C. W. Stephens
British architect From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
British architect From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles William Stephens (c.1845 – 4 August 1917) was a British architect. As architect to the Harrods department store in London from 1892 until his death, he was responsible for the store's famous Baroque-style façade on Brompton Road. His other designs include Harvey Nichols department store, the new Claridge's hotel, 54 Parkside, and the Park Lane Hotel, all in London.
C. W. Stephens | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charles William Stephens c. 1845 |
| Died | 4 August 1917 (aged 71–72) Kensington, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Known for | Designing: |
Charles Stephens was born around 1845 in Clapton, Middlesex. He married Helen (née Grundy), who was born in Malvern Wells, Worcestershire.[2][3]
In 1871, Stephens was working as a clerk.[4] In 1881, he was recorded on the census as a non-practicing architect with the London School Board.[2]
In 1885, Stephens designed a National School in Malvern Wells, now known as the Malvern Wells Church of England Primary School.[5] By the mid 1880s he had an office in Hans Road, Knightsbridge, and was active in redeveloping Hans Place.[6] He designed 67 Pont Street, now grade II listed,[7] in 1887 and other houses in Hans Place.[6]
In 1889 he designed Culgruff House near Crossmichael in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, for Robert Stewart of Southwick. A baronial style mansion in red sandstone of two storeys with attics and tall square tower, it is listed as Category B.[8]
He designed part of Walsingham House.[9] It was demolished in 1904[10] and replaced by The Ritz Hotel.[9]
By 1894, he was architect to the Belgrave Estate Limited, which had been formed to redevelop the area north of Hans Place. One of the members of that syndicate, Herbert Bennett, was also a director of the Harrods department store, and "no doubt through this connection" Stephens became architect of Harrods from 1892 until his death.[6] He has been described as designing "virtually all of the buildings facing or in the immediate vicinity of Harrods"[11] and was also responsible for the whole of the Baroque-style façade on Brompton Road that was completed in 1905 and which, apart from some changes by Louis D. Blanc and repairs of war damage, survives substantially intact.[6]
In 1894, he designed the Harvey Nichols department store, also in Knightsbridge.[6]
Stephens was responsible for designing the new Claridge's hotel on the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street, between 1894 and 1898.[6] In 1897, he designed 54 Parkside (now the Apostolic Nunciature and formally known as Winkfield Lodge), a large detached house in Wimbledon, London, overlooking Wimbledon Common. It has been listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England since 1988.[12]
Stephens designed the Park Lane Hotel, but work stopped at the outbreak of the First World War, and was completed by Adie, Button and Partners.[13]
Stephens died at 49 Hans Road, Kensington, on 4 August 1917, aged 74, and was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery on 8 August.[14] He left an estate of £65,348 and probate was granted to Mary Broughton, spinster, and William Edward Ligonier Balfour, colonel H.M. Army.[15]
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