George Grey Wornum
Illustration — Wornum in 1934, wearing his signature black-rimmed monocle to disguise his missing eye George Grey Wornum CBE (17 April 1888 – 11 June 1957) was a British architect. Grey Wornum was born in London and educated at Bradfield College and the Slade School of Art. He studied architecture under the guidance of his uncle, Ralph Selden Wornum.
Also recorded as Grey Wornum
George Grey Wornum

Bassano Ltd · Public domain
- Born
- 1888 · London.
- Died
- 1957 · New York City.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Occupation
- architect
- Education
- Bradfield College
- Honours
- Royal Gold Medal
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Illustration — Wornum in 1934, wearing his signature black-rimmed monocle to disguise his missing eye George Grey Wornum CBE (17 April 1888 – 11 June 1957) was a British architect. Grey Wornum was born in London and educated at Bradfield College and the Slade School of Art. He studied architecture under the guidance of his uncle, Ralph Selden Wornum.
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Educated At · outgoing
Bradfield College
Organisation

Born In · outgoing
London
Place
Pencil sketch by George Henry Harlow, 1814, http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/largerimage.php?mkey=mw05495
Died In · outgoing
New York City
Place
Awarded · outgoing
Royal Gold Medal
Term
Citizen Of · outgoing
United Kingdom
Place
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q5539913 · wikipedia · George Grey Wornum
In this article
Achievements
Achievements
Badly wounded in the First World War he suffered leg injuries and the loss of his right eye, which had no effect on his subsequent achievements as an architect. He married the American designer Miriam Alice Gerstle in 1923. In his later years he spent some time in Bermuda for health reasons. He died in New York City and was named CBE in the Birthday Honours list published two days after his death.
Wornum was winner of the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 1952. His notability rests upon his design of the RIBA Building, the Royal Institute of British Architects' Headquarters at 66 Portland Place, London. Wornum's entry was judged the best of 284 in the competition for a new RIBA headquarters. Completed in 1934, the building was opened by King George V and Queen Mary. • Illustration — RIBA 66 Portland Place London. One of his earliest commissions, in 1922, was the redecoration and expansion of "The King's Hall" at the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth, which had been built around the outbreak of World War I and had remained only temporarily decorated pending the return of pre-war conditions. He supervised the interior decorative designs of the original liner and was responsible for the layout of Parliament Square greatly praised in an article in The Times on 13 November 1952. His work for Westminster Council included municipal buildings and a simple, stylish design of lamp post, many of which are still in use. His most notable work outside the UK is the English Girls' College, founded in 1935 and now known as the El Nasr Girls' College in Alexandria, Egypt. In 1936 he was asked by the Cities of Westminster and London to co-ordinate the street decorations for the coronation of Edward VIII. The planning was disrupted when the new King abdicated. Modifications to the plans were then made for the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the same intended day, 12 May 1937. In the late 1930s, Wornum designed the Fraser Gardens housing estate in Dorking, Surrey for residents who had been cleared from slum dwellings in the town centre. The development was named after Sir Malcolm Fraser, who had funded the purchase of the land on which it was built. • Illustration — Plaque commemorating Wornum and his daughter In 1946 he collaborated with John Gloag on "House out of Factory", a book about the practical side of the design, production and construction of pre-fabricated houses in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the heading Grey Wornum. His recorded language was English. He was the child of George Porter Wornum. One child is recorded: Michael Wornum. Other recorded relations include Ralph Selden Wornum.
Identity
Identity
George Grey Wornum is recorded as having received Royal Gold Medal.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1888
George Grey Wornum was born in 1888 at London.
1957
George Grey Wornum died in 1957 at New York City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
London.
Birth place
New York City.
Death place
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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