Harold Sydney Rogers
Mayor of Oxford 1937/8
Harold Sydney Rogers (1877–1953) was born in Richmond, Surrey.
The 1881 census shows Rogers at the age of three living at 69 Church Road, Richmond with his father, Sydney James Rogers (a surveyor aged 32 and born in Lambeth) and his mother Florence Mary Rogers (aged 27 and born in Clapham). The family have a cook, a housemaid, and a nurse living with them.
By the time of the 1901 census, Rogers’s father had died, and he was living in the same house with his mother and two servants.
Rogers was sent to St Edward’s School in Oxford and then went on to Oriel College.
In 1909 Rogers married Etheldreda Urling-Smith, younger daughter of the Revd H. Urling-Smith, who had been the Curate of St Michael & All Angels Church. The 1911 census shows Rogers, described as an architect, living at Iddesleigh Mansions, Westminster, with his wife and one servant.
In 1912 Rogers returned to Oxford and set up in private practice as an architect. His business was at 88 St Aldate Street and his home at 269 Banbury Road.
Rogers became a prominent Oxford architect who was mainly involved in ecclesiastical work. He is best known for St Luke’s Church in Cowley, for new buildings at St Edward’s School, Somerville College, and St Edmund Hall, and for the reconditioned almshouse at Bartlemas. He was elected a Fellow of ARIBA in 1924, and was President of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, & Oxfordshire Architectural Association in 1925.
Rogers was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, and had an interest in old prints, stamps, the history of the later Stuarts, and Savoy opera. He was a devout churchman, being a member of the Oxford Diocesan Conference and a sidesman and member of the Parochial Church Council of St Michael & All Angels Church.
Rogers came on to the City Council in 1930 as a Conservative. He was made an Alderman, and elected Sheriff of Oxford for 1935/6. The following year he was elected Mayor of Oxford (for 1937/8).
Above: Lord Nuffield, James Richard Benson (Sheriff), Harold Sydney Rogers (Mayor),
President of Motors Institute, W. Thomas (Director), and Lord Kenilworth (Wolsey Co.).
In 1948 Rogers resigned after 22 years on the council without a break. He died at his home at 269 Banbury Road the age of 75 on 25 February 1953. His funeral was at St Michael & All Angels Church in Summertown, and he was buried at Wolvercote Cemetery.
In 1956 Church Street in Summertown was renamed Rogers Street in his memory.
See also:
- Oxford Times, 27 February 1953, p. 14 (report on Rogers’ death)
- Oxford Times, 6 March 1953, p. 8 (report on Rogers’ funeral)
- 1881 Census: Surrey (Richmond), 844/149