Thomas Hardwick facts for kids
Thomas Hardwick (1752–1829) was an important English architect. He was also one of the people who started the Architects' Club in 1791.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Thomas Hardwick was born in Brentford, Middlesex. His father, also named Thomas Hardwick, was a master builder who became an architect. The Hardwick family was well-known for their architectural work for many generations. Thomas, his son Philip Hardwick, and his grandson Philip Charles Hardwick all worked as the main architects for St Bartholomew's Hospital in London.
When Thomas was 17, in 1769, he joined the new Royal Academy Schools. There, he studied architecture under a famous architect named Sir William Chambers. Thomas even worked for Chambers later when Somerset House was being built. In his first year at the Royal Academy, he won a silver medal for architecture. He continued to show his work there until 1805.
In his early twenties, Thomas traveled around Europe. He visited Paris and Lyon, then went to Italy with artist Thomas Jones. He lived in Naples and Rome for two years starting in 1776. During this time, he filled his notebooks with drawings and learned a lot about classical architecture. This knowledge greatly influenced his own building style, which was called neo-classical. He also reconnected with another student from the Royal Academy, John Soane.
Famous Buildings and Restorations
After returning to London, Thomas Hardwick became well-known for designing churches. Some of his church designs include:
- St Mary the Virgin in Wanstead (finished in 1790)
- St John's Wood Church (1813–1814)
- St Barnabas (now St Clement) in King Square
His most famous work is probably St Mary, Marylebone Road (1813–1817). He first designed it as a chapel, but it was later decided to make it the main church for the St Marylebone area. Hardwick changed the design to make it look grander. He added a large front porch with six columns, similar to the ancient Pantheon in Rome. He also added a tall steeple with eight statues called caryatids.
In 1823, he restored St Bartholomew-the-Less in London. The church's inside had been built with wood, but it was rotting. Hardwick rebuilt it using stronger materials like stone for the columns and iron for the ceiling.
He also restored two other important churches:
- St Paul's, Covent Garden, designed by Inigo Jones. This project took 10 years and survived a fire in 1795.
- St James's, Piccadilly, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
Outside of London, Hardwick designed St John's Church in Workington in 1823. He also designed some public buildings, like the Shire Hall in Dorchester. This building, built in 1797, is famous because it's where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were sentenced in 1834. They were a group of farm workers who tried to form a union and were sent to Australia.
King George III appointed Hardwick as the Clerk of Works at Hampton Court Palace. He also worked at Kew Palace and its gardens.
Students and Family Connections
Thomas Hardwick taught several students who later became famous. These included Samuel Angell and John Foulston, an architect from Plymouth. His own son, Philip Hardwick, also became an architect, making him the third generation of architects in the family. Philip later took over his father's business in London.
Another famous student of Thomas Hardwick was the artist J. M. W. Turner. It is said that Hardwick told Turner to focus more on painting than architecture. Turner even drew one of Hardwick's church designs and sold some of his early paintings to his teacher. Turner remained friends with the Hardwick family throughout his life.
Thomas Hardwick worked with architect John Shaw Sr. on projects like St James's Church, Piccadilly. Later, Thomas's son Philip married John Shaw's daughter. Another of Thomas's sons, John Hardwick, became a judge in London and was a friend of the famous writer Charles Dickens.
Thomas Hardwick passed away at his family home in London. He was buried in the family vault at St Laurence churchyard in Brentford. A portrait of Thomas Hardwick can be seen at the National Portrait Gallery.
Images for kids
-
West Front, St Mary's, St. Marylebone Parish Church
-
South Front, St Mary's, St. Marylebone Parish Church
