Philip Charles Hardwick
Philip Charles Hardwick (1822-1892) was a notable English architect of the 19th century. He was a 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' architectual 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 Junior (1803-1870) - both architects known for their work at Christ's Hospital and at Ramsgate harbour.
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 provinical designs for almost three decades. He designed five City banks 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) amd 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.
Arthur William Blomfield was Hardwick's pupil in 1852-555.
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)
- 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