Sir Herbert Baker

This is the first full biography from childhood of the eminent British Architect Sir Herbert Baker. Written with the full cooperation of his family and with access to his archive and private papers, it gives an account of his remarkable life as the leading architect to the British Empire. From London, through the commemoration of the empire’s war dead in France, via South Africa and Australia to India, he celebrated the might of an empire that once ruled a quarter of the world. He was an intimate friend of many of most fascinating men of his age, including Cecil Rhodes, Lawrence of Arabia, John Buchan, Jan Smuts and, of course, his fellow architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. After a Victorian architectural apprenticeship in London and on to becoming the most prolific architect of his age in South Africa, he built the new imperial capital of New Delhi in India with Lutyens, before returning to London. These built or rebuilt such landmark buildings as the Bank of England, South Africa House, India House, Rhodes House, and the stands for Lords Cricket Ground, as well as numerous churches and private houses.

John Stewart is based in Buckinghamshire, just north of London and up until 2015 led one of the UK’s largest multi-disciplinary architectural practices.

John Stewart
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 270
Bibliographic Info: 90 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8434-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4443-1
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction 2
1. 1862–1892: “The Spirit of England” 5
2. 1892–1896: “Land of Hope and Glory” 20
3. 1897–1901: “Imperial March” 31
4. 1901–1904: “The Light of Life” 51
5. 1904–1909: “The Pipes of Pan” 65
6. 1909–1912: “Civic Fanfare” 84
7. 1912–1913: “The Crown of India” 103
8. 1913–1915: “A Song of Union” 116
9. 1915–1917: “A War Song” 137
10. 1917–1921: “For the Fallen” 152
11. 1921–1925: “Merchant Adventurers” 172
12. 1925–1931: “Pageant of Empire” 194
13. 1931–1946: “Through the Long Days” 217
Epilogue: “Fate’s Discourtesy” 241
Chapter Notes 243
Bibliography 257
Index 259