ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS OF COLONEL HAROLD RIDLEY HOOPER, A.R.I.B.A. (1886-1953) AND...

The drawings in this catalogue are a small fraction of those made by Hooper during his career and there are also two buildings by Brightwen Binyon ARIBA (1846-1905) of Ipswich and William Bradford ARIBA (1844-1919) of London.

The drawings were assembled as a consequence of a last-ditch salvage operation from the attic store of Messrs Hoopers Architects during their office move in May 1995. There is no comprehensive practice index for the early years of Hooper's practice. The drawings chosen may not be an entirely representative sample of the work done prior to 1939 but to illustrate a wide range of architecture and excellent draughtmanship with examples of public houses and commercial premises in both the Jacobean and Tudor revival style for public houses, but also Wren-classical commercial buildings and an early holiday camp for Butlins in Dovercourt, Essex which was a development of an earlier design in Lincolnshire. A number of significant historic houses were also remodelled.

The only drawings in this collection which duplicate the works of Hooper represented in the 'Dictionary of Suffolk Architects 1800-1914' by Brown, Haward and Kindred 1991 are the Buttermarket Arcade, Ipswich and the Picture Palace, Felixstowe. Researchers are advised to consult the 'Dictionary' for details of the other 25 known Suffolk buildings by Hooper prior to 1915.

The plans have been sorted and catalogued in detail by Mr R J Kindred, BA, MIHBC, MRTPI, Ipswich Borough Consevation Officer.

Drawings HG404/1-45 are from the practice of Harold Ridley Hooper (1913-1939)

Drawings HG404/46 Cliff Quay Brewery, Ipswich (1903) are by William Bradford, architect of Carlton Chambers, 12 Regent Street, London SW

Drawings HG404/47 Hill House, Ipswich (1882-1883) are by Brightwen Binyon, architect

Drawing HG404/48 Shepherd and Dog Public House (1960) is from the practice of Hooper and Olley

Acc No 10748

Harold Ridley Hooper was an architect based in Ipswich throughout his career. Born in Bury St Edmunds in 1886, he was articled to the Ipswich architect J S Corder but began his own practice in 1912. Served in the first World War as a Colonel in the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. He was subsequently a Councillor for Ipswich Borough Council and Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk.

From 1924-34 he was in practice with Cyril Proctor Garrad ARIBA and with B W J Olley ARIBA who carried on the practice after the death of Hooper in 1953.