Thomas Bennett (architect)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Penberthy Bennett KBE FRIBA (1887 - 29 January 1980) was a renowned British
architect, responsible for much of the development of the new town
s of Crawley
and Stevenage
.
He trained as an architect
at Regent Street Polytechnic
while employed in the drawing office of the London and North Western Railway
. He went on to study at the Royal Academy
School, joining the Office of Works (later Ministry of Works) in 1911. A career in both education and government followed, until setting up his own practice in 1921. In 1922, he became a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
.
His practice was responsible for many landmark buildings such as the Saville Theatre
, Esso House, John Barnes Department store, Hampstead Westminster Hospital
, a BOAC air terminal, the London Mormon Temple
in Surrey
and Hawkins House http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/southcity/poolbeg_street/hawkins_house.html in Dublin. In 1940, he became Director of Bricks at the Ministry of Works, where he was awarded the CBE
in 1942, but returned to private practice immediately after the Second World War
. He was knighted in 1946.
In 1947, Bennett was appointed as the Chairman of the Development Corporation of Crawley New Town
, in West Sussex
, a post he held until 1960. In his early days at the Development Corporation, he was responsible for the scrapping of the existing plans for the New Town
, and the appointment of Sir Anthony Minoprio to create the town's new Master Plan. When the town was built, a new comprehensive school
was named for him, opening in 1958. Sir Thomas Bennett opened the school
in Tilgate, Crawley
, officially in November 1959.
Bennett was awarded the KBE
in 1954. His private practice, T.P. Bennett & Son expanded into an architectural company and was passed to his only son in 1967. Bennett died on 29 January 1980.
Movement, and following a succession of major projects throughout the 1960s and 1970s, developed into one of the largest and most successful architectural practices in the UK.
The practice was based in Holborn
until 1998 when it moved to purpose designed offices within a converted Edwardian warehouse at One America Street on Southwark Bridge Road
.
tp bennett has three core divisions of architecture, interiors and planning supported by specialist practice areas in strategy, research and graphics.
tp bennett currently has offices in London, Moscow, Abu Dhabi and New York.
The practice incorporated the architects' firm Stillman & Eastwick-Field
in 2004 and converted to a Limited Liability Partnership
on 1 December 2005
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
architect, responsible for much of the development of the new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
s of Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
and Stevenage
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
.
He trained as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
at Regent Street Polytechnic
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
while employed in the drawing office of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
. He went on to study at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
School, joining the Office of Works (later Ministry of Works) in 1911. A career in both education and government followed, until setting up his own practice in 1921. In 1922, he became a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
.
His practice was responsible for many landmark buildings such as the Saville Theatre
Saville Theatre
The Saville Theatre is a former West End theatre at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. The theatre opened in 1931, and became a music venue during the 1960s, finally being converted to a cinema in 1970.-Theatre years:...
, Esso House, John Barnes Department store, Hampstead Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded....
, a BOAC air terminal, the London Mormon Temple
London England Temple
The London England Temple is the 12th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Newchapel, Surrey, England....
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Hawkins House http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/southcity/poolbeg_street/hawkins_house.html in Dublin. In 1940, he became Director of Bricks at the Ministry of Works, where he was awarded the CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1942, but returned to private practice immediately after the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was knighted in 1946.
In 1947, Bennett was appointed as the Chairman of the Development Corporation of Crawley New Town
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, a post he held until 1960. In his early days at the Development Corporation, he was responsible for the scrapping of the existing plans for the New Town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
, and the appointment of Sir Anthony Minoprio to create the town's new Master Plan. When the town was built, a new comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
was named for him, opening in 1958. Sir Thomas Bennett opened the school
Thomas Bennett Community College
Thomas Bennett Community College is a maintained comprehensive secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18. It caters to approximately 1500 pupils in Years 7 to 13, including nearly 200 in its sixth form. It now specialises as a mixed school.-History:...
in Tilgate, Crawley
Tilgate, Crawley
Tilgate is a neighbourhood within the town of Crawley in West Sussex, England. The area contains a mixture of privately developed housing, self build groups and ex-council housing...
, officially in November 1959.
Bennett was awarded the KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1954. His private practice, T.P. Bennett & Son expanded into an architectural company and was passed to his only son in 1967. Bennett died on 29 January 1980.
Tp bennett
tp Bennett LLP is an English architect company founded as T.P. Bennett and Son in 1921 by Bennett, the practice quickly became known for the innovative design of theatres, residential and commercial buildings, with early work predominantly in London. The practice later came to the forefront of the New TownNew Town
New Town may refer to:*New town, a generic name for a planned city development or expansion*In the United Kingdom, any of a specific set of towns created under various Acts of Parliament for population moved out of overcrowded conurbations-Places:...
Movement, and following a succession of major projects throughout the 1960s and 1970s, developed into one of the largest and most successful architectural practices in the UK.
The practice was based in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
until 1998 when it moved to purpose designed offices within a converted Edwardian warehouse at One America Street on Southwark Bridge Road
Southwark Bridge Road
Southwark Bridge Road is a road in Southwark, London, England, between Newington Causeway near Elephant and Castle and Southwark Bridge across the River Thames, leading to the City of London, in a meandering route...
.
tp bennett has three core divisions of architecture, interiors and planning supported by specialist practice areas in strategy, research and graphics.
tp bennett currently has offices in London, Moscow, Abu Dhabi and New York.
The practice incorporated the architects' firm Stillman & Eastwick-Field
Stillman & Eastwick-Field Partnership
Stillman & Eastwick-Field Partnership was an architects' firm based in London, founded in 1949 by the architects John Stillman and John and Elizabeth Eastwick-Field, a married couple...
in 2004 and converted to a Limited Liability Partnership
Limited liability partnership
A limited liability partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liability. It therefore exhibits elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence. This is an important...
on 1 December 2005