Theatre Architects

Born: 1847 (London, UK)

Died: 1913 (London, UK)

Walter Lawrence Emden was born in the vicinity of London theatre, in The Strand, as the second son of William S. Emden – lessee of London’s Olympic Theatre.

Emden studied Civil Engineering, afterwards joining architect firm Kelly & Lawes in 1870 to become part of the burgeoning construction of theatres in the City.

Emden designed a number of theatres in London, including extant theatres the Garrick and Duke of York’s theatres in conjunction with C.J. Phipps, and a redesign of the Palace Theatre shortly after its opening. In addition to designing many theatres in England, Emden also designed the major reconstruction of the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1895 in conjunction with W. Lister Newcombe.

Emden passed away in December 1913 in Marylebone (London), and is buried in St Margarets at Cliffe in Kent, near Dover.