Noted architect. He was an eminent architect, renowed principally as a church designer and with his son Philip Hardwick (1792-1870), also a noted architect, held the post of surveyor to St Batholomew’s Hospital, London. His father was a master mason turned architect, Thomas Hardwick senior (1725-1798) with whom he worked at Syon House, Middlesex for John and Robert Adam. He studied at the Royal Academy School under the tutorship of Sir William Chambers for whom he worked with on Somerset House, London. He then travelled widely across Europe with artist Thomas Jones (1743-1803), which greatly expanded his knowledge of architecture, evident in his neo-classical tastes. He secured a reputation as a church designer which included St Mary the Virgin at Wanstead and restoring Inigo Jones St Paul’s, Covent Garden 1788-1798). He also rebuilt St Bartholomew’s at Smithfield (1823-1825) which was origanally devised by George Dance the younger. Perhaps his best-work is the church of St Mary, Marylebone Road (1813-1817), Hampstead Road Chapel (1791-1792) and St John’s Church, St John’s High Street (1813-1814). He was also appointed clerk of works at Hampton Court Palace by King George III after his projects at Kew Palace and its gardens. His son was Philip Hardwick (1792-1870 and his grandson Philip Charles Hardwick (1822-1892), whom were both prominent architects. They were perhaps one of the finest architectural families in England. There projects and work spanned 100 years of British architecture. (bio by: s.canning)