Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

English architect, for whom see Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 539-543. In Ireland Hopper designed an entrance lodge at Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare, for Sir Edward O'Brien (1812), alterations for the first Marquess Conyngham at Slane Castle, Co. Meath (1812-13), Gosford Castle, Co Armagh, for the second Earl of Gosford (1819-21) and Purdysburn House, Co. Down, for Narcissus Batt (1825). Soon after 1808 he made suggestions for the improvement of Armagh Cathedral.(1) He was also asked to arbitrate between JOHN NASH  JOHN NASH and Lord O'Neill when the latter had started to rebuild Shane's Castle, Co. Antrim, after it was destroyed by fire in 1816. In 1839 RICHARD MORRISON  RICHARD MORRISON invited Hopper to become an honorary member of the newly-formed Institute of the Architects of Ireland. In his reply, dated 29 November 1839, Hopper declined the invitation, having already refused to become a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects 'upon principle'. 'I am quite sure you need no aid from us,' he added, 'and I should be puzzled to find amongst the practisers of Architecture in England any name that I could place equal to that of Morrison. It has always appeared to me as a libel upon the Gentry of Ireland that they should import from this Country talent inferior to their own native genius and I have on many occasions refused to be employed.' In a second letter, written on 17 December 1839 in reply to Morrison's response, Hopper reiterated his admiration for Morrison's work: 'I hope and trust your Institute will do some good and you can create a school but as intensity of light produces the strongest shadow your light is rather too strong for the jealousy of the age. I went to Ireland with the late Lord Conyngham to finish his circular room at Slane Castle full of prejudice which soon gave way to conviction. It may be some gratification to you to know that Nash quite agreed with me as to the superiority of your designs.'(2)

See WORKS, for Irish work only.



References



(1) RIA pamphlet 1630/1 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc. 2008/44).
(2) Both letters from Hopper to Morrison are in RIAI archives (photographs and typescript copies in Jones files).


7 work entries listed in chronological order for HOPPER, THOMAS #


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Building: CO. ARMAGH, ARMAGH, CATHEDRAL CLOSE, CATHEDRAL OF ST PATRICK (CI)
Date: 1808p
Nature: Suggestions for same.
Refs: RIA [Haliday?]Pamphlet 1630/1 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44)

Building: CO. WEXFORD, JOHNSTOWN CASTLE
Date: 1810?
Nature: Principal staircase attributed to Hopper by Lacy.
Refs: Thomas Lacy, Home Sketches (1852), cited by P. Bowe, '"The Science of Elegant Luxury": Johnstown Castle', Irish Arts Review17 (2001), 157 (Frederick O'Dwyer, '"Modelled Muscularity": Daniel Robertson's Tudor mansions', Irish Arts Review Yearbook 15 (1999), 95, who attributes staircase to Daniel Robertson, says that Norman remodelling of Johnstown 'reputedly started as early as 1810')

Building: CO. CLARE, DROMOLAND
Date: 1812
Nature: Greek Doric entrance lodge, for Sir Edward O'Brien.
Refs: Set of 14 signed drawings in NLI, AD 2576-2589

Building: CO. MEATH, SLANE CASTLE
Date: 1812-13
Nature: Alts, including circular room, for 1st Marquess Conyngham.
Refs: MS. letter from Hopper to Richard Morrison, 17 Dec 1839, in RIAI archives (copy and photograph in IAA, Jones files); Christine Casey & Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster (1993), 482-3;  Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 541.

Building: CO. ANTRIM, SHANE'S CASTLE
Date: 1816p
Nature: TH acts as arbitrator between Lord O'Neill and Nash.
Refs: Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 541n

Building: CO. ARMAGH, GOSFORD CASTLE (MARKETHILL)
Date: 1819-1852
Nature: Norman style, for Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford. 'far from being finished' in 1837; 'remaining wing' being completed in Oct 1852.   Assistant,1838-45: Thomas Duff. Clerk-of works, 1835-1843: John Farrell.  New entrance front built after TH's death by G.A. Burn.
Refs: View of principal front by J. Miller (pupil of TH) at RA 1828, No. 1006; J. Binns, History and Beauties of Ireland (1837), 195;  building accounts and correspondence re building of Gosford Castle in PRONI, Gosford Papers, D1606 (see PRONI E-catalogue, Gosford Papers);  Armagh Guardian, 2 Oct 1852;  Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 542; D. Scott Richardson, Gothic Revival Architecture in Ireland (New York, 1983), I, 148-153, pls. 77-82;  C.E.B. Brett, Buildings of County Armagh (UAHS, 1999), 91-94(illus.);  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 344-50.

Building: CO. DOWN, PURDYSBURN HOUSE
Date: 1825
Nature: Tudor Gothic house, for Narcissus Batt. Demolished 1965.
Refs: Samuel Lewis, A Topographical dictionary of Ireland (1837), II, 238