Forum Topic

The Hardwick family, architects of Brentford

I was exploring information about The Butts architecture, (triggered by Michael’s photo and information of the buildings 24-26 The Butts) and came across a once famous family of architects who came from Brentford. These are:Thomas Hardwick senior (1725-1798) (lived in Brentford)Thomas Hardwick junior (1752-1829) (born in Brentford)Philip Hardwick (1792-1870)Philip Charles Hardwick (1822-1892)The Hardwicks were one of the finest architectural families of England.The Victorian Web website http://www.victorianweb.org has information on Thomas Hardwick (senior) his son Thomas (junior), his grandson Philip and great grandson Philip Charles. It goes on to say that:“The Hardwick architectural dynasty had spanned over 120 years non-stop. It seems quite unacceptable given their great contribution to London that almost nothing is seen as to remember them by. There are no plaques, no busts or statues even; unlike all of the other statues of the so-called great generals from the dark period of the British Empire. Along with their other members of the family history, the Shaws, they seem forgotten in London and it should be London above all places that they must be remembered and hopefully soon, after years of waiting their names will come back into the City to stay indefinitely as this website is intending to help bring back the names of Hardwick and Shaw.”“Thomas Hardwick junior is buried with his ancestors in the family vault in the now derelict churchyard of St Lawrence, Brentford.”Among Hardwick's pupils was J.M.W Turner the great painter, who lived in Brentford for 2 years. Hardwick advised Turner to stick to painting and forget becoming an architect,Does anybody know where Thomas Hardwick senior and his son lived in Brentford? I wonder if they were involved in any other buildings around Brentford as well as Syon House?Pointers to more information in following posting...

Duncan Walker ● 6441d8 Comments

I've just found who Paul Johnson is, who posted in the BrentfordTW8 forum. He is the editor of the Victorian Web website and an academic, see his profile:http://www.victorianweb.org/cv/gplbio.html

Duncan Walker ● 6440d

Michael, here's a great image of Charterhouse, what a fine building Philp C Hardwick designed:I found here http://www.castlehoneymoons.com/irish-castles/adare/history.htmlthat The Formal Gardens of Adare Manor, Ireland, once the home of Earl of Dunraven, were laid out in geometric box patterns by P.C. Hardwick in the 1850's.

Duncan Walker ● 6440d

St Marylebone Parish Church

Duncan Walker ● 6440d

Here is an entry on Thomas Hardwick junior in Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hardwick“…worked with the architect brothers Robert and John Adam on nearby Syon House between 1761-1767. Both father and son were associated with Syon from about the 1720s and employment continued until the early 19th century.”“..From Thomas Hardwick to his son Philip Hardwick (1792-1870), and then grandson Philip Charles Hardwick (1822-1892), they each held the post of Surveyor to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.”“…Aged 17, he enrolled at the Royal Academy School, where he studied architecture under the tutelage of Sir William Chambers, for whom he later worked during the construction of Somerset House.”  And some of the fine churches he architected:Christ Church, MaryleboneThis church is now owned and used as the headquarters for a shipping company Braemar Seascope. A good description of its renovation: http://www.braemarseascope.com/about_us/christchurch.htmlSt Marylebone Parish ChurchSt Mary the Virgin church, WansteadSt Bartholomew-the-Less, Smithfield

Duncan Walker ● 6440d

Thanks Jim for pointing us to the previous topic 'Hardwick family of Brentford'. That one slipped past me. Since then, there is more information on the Internet. Paul Johnson's website is 'under construction' so I have just emailed him to see if he found out much more and where his ancestors lived in Brentford.We need a Brentford Museum to host these memories, one on the same lines as and as good as the fabulous Twickenham Museum http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk

Duncan Walker ● 6440d

Thanks for another good historical thread Duncan..and to say that one of Hardwick's ancestors posted on this Forum nearly 2 years ago.copy and paste:http://nnet-server.com/server/app/forum/ShowMessage.asp?ID=171181

Jim Lawes ● 6441d

Hi DuncanGillian Clegg in "Brentford Past" says that Thomas Hardcastle the builder rebuilt St Lawrences  (not the tower) work starting in 1762 and completed in 1764 from a design of Boulton Mainwaring.  As you said Turner was pupilled to Thomas Hardwick the builder's son, Thomas Hardwick in 1789.(Turner later designed and built Sandycombe Lodge in Twickenham in 1811.)Your links for the Hardcastles are very interesting.  I see Philip C Hardcastle was a contemporary of ANW Pugin the master Gothic architect whose life has been recently documented in the book "God's Architect".  Hardcastle took a commission which Pugin couldn't take (Dunraven Castle?).You're quite right he was an outstanding architect.  I passed by his work of Charterhouse School a few times a couple of months ago.

Michael Fletcher ● 6441d

Here are some pointers to more information about them:Thomas Hardwick senior (1725-1798)http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/hardwick/bioth.htmlThomas Hardwick junior (1752-1829)There is an etching of Thomas Hardwick in 1795 http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/hardwick/biothjr.htmlPhilip Hardwick (1792-1870)http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/hardwick/bioph.htmlPhilip Charles Hardwick (1822-1892)http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/hardwick/biopch.htmlWhat an achievement!

Duncan Walker ● 6441d