William Samwell was a gentleman architect active in England in the 17th century. He was born in 1628, the eldest son of Anthony Samwell of Dean's Yard, Westminster and his wife, Anne Heynes. From 1648 to 1656 he lived in chambers at the Middle Temple. He later lived at Watton manor in Norfolk which he had purchased in 1660.
Samwell was a well-respected designer of elegant and very fashionable Restoration country houses. His most noted work is perhaps that of Grange Park in Hampshire.
Samwell died in London in 1676, and in accordance with his will, he was buried at Upton in Northamptonshire. He was survived by his wife Anne (nee Strutt) (born, 1648, died 1720) and their two daughters, Anne and Mary.
Bibliography
Bold, John, ‘Samwell, William (bap. 1628, d. 1676)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004) <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/37933> [accessed 2 May 2008]
Colvin, Howard, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 3rd edition (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1995), pp. 841-842.