Theodosius Keene facts for kids

Theodosius Keene, born in 1754, was an English architect. He worked mostly in the south of England. His active years were between 1770 and 1777.

The Life and Buildings of Theodosius Keene

Early Life and Family

Theodosius Keene was born around 1754. His father was Henry Keene, also a famous architect. Henry Keene was known for his Gothic Revival and Neoclassical buildings. These are different styles of architecture.

The Mysterious Racton Monument

Around 1770, Theodosius designed the Racton Monument. This building is in West Sussex. It is a red brick tower with turrets. It is known as a "folly," which is a building built just for decoration. It might have been a summerhouse for the nearby Stansted Estate. The Racton Monument is still standing today, but it is a ruin.

Designing Maidenhead Guildhall

In 1777, Theodosius designed the Maidenhead Guildhall. A guildhall was a building used for town meetings and business. His design replaced an older medieval building from around 1430. The new guildhall had a council chamber and an assembly room. It also had a corn exchange, which was a place to trade grain. There was also a lockup (a small jail) and even a pub called the ‘Fighting Cocks Inn’. This guildhall was taken down in 1963. A new Town Hall was built in its place.

Finishing Radcliffe Observatory

It is also thought that Theodosius finished the Radcliffe Observatory in 1794. This happened under the guidance of James Wyatt. Theodosius's father, Henry Keene, had started the building. But he passed away before it was completed.

Images for kids

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  Racton Monument, West Sussex

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  Radcliffe Observatory, Oxfordshire

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  Maidenhead Guildhall, Berkshire