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{{Short description|Former UK government role}}{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} The First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings was a position within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and subsequent to 1922, within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It took over some of the functions of the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in 1851 when the portfolio of Crown holdings was divided into the public and the commercial. The position was frequently of cabinet level. The office was renamed Minister of Works and Buildings and First Commissioner of Works in 1940, Minister of Works and Planning upon receiving statutory planning powers from the Ministry of Health in 1942, Minister of Works when those planning powers were moved to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning in 1943, and finally Minister of Public Buildings and Works in 1962. In this last form the commissioner had “additional responsibility for studying the problems of the building industry”. On 15 October 1970 the role was amalgamated with the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Department of the Environment.BOOK, National approaches to the governance of historical heritage over time: a comparative report, 2008, IOS Press, 978-1-58603-853-3, Fisch, Stefan, Cahier d’histoire de l’administration, Amsterdam Berlin, 189–190, Administering the English national heritage, Gavin, Drewry,

List of Works Commissioners and Ministers

First Commissioners of Works (1851–1940)

{| class=“wikitable” style="text-align:center“|+First Commissioner of Works! colspan=2 | Portrait! Name(Birth–Death)! colspan=2 | Term of office! Party! Ministry

Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset>Edward SeymourLord SeymourMP for Totnes(1804–1885)| 1 August1851| 21 February1852	Whig	Russell I

John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland>Lord John MannersMP for Colchester(1818–1906)| 4 March1852| 17 December1852	Conservative	Who? Who?

Sir William Molesworth, 8th Baronet>Sir William Molesworth, BtMP for Southwark(1810–1855)| 5 January1853| 21 July1855	Radical	Aberdeen ministry	(Peelite–Whigs (British political party)>Whig)

Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover>Sir Benjamin Hall, BtMP for Marylebone(1802–1867)| 21 July1855| 21 February1858	Whig	Palmerston I

John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland>Lord John MannersMP for Leicestershire North(1818–1906)| 26 February1858| 11 June1859	Conservative	Derby–Disraeli II

Henry FitzRoy (politician)>Henry FitzRoyMP for Lewes(1807–1859)| 18 June1859| 17 December1859	Liberal	Palmerston II

William Cowper-Temple, 1st Baron Mount Temple	William CowperMP for Hertford (UK Parliament constituency)>Hertford(1811–1888)	9 February1860	26 June1866	Liberal

Russell II

John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland>Lord John MannersMP for Leicestershire North(1818–1906)| 6 July1866| 1 December1868	Conservative	Derby–Disraeli III

Austen Henry LayardMP for Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)>Southwark(1817–1894)| 9 December1868| 26 October1869	Liberal	Gladstone I

Acton Smee AyrtonMP for Tower Hamlets (UK Parliament constituency)>Tower Hamlets(1816–1886)| 26 October1869| 11 August1873	Liberal

William Patrick AdamMP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire (UK Parliament constituency)>Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire(1823–1881)| 11 August1873| 17 February1874	Liberal

Lord Henry Lennox>Lord Henry LennoxMP for Chichester(1821–1886)| 21 March1874| 14 August1876	Conservative	Disraeli II

Gerard Noel (politician)>Gerard NoelMP for Rutland(1823–1911)| 14 August1876| 21 April1880	Conservative

William Patrick AdamMP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire (UK Parliament constituency)>Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire(1823–1881)| 3 May1880| 1880	Liberal	Gladstone II

George Shaw Lefevre, 1st Baron Eversley>George Shaw LefevreMP for Reading(1831–1928)| 29 November1881| 13 February1885	Liberal

Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery>Archibald Primrose5th Earl of Rosebery(1847–1929)| 13 February1885| 9 June1885	Liberal

David Plunket, 1st Baron Rathmore>David PlunketMP for Dublin University(1838–1919)| 24 June1885| 28 January1886	Conservative	Salisbury I

Albert Parker, 3rd Earl of Morley>Albert Parker3rd Earl of Morley(1843–1905)| 17 February1886| 16 April1886	Liberal	Gladstone III

Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin>Victor Bruce9th Earl of Elgin(1849–1917)| 16 April1886| 20 July1886	Liberal

David Plunket, 1st Baron Rathmore>David PlunketMP for Dublin University(1838–1919)| 5 August1886| 11 August1892	Conservative	Salisbury II

George Shaw Lefevre, 1st Baron Eversley>George Shaw LefevreMP for Bradford Central(1831–1928)| 18 August1892| 10 March1894	Liberal	Gladstone IV

Herbert Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone>Herbert GladstoneMP for Leeds West(1854–1930)| 10 March1894| 21 June1895	Liberal	Rosebery

Aretas Akers-Douglas, 1st Viscount Chilston>Aretas Akers-DouglasMP for St Augustine’s(1851–1926)| 4 July1895| 11 August1902	Conservative	Unionist government, 1895–1905	(III & IV)}}(’’Conservative Party (UK)	–Liberal Unionist Party>Lib.U.’’)

