Major Rohde Hawkins

Major Rohde Hawkins (born 4 February 1821 in Nutfield, Surrey; died 19 October 1884, Holmwood, Surrey)

Hawkins was educated at Charterhouse School from 1831 to 1837; the school was then still part of the London Charterhouse in Finsbury. Mary was the younger sister of John Greenwood.

Hawkins and his wife Mary lived at Redlands, South Holmwood, He and his wife are both buried at St Mary Magdalene's Church, Holmwood, which he also designed, and where there is a memorial window to him.

He was gazetted as Captain in the Queen's (Westminster) Rifle Volunteer Corps on 25 February 1860.

Career

The school of the Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum (1859) is one of Hawkins's most impressive buildings.

Hawkins studied under the wealthy London architect Thomas Cubitt, designer of Queen Victoria's Osborne House in the Isle of Wight. Hawkins then worked for the architect Edward Blore, designer of Buckingham Palace. He then explored his father's interest in antiquities, spending time studying in Asia Minor (now Turkey).

Hawkins is known today mainly for schools such as the Châteauesque Royal Victoria Patriotic Building in Wandsworth and Gothic style churches.

From 1854 to his death he was employed as architect to the Privy Council's Education Department, alongside his private work.

Buildings

Swarcliffe Hall, Yorkshire (1848) Hunt's Hall (Guy's Hospital, London) (1853) St Antony's Chapel, Cowley, Devon (1867–1868) Fairwarp, East Sussex (1867–1871) Redlands, South Holmwood, Surrey. c.1867