Thomas Hopper (architect)

Thomas Hopper (1776–1856) was an English architect of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, much favoured by King George IV, and particularly notable for his work on country houses across southern England, with occasional forays further afield, into Wales and Ireland (especially Ulster).

Thomas Hopper
Born	1776
Died	1856
Occupation	Architect
Known for	Country houses across southern England

He was involved with improvements to the Shire Hall in Monmouth under "Royal assent", where he and Edward Haycock made the building extend down Agincourt Street, creating room for a new staircase and larger courts. Hopper took up residence in Monnow Street in Monmouth whilst this was in progress.^[1]

In 1840 he exhibited designs for Butterton Hall in Staffordshire. This gothic building lasted until the First World War when it was demolished due to misuse.^[2]

Hopper died in 1856.^[2]

Projects

• Leigh Court, North Somerset (1814)^[3]
• Penrhyn Castle, Llandegai, Bangor, North Wales (1822–1837)^[4]
• Kentwell Hall, Suffolk (1820s)
• Arthur’s Club, 69–70 St James’s Street, London (after 1940 the Carlton) (1826–1827)
• Llanover House, Abergavenny, Wales (1827–1837; demolished 1935)
• Improvements to the Shire Hall, Monmouth (1829)^[1]
• Bryn Bras Castle, Llanrug, North Wales (1829–1835)^[5]
• Margam Castle, South Wales (1830–1840)
• Wivenhoe House, Essex (1846–1853)
• Hospital buildings at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London (1851)
• Alscot Park, Warwickshire
• Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshire (1834–1840 and 1859–1860): a country house named for the nearby former abbey; Grade I listed^[6]
• Boreham House, Essex
• Gothic Conservatory at Carlton House, London, demolished
• Crichel House, Dorset, alterations
• Danbury Place, Essex
• Easton Lodge, Essex
• Englefield House, Berkshire
• Gosford Castle, County Armagh
• Chapel at Stansted Park, West Sussex
• Glemham House, Great Glenham, Suffolk (1814)^[7]
• Terling Place, Essex (1818–1824): alterations^[8]
• Works at Windsor Castle
• Gothic Ballroom at Slane Castle, County Meath, Ireland
• Entrance lodge at Dromoland Castle, County Clare, Ireland
• Woolverstone Hall, Suffolk: extension and remodelling
• Rood Ashton House, Wiltshire: extension and remodelling; almost all demolished in the 1970s

Gallery of architectural works

• 
  Penrhyn Castle, south front
• 
  Penrhyn Castle, south front
• 
  Penrhyn Castle, centre of west front
• 
  Penrhyn Castle, east front
• 
  The Drawing Room, Leigh Court
• 
  The Conservatory exterior, Carlton House, London
• 
  The Conservatory interior, Carlton House, London
• 
  Garden front, Margam Castle
• 
  West front, Margam Castle
• 
  Lantern above main staircase, Margam Castle
• 
  Main staircase, Margam Castle
• 
  Main staircase, Margam Castle

References

1. "History of Shire Hall". Monmouth Shire Hall. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
2. "Butterton Hall". lost country houses of England. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012.
3. Historic England. "Leigh Court (1320671)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
4. Port, M. H. (2004). "Hopper, Thomas (1776–1856)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13763. Retrieved 23 January 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
5. "Bryn Bras Castle". Retrieved 23 January 2013.
6. Historic England. "Amesbury Abbey (1131079)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
7. Historic England. "Glemham House Park and Garden (1486685)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
8. Historic England. "Terling Place (1123407)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 May 2021.