Robert Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth>Robert Windsor-Clive14th Baron Windsor(1857–1923)| 11 August1902| 4 December1905	Conservative	Unionist government, 1895–1905	(Conservative Party (UK)>Con.–Lib.U.)

Lewis Vernon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt	Lewis Vernon HarcourtMP for Rossendale (UK Parliament constituency)>Rossendale(1863–1922)	10 December1905	3 November1910	Liberal	Campbell-Bannerman

Liberal government, 1905–1915	(I–III)}}

William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp>William Lygon7th Earl Beauchamp(1872–1938)| 3 November1910| 6 August1914	Liberal

Alfred Emmott, 1st Baron Emmott>Alfred Emmott1st Baron Emmott(1858–1926)| 6 August1914| 25 May1915	Liberal

Lewis Vernon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt>Lewis Vernon HarcourtMP for Rossendale(1863–1922)| 25 May1915| 10 December1916	Liberal	Asquith coalition ministry	(’’Liberal Party (UK)>Lib.–Conservative Party (UK)	–Labour Party (UK)>Lab.’’)

Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett>Sir Alfred Mond, BtMP for Swansea West (UK Parliament constituency)	(1868–1930) {{efn>MP for Swansea (UK Parliament constituency)	until 1918; MP for Swansea West (UK Parliament constituency)>Swansea West thereafter}}| 10 December1916| 1 April1921	Liberal	Lloyd George ministry	(’’Liberal Party (UK)>Lib.–Conservative Party (UK)	–Labour Party (UK)>Lab.’’)

David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford>David Lindsay27th Earl of Crawford(1871–1940)| 1 April1921| 19 October1922	Conservative

John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven	John Baird, BtMP for Ayr Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)>Ayr Burghs(1874–1941)	31 October1922	22 January1924	Conservative	Law

Baldwin I

Fred JowettMP for Bradford East (UK Parliament constituency)>Bradford East(1864–1944)| 22 January1924| 3 November1924	Labour	MacDonald I

William Wellesley Peel, 1st Earl Peel>William Wellesley Peel2nd Viscount Peel(1867–1937)| 10 November1924| 18 October1928	Conservative	Baldwin II

Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry>Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart7th Marquess of Londonderry(1878–1949)| 18 October1928| 4 June1929	Conservative

George LansburyMP for Bow and Bromley (UK Parliament constituency)>Bow and Bromley(1859–1940)| 7 June1929| 24 August1931	Labour	MacDonald II

Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry>Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart7th Marquess of Londonderry(1878–1949)| 25 August1931| 5 November1931	Conservative	National Government (1931)	(’’National Labour Organisation>N.Lab.–Conservative Party (UK)	–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)>Lib.N.–Lib.’’)

William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech	William Ormsby-GoreMP for Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)>Stafford(1885–1964)	5 November1931	16 June1936	Conservative	National Government (1931–1935)	(’’National Labour Organisation>N.Lab.–Conservative Party (UK)	–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)>Lib.N.–Lib.’’)

National Government (1935–1937)	(’’Conservative Party (UK)>Con.–National Labour Organisation	–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)>Lib.N.’’)

James Stanhope, 7th Earl Stanhope>James Stanhope7th Earl Stanhope(1880–1967)| 16 June1936| 27 May1937	Conservative

Sir Philip Sassoon, 3rd Baronet>Sir Philip Sassoon, BtMP for Hythe(1888–1939)| 27 May1937| 7 June1939	Conservative	National Government (1937–1939)	(’’Conservative Party (UK)>Con.–National Labour Organisation	–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)>Lib.N.’’)

Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury	Herwald RamsbothamMP for Lancaster (UK Parliament constituency)>Lancaster(1887–1971)	7 June1939	3 April1940	Conservative

Chamberlain war ministry	(’’Conservative Party (UK)>Con.–National Labour Organisation	–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)>Lib.N.’’)

Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr>Herbrand Sackville9th Earl De La Warr(1900–1976)| 3 April1940| 18 May1940	National Labour

George Tryon, 1st Baron Tryon>George Tryon1st Baron Tryon(1871–1940)| 18 May1940| 3 October1940	Conservative	Churchill War(All parties)

Ministers of Works & Buildings and First Commissioner of Works (1940–1942)

{| class=“wikitable” style="text-align:center“|+Minister of Works & Buildings and First Commissioner of Works! colspan=2 | Portrait! Name(Birth–Death)! colspan=2 | Term of office! Party! Ministry

John Reith, 1st Baron Reith>John Reith1st Baron Reith(1889–1971) {{efn	Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)>Southampton until 21 October 1940; elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Reith thereafter}}| 3 October1940| 11 February1942	Independent politician	(National Government (United Kingdom)>National)	Churchill War(All parties)

Ministers of Works and Planning (1942–1943)

{| class=“wikitable” style="text-align:center“|+Minister of Works and Planning! colspan=2 | Portrait! Name(Birth–Death)! colspan=2 | Term of office! Party! Ministry

John Reith, 1st Baron Reith>John Reith1st Baron Reith(1889–1971)| 3 October1940| 11 February1942	Independent politician	(National Government (United Kingdom)>National)	Churchill War(All parties)

Wyndham Portal, 1st Viscount Portal>Wyndham Portal1st Baron Portal(1885–1949)| 22 February1942| February1943	Conservative

Ministers of Works (1943–1962)

{| class=“wikitable” style="text-align:center“|+Minister of Works! colspan=2 | Portrait! Name(Birth–Death)! colspan=2 | Term of office! Party! Ministry

Wyndham Portal, 1st Viscount Portal>Wyndham Portal1st Baron Portal(1885–1949)| February1943| 21 November1944	Conservative	Churchill War(All parties)

Duncan SandysMP for Norwood(1908–1987)	21 November1944	26 July1945	Conservative

Churchill caretaker ministry	(Conservative Party (UK)>Con.–N.Lib.)

George Tomlinson (British politician)>George TomlinsonMP for Farnworth(1890–1952)| 4 August1945| 10 February1947	Labour	Attlee(I & II)

Charles KeyMP for Bow and Bromley (UK Parliament constituency)>Bow and Bromley(1883–1964)| 10 February1947| 28 February1950	Labour

Richard Stokes (politician)>Richard StokesMP for Ipswich(1897–1957)| 28 February1950| 26 April1951	Labour

George Brown, Baron George-Brown>George BrownMP for Belper(1914–1985)| 26 April1951| 26 October1951	Labour

David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles>Sir David EcclesMP for Chippenham(1904–1999)| 1 November1951| 18 October1954	Conservative	Churchill III

Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl>Nigel BirchMP for West Flintshire(1906–1981)| 18 October1954| 20 December1955	Conservative

Patrick Buchan-Hepburn, 1st Baron Hailes>Patrick Buchan-HepburnMP for Beckenham(1901–1974)| 20 December1955| 16 January1957	Conservative	Eden

Hugh Molson, Baron Molson>Hugh MolsonMP for High Peak(1903–1991)| 16 January1957| 22 October1959	Conservative	Macmillan(I & II)

John Hope, 1st Baron Glendevon>Lord John HopeMP for Edinburgh Pentlands(1912–1996)| 22 October1959| 16 July1962	Conservative

Ministers of Public Buildings and Works (1962–1970)

{| class=“wikitable” style="text-align:center“|+Minister of Public Buildings and Works! colspan=2 | Portrait! Name(Birth–Death)! colspan=2 | Term of office! Party! Ministry

Geoffrey RipponMP for Norwich South(1924–1997)	16 July1962	10 October1964	Conservative	Macmillan(I & II)

Douglas-Home

Charles PannellMP for Leeds West (UK Parliament constituency)>Leeds West(1902–1980)| 19 October1964| 6 April1966	Labour	Wilson(I & II)

Reg PrenticeMP for East Ham North (UK Parliament constituency)>East Ham North(1923–2001)| 6 April1966| 29 August1967	Labour

Bob Mellish, Baron Mellish>Bob MellishMP for Bermondsey(1913–1998)| 29 August1967| 30 April1969	Labour

John SilkinMP for Deptford (UK Parliament constituency)>Deptford(1923–1987)| 30 April1969| 19 June1970	Labour

Julian Amery, Baron Amery of Lustleigh>Julian AmeryMP for Brighton Pavilion(1919–1996)| 23 June1970| 15 October1970	Conservative	Heath

Notes

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References

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