Philip Charles Hardwick
Philip Charles Hardwick (1822-1892) was a notable English architect of the 19th century who was once described as "a careful and industrious student of mediaeval art". He was born in Westminster and was the son of the architect Philip Hardwick (1792-1870), grandson of Thomas Hardwick (junior) (1752-1825) and great grandson of Thomas Hardwick Senior (1725-1825); the Hardwicks' architectural work spanned over 100 years, making them one of the most successful architectural families in British history.
Hardwick's mother was also from an eminent architectural family: the Shaws. His maternal grandfather was John Shaw Senior (1776-1832) and his uncle was John Shaw Jr (1803-1870) - both architects known for their work at Christ's Hospital and at Ramsgate harbour. Philip Charles trained under his father and also in Edward Blore's office during which time he visited Belgium and Germany. Hardwick exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1848-1854.
Like his father, Philip Charles was employed in the 'Square mile' of the City of London, where he became the leading architect of grandiose banking offices, mainly in an Italianate manner, setting the pattern for suburban and provincial designs for almost three decades. He designed five City banks, including Drummond's in Trafalgar Square (1879-81), and was architect to the Bank of England from 1855 to 1883. However, he was more employed outside London, designing branch offices at Hull (1856) and Leeds (1862-65).
His best known work was the Great Hall of London's Euston station (opened on 27 May 1849). The Great Hall was demolished in 1962 to make way for construction of the current Euston Station building.
Philip Charles was the last Hardwick Surveyor to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and was a major benefactor of the hospital. The position of surveyor had been held since the late 18th century by his grandfather, Thomas Hardwick Junior. He was also an adviser in the new War Office and Admiralty competition of 1884.
Arthur William Blomfield was Hardwick's pupil in 1852-1855. Philip Charles had been a favourite architect of Queen Vicotria to design the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens but his design fell short with the advisory committee.
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Family History Hardwick is buried with the Hardwick and Shaw family at Kensal Green Cemetery in north-west London. His daughter married Sir Henry George Lyons (1864-1944), who was a director of the Science Museuem in London.
Projects
- parts of Lincoln's Inn (with his father, 1843-1845)
- restoration of St Nicholas church, Durweston, Dorset (1847)
- Durham indoor market, guildhall, town hall and market tavern (1849-1851)
- Adare Manor, Adare, County Limerick, Ireland (1850-1862)
- restoration of St Mary's Church, Lambeth (1851-1852, now the Museum of Garden History)
- Chapel of Ease of St Saviour, Shotton, County Durham (1852-1854)
- St John's Church, Deptford (1855)
- parts of the Titsey Estate in Surrey (1856)
- Sompting House, Sussex (1856)
- redevelopment of Heslington Hall, near York (1850s)
- St John's Cathedral, Limerick, Ireland (constructed 1856-1861)
- Adhurst St Mary house, Petersfield, Hampshire (1858)
- new wings at the Greenwich Hospital School (now part of the National Maritime Museum) (1861-1862)
- For Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid, Rendcomb House, Rendcomb, Gloucestershire (1863)
- All Saints Church, Aldershot (1863)
- Sovereign House (former Bank of England building), Park Row, Leeds (1864)
- 46-48 Lombard Street, London (1866)
- Great Western Royal Hotel at Paddington station (1851-54)
- Charterhouse School, near Godalming, Surrey (1872)
- St Edmund's School in Canterbury, Kent
- Rooms for the fourth Earl Spencer at Althorp (1851)
- Rebuilt Madersfield Court for the 5th Earl of Beauchamp in 1863
- Alterations on Uxbridge House, London (1855)