Basic Biographical Details Name: | Thomas Hopper | Designation: | | Born: | 8 July 1776 | Died: | 11 August 1856 | Bio Notes: | Thomas Hopper was born on 8 July 1776, the son of a measurer and surveyor. He trained in his father’s office but he was largely self-taught in architecture.
One of his earliest jobs was a cottage orné for Walsh Porter. The house brought Hopper to the notice of the Prince Regent who employed him to make alterations to Carlton House including the addition of a Gothic conservatory adjoining the dining room. It was designed in the style of Henry VII’s Chapel but in cast iron so that the tracery of the vaulting could be pierced to admit light through stained glass. Through the royal commission Hopper gained a number of wealthy clients and he soon had a fashionable practice as a country house architect. In 1816 he was appointed county surveyor of Essex, a post which he held for forty years. He was also surveyor to the Atlas Fire Assurance Company and designed offices for them in London.
Hopper entered a number of competitions for important public buildings but had little success. Where he did succeed the jobs were relatively minor: two County Gaols, Arthur’s Club in St James’s, St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and some country churches. However he was one of the best-known architects in the early 19th century. He reputedly declined the offer of a knighthood, as well as offers from the Tsar of Russia and the Duchess of Oldenburg to settle in St Petersburg.
Hopper was an eclectic designer and believed that he should master all styles while favouring not one in particular. He worked in the Greek revival style (for example at Springfield Gaol and Leigh Park), the Palladian classical (Arthur’s Club), Tudor Gothic (Margham Abbey), Jacobethan (Wivenhoe Park) and the Norman revival (Gosford, Co. Armagh and Penrhyn). Colvin considers that his designs were competent but his Norman castles were his most original in which he combined ‘picturesque massing with a remarkable repertoire of Romanesque detailing’. However nothing in his later work matches the inventiveness of the conservatory at Carlton House.
Hopper had enormous energy, was a good conversationalist and had a prodigious memory. He died on 11 August 1856.
A bust of Hopper is at the Royal Academy and his likeness is said to appear on the bas-relief on the east side of the base of Nelson’s column (a sailor holding a wounded boy).
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 42, Berkeley Street, London, England | Business | | | | | 40, Connaught Terrace, Edgware Road, London, England | Business | | | | | 1, Bayswater Hill, London, England | Private | | 1856 | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1828 | Dunkeld House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Designs for a new house. Only the foundations laid. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | APSD | | The Dictionary of Architecture | ed Wyatt Papworth | The Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) | | | Brown, R (ed) | 1985 | The Architectural Outsiders | | | Chapter by Neil Burton, 'Thomas Hopper' | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | DNB | | Dictionary of National Biography | | | | | Fedden, Robin | 1954 | Neo-Norman | | Architectural Review , December 1954 | | | Fell-Smith, Charlotte | 1914 | Thomas Hopper | | Essex Review, 1914 | | | Searle, Arthur | 1970 | Thomas Hopper | | Essex Journal, v, October 1970, pp132-140 | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 1856 | xiv | | p481 Obituary |
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