Francis Hooper


Francis George Fielder Hooper was an architect who worked mostly in London and Kent.
He was born at Regent's Park, London on 7 July 1859, the son of a coach builder. He was educated at Spencer House, Wimbledon Common and at Marlborough College.

Career

While Hooper was articled to Arthur Cates, Crown Surveyor, between 1876 and 1879, he studied architecture at University College London and at the Royal Academy. From c1875 to 1879 he was working for Messrs Saxon Snell. On 6 November 1882 he was elected as a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He won the Pugin travelling Scholarship in 1882 and the Godwin Bursary in 1888.
Hooper commenced practice in Westminster in the mid-1880s. He set up in partnership with Henry Archer in 1889 based at Amberley House, Norfolk Street, Strand. This partnership ended in 1896. In 1894-95 he was Vice President of the Architectural Association. He became a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1897. In 1905 he was architect to Beckenham School Board. He retired in the late 1920s and his practice, Hooper, Belfrage and Hooper of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Stand, was taken over by his son Arnold.

Beckenham

Hooper moved to Hayne Road, Beckenham to join his parents in the early 1880s. He married Louisa Glover of Beckenham in 1891. On their marriage they moved into a house he had designed—Kelsey, Wickham Road, Beckenham.
The Hoopers were resident at Kelsey, Wickham Road, Beckenham from 1894–1896 then at 27 Albemarle Road, Beckenham from 1896 until around 1912. They then lived at Kelsey Corner, Manor Way. Hooper died here on 11 June 1938.
He was an elected member of Beckenham Urban District Council from 1913 to 1919.

Built work

Johanisbad, 54 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
Youlegreave, 56 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
The Gables, 58 Wickham Road, Beckenham . Demolished.
Rostrevor, 60 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
Kelsey, 62 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
Bryansford, 64 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
66 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
68 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
70 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Demolished.
72 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Local list.
74 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Grade II listed building.
76 Wickham Road, Beckenham. Grade II listed building.