C. W. Stephens

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.

Early life and family Charles Stephens was born around 1845 in Clapton, Middlesex. He married Helen , who was born in Malvern Wells, Worcestershire.

Career In 1871, Stephens was working as a clerk. In 1881, he was recorded on the census as a non-practicing architect with the London School Board. By the mid 1880s he had an office in Hans Road, Knightsbridge, and was active in redeveloping Hans Place. in 1887 and other houses in Hans Place.

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.

He designed part of Walsingham House. and replaced by The Ritz Hotel.

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. 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.

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.

Later life Stephens died at 49 Hans Road, Kensington, on 4 August 1917, aged 74, and was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery on 8 August. He left an estate of £65,348 and probate was granted to Mary Broughton, spinster, and William Edward Ligonier Balfour, colonel H.M. Army.