Thomas Wallis (1873-1953) was born in West Norwood and was the son of a bricklayer father and a grocer mother. In 1899, he married his cousin, Edith. They had three children.
Thomas was an Industrial Architect known for Art Deco Style. He was a partner in Wallis, Gilbert and Partners which had 5 partners, although there is some doubt that other parents existed. Responsible for many industrial buildings including the Hoover building on the A40 in Perivale. Wallis considered that the façade of a building provided effective advertising for a company and that good design had a positive effect on good workers.
In 1933 Thomas Wallis stressed in his talk to RIBA “the importance of high standards of materials and workmanship and although quality might be initially expensive it would prove to be the most economic option in the long run” (Form and Fancy: Factories and Factory Buildings by Wallis and Gilbert - Joan S Skinner)
He lived at a number of residences in Streatham including “Doric” 3 Ullathorne Road which was once the home of Charles Derry of Derry and Toms department store and 84 Woodbourne Avenue where he resided during his most productive period as an architect.
English Heritage erected a plaque for Thomas Wallis at Victoria Coach station, which was one of his designs and where his office was situated.
