Charles Fowler

Charles Fowler (17 May 1792 – 26 September 1867) was an English architect, born and baptised at Cullompton, Devon. He is especially noted for his design of market buildings, including Covent Garden Market in London.

Life

Education and early work Fowler was born at Cullompton, Devon on 17 May 1792, and baptised there on 26 December 1800. He was educated at Taunton Grammar School. In 1814, after serving an apprenticeship of seven years with John Powning of Exeter, he moved to London and entered the office of David Laing, whom he assisted on the designs for the Custom House. It had a courtyard, two sides of which had open arcades, supported on square granite columns.

In around 1826, the Duke of Bedford commissioned him to construct buildings to house the market in the Piazza at Covent Garden, which until then had been accommodated in sheds and hovels. There, as in many other of his buildings, he used Haytor granite mined in Dartmoor, partly for its strength and partly out of a desire to encourage an industry in his native Devon. Fowler's building was finally opened in 1833. Donaldson praised the way in which Fowler exploited the complex, multi-level site, describing the "playful picturesqueness of the group, where court rose above court, galleries above galleries, and where the series of roofs outtopped each other." In this building, Fowler demonstrated his preference for lightweight construction. He later added an iron roof over the main courtyard. Later in the 19th century the building was demolished to make way for Charing Cross Station. and the Lower Market at Exeter, where he also supervised the construction of the Higher Market, following the death of its architect. Fowler's roof there was of an experimental design, incorporating cast-iron ribs supporting a cement and tile covering; this, however, had to be replaced due to the excessive amount of condensation it collected. His other ecclesiastical work included a chapel at Kilburn St John the Evangelist, Hyde Park, London (1829–32) St Andrew's church at Charmouth, Dorset (1836) St Mary's church, Bickleigh, Devon (rebuilding and enlargement, 1839)

Hospitals In around 1842, after winning a competition, Fowler built the Devon County Lunatic Asylum, designed on a radial plan of the panopticon type pioneered at Millbank Prison. He was also responsible for the London Fever Hospital

Other works He entered many architectural competitions, He was architect and surveyor to the Amicable Society, and to the West of England Fire and Life Insurance Office. He was employed by Sir Ralph Lopes, the Bishop of Exeter, and the Courtenay family for whom he executed considerable alterations and additions to Powderham Castle.

Exhibited work He exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1825 and 1847.

Later life He retired from architecture in 1853, and died at Great Marlow, Bucks, on 26 September 1867.

Notes and references

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