Charles Fowler

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This article is about an English architect. For other people with similar names, see Charles Fowler (disambiguation)

Charles Fowler (May 17, 1792 - September 26, 1867), English architect, was born at Cullompton, Devon.

After serving an apprenticeship of seven years with John Powning of Exeter, he went to London in 1814, and entered the office of David Laing, where he remained until he commenced practice for himself. His first work of importance was the court of bankruptcy in Basinghall Street, finished in 1821.

In the following year he gained the first premium for a design for the new London Bridge, which, however, was ultimately built according to the design of another architect, John Rennie the Elder. Fowler's other designs for bridges include one constructed across the Dart at Totnes. He was also the architect for the markets of Covent Garden and Hungerford Market, London (demolished to make way for Charing Cross Station), the new market at Gravesend, and Exeter lower market, and besides several churches he designed Devon lunatic asylum (1845), the London Fever Hospital (1849), and the hall of the Wax Chandlers' Company, Gresham Street (1853). One of his finest buildings is the conservatory at Syon House, built 1828-30, it consists of a central pavilion with an iron glass dome with curved wings linked to pavilions.

For some years he was honorary secretary of the institute of British architects, and he was afterwards created vice-president. He retired from his profession in 1853, and died at Great Marlow, Bucks, on the 26th of September 1867.

[edit] References

  • Jeremy Taylor, "Charles Fowler (1792-1867): A Centenary Memoir", Architectural History, 11 (1968), pp. 57-74+108-112

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.