Habershon & Fawckner or Habershon, Pite & Fawckner was a British architectural practice active in England and Wales from the 1860s, particularly in Cardiff and the South Wales area. They had had offices in London, Cardiff and Newport, designing a large number of houses, villas and non-conformist chapels.

Background William Gilbee Habershon (c.1818–1891) began practising in St Neots, Huntingdonshire in 1843, in partnership with his brother Edward. The brothers were the sons of the architect Matthew Habershon.Colvin H. A. (1995) Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840, Yale University Press, 3rd edition London, 442-3 Mathew Habershon, as well as working in London, had already established an office in Newport. By the time of their father's death in 1852, the two sons were practising from 38 Bloomsbury Square in London and presumably had inherited their father's practice.Antonia Brodie (ed) (2001) Directory of British Architects, 1834–1914: Vols.1, British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects, pp805-6 In 1852 William Habershon was elected an FRIBA and Edward an ARIBA. The partnership between the brothers was dissolved in 1863 and William Habershon formed a new partnership with one of his pupils, Alfred Robert Pite (b. 1832-1911). James Follet Fawckner (c.1828–1898) became a partner (though he was not a registered architect) in 1870 – he had been part of the Habershon company since 1857. After Pite retired aged 45, the practice continued as Habershon & Fawckner. The business had offices in London, Cardiff and Newport, Wales (W.G. & E. Habershon had previously run an office in High Street, Cardiff). The Newport office was run by Fawckner, who was probably responsible for the firms South Wales chapels. After Habershon's death in 1891 Fawckner became the senior partner.

The firm (preceded by W.G. & E. Habershon) were architects for the Tredegar Estate in South Wales.Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 105 They laid out large parts of Cardiff with parallel streets of villas for the middle classes. They included the streets around The Parade, The Walk, Richmond Road and Richmond Crescent (now in Roath) named 'Tredegarville' at the time.Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 309 Cardiff's working class residential area of Splott was laid out by Habershon & FawcknerNewman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 311 between 1875 and 1899, with the firm basing themselves at the Tredegar Estate offices on Pearl Street. They were responsible for over 1700 houses. Habershon's name was given to Habershon Street, while Hinton Street may have been named after Fawckner's son, Edgar Hinton Fawckner.

The company was busy in Newport, building three Anglican churches and at least fourteen chapels between 1857 and 1907.Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 428

In 1891 Habershon & Fawckner designed a mansion on Richmond Crescent, Cardiff, named 'The Grove' (later 'The Mansion House' and home of the city mayor), for shop owner James Howell and family. The mansion included Roccoco detailing and an unusual double front entrance in case the house needed to be divided at a future date.

Notable buildings

As Habershon & Pite Baptist Chapel, Stow Hill, Newport (1862–63) Presbyterian Church, Havelock Street, Newport (1864) Conway Road Methodist Church, Romilly Crescent, Canton, Cardiff (1869–71) Thomas Rotherham College, Moorgate Road, Rotherham (1874-1876)(originally built as Rotherham Congregational College; used by Rotherham Grammar School from c.1890 until c. 1971)Source: Listing description for TR College) Christ Church, Totland, Isle of Wight (1875)

As Habershon, Pite & Fawckner

Summerhill Baptist Church, Newport (1866) Brunswick Methodist Church, Swansea (1872–3) Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 586 St Mark's Church, Gold Tops, Newport (1872–74) and Vicarage (1877) Beechwood House, Newport (1877–78),Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 457 a mansion for former Mayor of Newport, George Fothergill.

As Habershon & Fawckner Church of St Basil, Bassaleg (1878–9) - restoration of a medieval church. St Paul, Brixton (1881), Santley Street, declared redundant in 1980 and became Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1981 Bethel Methodist Church, Stow Hill, Newport (1882–83) Parc Hotel, Park Lane, Cardiff, 1884.Newman, John (1995), The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, Penguin Books, p218 165 Commercial Street, Newport (1886) Talbot Tabernacle, Talbot Road, Kensington, London 31-33 Commercial Street, Newport (1889)

St Michael and All Angels Church, Partridge Green, West Grinstead, Sussex (1890–) Barry Market, Barry, Glamorgan (1890) (later used as a concert hall) Sunday Schools, Romilly Crescent, Cardiff (1891), accompanying the earlier Methodist Church 'The Grove', Richmond Crescent, Cardiff (1891–96) Splott Road Methodist Chapel, Splott, Cardiff (1896)

As Habershon, Fawckner & Groves Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Commercial Road, Newport (1899) Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 436 Clytha Primary School, Newport (1900–1) Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 442 St Andrews United Reformed Church, Wellfield Road, Cardiff (1899–1901) Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 302 Queen Victoria Memorial (almshouses), Stow Hill, Newport (1901–2) Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 452

As Habershon, Fawckner & Co. United Reformed Church, Pen-y-wain Road, Roath Park, Cardiff (1909–10) Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 304

References

Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 449 Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, pp. 431–435 Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 278

Sources