CLAYTON, WILLIAM HENRY (1822-77) was the eldest son of Henry Clayton, of Wickford, Tasmania. He qualified in Brussels as an architect and in London (under Sir John Rennie) and practised for some years in Australia before coming to Dunedin, where he became a partner of W. Mason in the early sixties. He made the acquaintance of Vogel (who married his daughter, 1867). In 1869 Clayton was appointed Colonial Architect, in which capacity he designed many important buildings, including the Government block in Wellington and the old Parliament House (destroyed by fire in 1907). He also practised privately, designing among other buildings St Mary of the Angels Church. He was the first to use concrete in a private house, portion of his own residence in Hobson Street (afterwards Queen Margaret College) being of that material. Clayton died on 23 Aug 1877.

Personal information from J. L. F. Vogel; Otago Daily Times, 24 Aug 1877; Wellington Almanac 1878; N.Z. Times, 1 Mar 1912 (Obit. H. C. Flag).

Reference: Volume 1, page 97

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