THOMAS WARING was born in 1825 at Wheatley Hall, Wooley, in the West Riding. After serving a regular period of pupillage as an Engineering Surveyor, he entered the office of Messrs. T. L. Gooch and F. M. Young, and was employed by them on the construction of the Leeds and Bradford and Extension Railways. This engagement having come to a close when all the works were completed, Mr. Waring became Contractor's Engineer under Mr. Young. He carried out contracts on the Leeds Waterworks extensions under Mr. J. W. Leather; on the London and North-Western Railway branches under Mr. Woodhouse ; on the Furness Railway, and Ulverston and Lancashire Railway under Messrs McClean and Stileman. He was also engaged on some arbitrations at Sunderland Docks and other places. In the autumn of 1854 Mr. Waring became Resident Engineer upon the Cardiff Sewage Works under Mr. Hawkshaw, and the office of Surveyor to the Local Board of Health of Cardiff falling vacant in the following year, that appointment was also offered to Mr. Waring. The carrying out of the Sewerage Works was not effected without some difficulty ; the severe weather in 1855, together with financial difficulties, and the necessity of opposing a scheme which would have compelled the drainage of all Butetown into the packet slip, delayed the final completion, which was not effected till 1857. The beneficial effect of it, however, was speedily apparent in the improved health of the town. No sooner was the first sewage scheme finished than a material extension was required, which was successfully accomplished under Mr. Waring's directions. In a short time the length of the sewers had to be doubled in consequence of the rapid growth of the town. Many new streets were built, and the whole of the old ones remade, and there are few public institutions in Cardiff which have not benefited in some way by Mr. Waring's exertions. The large expenditure of money in the erection of cottage dwellings for workmen, on land liberally granted by Lord Bute at a low rent, was in a great measure due to his influence. For several years he was Surveyor to the Canton and Roath Boards of Health, and Chief Engineer to the Cardiff Rural Authority. He acted as Engineer to the Borough of Aberavon, and laid out their system of sewerage and water supply. He took an active interest in municipal affairs, and in 1886 was elected Alderman.
Mr. Waring was a ready speaker, eminently practical, and always listened to, on account of his great experience, with attention. He was a Member of the Council of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire. He died on the 24th of April, 1891.
Source : Obituary
Owner of the Adamstown & the Heath Brickworks
Source : Roath, Splott and Adamstown by Jeff Childs
THOMAS WARING & THE CARDIFF BATHS CO LTD
1862-70 Cardiff Baths Company Limited Guildford Crescent- Secretary : Thomas Waring (Architect of the Baths)
Source : http://www.victorianturkishbath.org
The Cardiff Baths Company Ltd. opened a facility at Guildford Street in May 1862. Designed by T. Waring, it contained two large swimming baths, each with a capacity of a million gallons of water, hot water baths, and a Turkish bath. The cost of £3,700 was described by the Cardiff Directory of 1863 as being admirably adapted to promote the health and well-being of the town.
The Guildford Street facility struggled to be secure sufficient attendance to sustain necessary profit margins. Between 1863 and 1868 the baths had to compete with the opening of other facilities in nearby towns, and more importantly the lack of public awareness of the benefits of their use meant that the facility was under-used. The proprietor of the baths attempted a number of strategies to boost attendances. The charge for a Turkish bath was halved to one shilling on Saturdays, and free passes were issued to all 'gentlemen of the medical profession' for them to experience first hand the health benefits of the Turkish bath. Yet in spite of these concessions, it is likely that the biggest barrier to most people who may have wished to use such a facility was cost. And that the charges for use of these baths would have been therefore well out of the range of many of the labouring classes.
The Guildford Street Baths were closed. By 1871 the company had offered the Cardiff Corporation the option to purchase the baths from them. The Corporation came to the decision that the baths were not of a sufficient capacity for their requirements, and also did not have enough space to allow for the provision of a wash house. Later, in 1873, the Corporation reversed that decision and purchased the Cardiff Baths Companies site for £2,000. What then followed was an examination of the options available to the Corporation in order to reopen the facility. Opening hours were extended and charges reduced.
Source : http://www.bathsandwashhouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Allen__Fleming_7.10.08_Version_31.pdf
Thomas Waring was married to Charlotte Elizabeth who was buried in the same grave on 18th June 1881.