Tom Neville Wynne-Jones

Tom Neville Wynne-Jones
Born(1893-11-19)19 November 1893
Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales
Died21 June 1979(1979-06-21) (aged 85)
Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)public servant; architect, civil engineer
Known forChief Architect of Ceylon
Term1932 - 1953
PredecessorAustin Woodeson
SuccessorHomi Billimoria
SpouseMabel
ParentAugustus Theophrastus Morgan

Tom Neville Wynne-Jones CBE, CMG (19 November 1893 - 21 June 1979) was a Welsh architect, who served as the Chief Architect of Ceylon.

Tom Neville Wynne-Jones was born on 19 November 1893 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales, the youngest son of Augustus Theophrastus Morgan (1857-1936).[1] He studied in Cardiff and served as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in the first world war, between 1915 and 1919.[2]

In 1919 he joined the Ceylon Civil Service, taking up a role as an architectural assistant in the Public Works Department. In 1932 he was formally appointed as Chief Architect. During his career he was responsible for over 2,000 projects, including significant public buildings such as the Survey Department on Kirula Road, Radio Ceylon studios,[3][4] Panagoda Cantonment (Ceylon Light Infantry headquarters),[5] the Independence Memorial Hall[6] and the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour.

As Ceylon had no professional architectural body Wynne-Jones joined the Engineering Association of Ceylon and in 1950 was elected the Association's president.[7][8]

In 1943 New Year Honours he was appointed an Officer of the British Empire,[9] in the 1950 New Year Honours a Commander of the British Empire[10] and in the 1954 New Year Honours was granted a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.[11]

He retired from his position as chief architect in 1953, after the country's independence, and was succeeded by Homi Billimoria. Wynne-Jones however continued to work for the Public Works Department and was the main consulting architect for the University of Peradeniya, succeeding Shirley de Alwis upon de Alwis' death.[12][13]

He later returned to England, where he died on 21 June 1979, at the age of 85, at Frinton-on-Sea, Essex.


  1. ^ Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries and Resources. Plâté Limited. 1924. p. 124.
  2. ^ "2/Lieutenant Neville Wynne Jones". The National Archives. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  3. ^ Gunawardana, C. L. Pujitha (1990). This is Colombo Calling: 1924-1949 : Reminiscences. Perali Publishers. p. 141. ISBN 9789556030105.
  4. ^ New Commonwealth. Vol. 23. Tothill Press. 1952. p. 68.
  5. ^ Athukorale, H. V. (1976). The Ceylon Light Infantry, History of the First Battalion (Regular Force), 1949-1975. p. 115.
  6. ^ Attygalle, Randima (4 February 2018). "Monument to Freedom". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Past Office Bearers". Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  8. ^ Abeyakoon, Ruwanthi (5 September 2007). "Fifty years of Architectural Education". The Daily News. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  9. ^ Ceylon :"No. 35841". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1942. p. 20.
  10. ^ Ceylon :"No. 38800". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1949. pp. 41–42.
  11. ^ Ceylon list: "No. 40056". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1953. pp. 47–48.
  12. ^ University of Peradeniya (PDF). Ceylon University Press. 1954.
  13. ^ Jennings, Ivor (2005). Goonetileke, H. A. I. (ed.). The Road to Peradeniya: An Autobiography. Lake House Investments. p. 270. ISBN 9789555521147.