(charles Henry, Architect). Belfry Of Dunkirk (nord). Two Original Drawings. 1834–1835.

Two original drawings by architect Charles Henry (or associates).

a) “Dunkirk Tower, 1834.” Elevation. Pen, graphite, and ink wash. 64.5 x 40.5 cm. Two horizontal crease marks.

b) “Upper part of the Dunkirk Tower, restored in 1835 by Ch.es Henry, architect.” Pen, graphite, and ink wash. 43.5 x 32.7 cm. Two pronounced crease marks.

The belfry of Dunkirk, separated from the Saint-Éloi parish church by a street in 1558, was restored in 1834–1835 by Charles Henry, the municipal architect, and Louis Cornemuse, the contractor.

Charles Henry (1797–1885) was a student of Jules Delespine and Antoine Laurent Thomas Vaudoyer at the École des Beaux-Arts. He served as the city architect of Dunkirk from 1832 until his death in 1837. He was then succeeded by his deputy, François-Napoléon Develle (1805–1878), who arrived in Dunkirk in 1833. In Dunkirk, Charles Henry is notably credited with the plans for the grand municipal theater (work on which was continued by Develle after his death), the toll booth at the Pont Royal (in 1836, built in collaboration with contractor Simon Quenet), and parts of the cemetery (constructed in 1886 and 1896 based on his plans). He also designed the town hall and the School of the Sisters of Providence in Gravelines (1834–1836).

Ref. A14-13