to theNavy Board.[6] In 1813 the title and role was changed toSurveyor of Buildings whose responsibilities shifted focus towards architectural works. In 1827 the Surveyors department was expanded to include the duties of managing the buildings belonging to theVictualling Department and including its various yards and stations.[7] In 1832 the Navy Board was abolished and its role and responsibilities were merged into theAdmiralty. In 1837 following restructuring the surveyors department was abolished and its functions merged into a newArchitectural and Engineering Works Department[8] under aDirector of Naval Works who then reported to theCivil Lord of the Admiralty.[9]
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