Was born in Britain. He trained with his father, a builder and contractor, for eight years before emigrating to Australia in 1886 where he was employed to manage the stone business of a firm of builders in Brisbane. In 1887 he left to go south and 'led a nomadic life for several months in the bush of New South Wales and Victoria, gaining knowledge which, although not professional, proved very useful in after years' (LRIBA nomination papers 1911). He arrived in Melbourne and was made manager of the New Zealand Stone Company's works. He left after eighteen months, changing jobs several times before returning to England in 1893, with his wife and two children. He re-entered his father's business but 'in 1895 the desire to again be travelling overtook me and this time I decided to go to South Africa' (LRIBA nom papers 1911). Here he joined the service of the German Mining & General Business firm under PE TREEBY, AVIA, remaining for two years. In 1899 he set up as an architect in Cape Town. After six months, during which there was not much business, he closed the office and joined the city council's architectural department, transferring from there to the government Harbour Board offices. He was listed in partnership with Treeby (cf TREEBY & EDWARDS) in Juta's Cape Town directory for 1901 but the partnership does not appear to have lasted long and neither Treeby or Edwards mentions such a partnership.
From 1901 to 1902 he worked for BAKER & MASEY as clerk of works and draughtsman before rejoining the city council as an assistant building surveyor in 1902, being promoted in 1904 and made a permanent official in 1907.
In 1911 Edwards was elected a Licentiate member of the RIBA, his address at the time being c/o the city hall (Cape Town) (he lived at Hildesheim in Sea Point), he enclosed a list of buildings with his LRIBA application, stating he had executed these buildings as principal, including a perspective of Table Bay Yacht Club. Edwards registered with the Institute of South African Architects in 1927 and resigned from the ISAA in 1931. His LRIBA papers had been signed by CH SMITH who said he had known Edwards since 1896. Reg Prob RIBA 1911; LRIBA 1911; ISAA 1927; FIAA. (Juta's CT dir 1901; ISAA mem list; LRIBA nom papers (1911) 769)All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. List of projects With photographs
 With notes
10 Flats and shop for M Gompels: 1931. Green Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Houses and a shop for S Phillips: 1898. Woodstock, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Houses for J Foulds: 1902. Sea Point , Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect [Intial given CA?] *
| 2 Shops and annexe for RJ Verster: 1927. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 3 Cottages, one with shop for FW Rix: 1898. Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect [Ascribed] *
| 4 Single-storey cottages: 1800s : 1901. Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations and additions) *
| 4 Single-storey dwellings for J Rathburn: 1898. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 6 Houses for GE Deighton: 1903. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 6 Houses for Messrs Morris Brothers: 1903. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect [H only initial given] *
| Additions to house for S Phillips: n.d. : 1898. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Additions) *
| Addtional storeys to houses for S Phillips: 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations and additions) *
| Brick stack: pre-1911. Wynberg, Western Cape - Architect
| Church of St Barnabas: 1896. Tamboers Kloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Assistant Architect
| Coal store for Hoberman: 1912. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| De Smidt St 18-20, Houses: c1925. De Waterkant, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Domestic quarters and brick factory: pre-1911. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
| Double-storeyed house for F Recarde: 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Farmhouse: pre-1911. Muldersvlei, Stellenbosch, Western Cape - Architect
| Fish markets: pre-1911. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Flats/shops: 1931. Green Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Government House, staff cottage: pre-1911. Cape Town, Western Cape - Assistant Architect
| House: pre-1911. Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House & stables: pre-1911. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House A Kannemeyer: 1800s : 1904. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect Alterations *
| House Cardew: pre-1911. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House for A Plint: 1905. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for J Alexander: 1900s : 1929. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect Alterations and additions *
| House for JS Steyn: 1902. Sea Point , Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for WB Baker: 1903. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect [H only initial given] *
| House J Foulds: 1902. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations) *
| House RW Lee: 1904. Sea Point , Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Houses extended for W Gelb: 1800s : 1898. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations and additions) *
| Marine Hotel: pre-1911 : 1923. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1911 *
| Messrs Bull Sellars and Company: 1902. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Additions) *
| School for the Cape School Board [Then designated 'Coloured']: 1931. Diep Rivier, Western Cape - Architect *
| Silesia Building: 1896. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
| Single-storey cottage - addtional floor for LJ Weller: 1902. Green Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations and additions) *
| Single-storey house for EA Stigant: 1903. Mowbray, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| South African College House: 1907. Cape Town, Western Cape - Assistant Architect
| Sports pavilion for the Sea Point Tennis Club: 1905. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Warehouse for Messrs Woof and Company: 1902. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations) [Ascribed. Initials not given] *
| Weiner's Bakery for F Muhl: 1900s : 1927. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect Alterations and additions *
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Books citing EDWARDS |
