James Hardress de Warrenne Waller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Hardress de Warrenne Waller
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Born | 31 July 1884 Tasmania, Australia
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Died | 9 February 1968 Devon, England
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(aged 83)
Education | Queen's College Galway |
Occupation | Engineer |
James Hardress de Warrenne Waller was an Irish inventor and engineer. He lived from 1884 to 1968. He became famous for creating special ways to build things using concrete. These methods were called Nofrango and the Ctesiphon system.
About James Waller
James Hardress de Warrenne Waller was born in Tasmania, Australia. This happened on July 31, 1884. He was the youngest of ten children. His parents were George Arthur and Sarah Waller.
He went to school in Hobart, Tasmania. From 1902 to 1904, he trained with his brother, Richard FitzArthur Waller. Later, he moved to Ireland to study engineering. He attended Queen's College Galway and graduated in 1909. He then studied at University College Cork and also spent some time studying in New York.
In 1917, James Waller married Beatrice Kinkead in Ireland. They had two daughters together. He passed away in Devon, England, on February 9, 1968.
Waller's Engineering Work
While studying in Cork, James Waller designed a new bridge. This bridge was meant to replace an old wooden one at the University College Cork campus. The original bridge had been destroyed by a storm.
From 1911 to 1913, Waller was hired to build another bridge. This one was in Waterford, crossing the River Slaney. He then started a business with Alfred Dover Delap. Their company was called Delap and Waller.
When World War I began, Waller joined the 65th field company of the Royal Engineers. He served in the Salonika campaign. During this time, he experimented with different ways to cover tents. In 1918, he was honored with an OBE for his service.
After the war, Waller started a company in Poole, England. This company made concrete houses and even tried to build battleships. However, his company faced challenges from others who built with bricks.
New Building Ideas
After his company closed, Waller traveled a lot. In Iraq, he saw the ancient palace of Ctesiphon. It had a huge arch made of brick, which inspired him. He then worked in northern Spain, helping to build a railway.
Returning to Ireland, he developed a new building method. He called it Nofrango, which means "no break." This system used lightweight concrete. One of his first projects was building a pier in Foynes, County Limerick. He used concrete-filled bags to create a deep-water jetty.
His Nofrango system was also used for a factory in Dublin. This building now holds the National Archives. He also helped build homes in Rialto for Dublin Corporation. In 1934, he helped start a charity called the Mount Street Club.
The Ctesiphon System
During World War II, Waller worked for the War Office in London. He built huts, storage areas, and hangars. After the war, he continued to work on civilian projects.
Waller invented and patented a new building system called the "Ctesiphon system." This method used wooden arches covered with strong fabric. Then, layers of cement and a waterproofing material were added. This system was special because it didn't need the usual wooden frames that other concrete buildings required. He patented this system in 1955.
His Ctesiphon system was used all over the world. Later in his life, Waller focused on helping people facing famine. He built factories in Africa and homes in India, Egypt, and Australia. He also built grain storage in Cyprus and housing for refugees in Jordan.
In the 1940s, he designed a round hut called the Quetta hut. It was possibly made to be strong against earthquakes. Some engineers in Spain used his techniques to build an airport, farms, and villas.
Many of Waller's projects in Ireland, like garages and farms, have been taken down. However, one of his surviving works is a whiskey store at Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan.
His last major project was for a distillery in Scotland. The company bought the patent for his Ctesiphon system. They paid Waller, and later his wife, a pension. James Waller retired in 1953 and moved to Devon. The Irish Architectural Archive has a collection of his work.