MEMOIR. 



THE Manuscript of this book was placed complete in 

 the hands of his publishers by John Sedding. He did not 

 live to see its production. 



At the wish of his family and friends, I have, with help 

 from others, set down some memories and impressions of 

 my friend. 



My acquaintance with John Sedding dates from the 

 year 1875. He was then 37 years of age, and had been 

 practising as an architect almost exclusively in the South- 

 West of England. The foundations of this practice were 

 laid by his equally talented brother, Edmund Sedding, who, 

 like himself, had received his training in the office of Mr. 

 Street. Edmund died in 1868, and John took up the 

 business, but his clients were so few, and the prospect of an 

 increase in their number so little encouraging, that he left 

 Bristol and came to London, and here I first met him. He 

 had just taken a house in Charlotte Street, Bedford Square, 

 and the house served him on starting both for home and 

 office. 



The first years in London proved no exception to the 

 rule of first years, they were more or less a time of struggle 

 and anxiety. John Sedding's happy, buoyant nature, his 

 joy in his art, and invincible faith in his mission, did 

 much to carry him through all difficulties. But both at 

 this time, and all through his life, he owed much, very 

 much, to the brave hopefulness and wise love of his wife. 



