Rattenbury — The Architect of Victoria's Parliament Buildings — A Victim of Murder

Francis Mawson Rattenbury is one of the most famous characters in the history of Victoria. An architect, his life was filled with controversy and strife, but he left a legacy of buildings which have become irrevocably identified with Victoria, including the Parliament Buildings, the Empress Hotel and the Crystal Garden.

Born in England in 1867, Rattenbury arrived in B.C. in 1892, where -- at the age of 25 -- he won the competition to design the Parliament Buildings. With this remarkable beginning to his career, he was soon busy designing throughout the province for government and numerous wealthy clients. But his structures on Victoria's Inner Harbour were always his, and the public's, favourite projects.

At the opening of the Buildings in 1898, the only dignitary not in attendance was the architect.  "Ratz", as he was known, was off to London seeking financing for a scheme to build steamers to transport miners and materials in the Yukon.

An architectural dictator if ever there was one, Rattenbury sought throughout his career the largest commissions and the boldest opportunities.

After a series of great successes in B.C., Rattenbury's reputation fell in his mid-50's, after he left his wife Florrie and appeared publicly with his mistress Alma Packenham.  In her book "More English Than the English", author Terry Reksten describes Ms. Packenham as, "Thirty years his junior, beautiful, giddy, a gifted pianist and a twice-married modern woman who smoked cigarettes in public."

Rattenbury divorced Florrie and married Alma. In 1930, after it became apparent that they would never be accepted socially in Victoria, they moved to England.  The life of the once promising and successful architect ended tragically in Bournemouth, where he and Alma had settled.  To quote Ms. Reksten once again: "The difference in their ages began to tell. Rattenbury slipped from maturity into old age, becoming increasingly deaf and depending more and more on whiskey to see him through long retirement days."

"In 1934, they hired seventeen year old George Stoner to act as their chauffeur.  Within weeks Alma had seduced him and installed him in the spare bedroom as her lover-in-residence.  On the night of March 24, 1935, Stoner, driven wild by the thought that Rattenbury had discovered their affair and would order him from the house, crept in to the living room, found Rattenbury dozing in his chair and clubbed him to death.  Both Alma and Stoner were charged with murder.  Their trial, one of the most sensational to be conducted in the Old Bailey in this century, concluded on May 31, 1935.  Alma was acquitted; Stoner was sentenced to hang.  Four days later Alma, unable to face the prospect of Stoner's execution, committed suicide by stabbing herself through the heart."

Ironically, Stoner was later released from prison, and is still alive in England today.