Thomas Hardwick - Pupils and Family

Pupils and Family

Among Hardwick's pupils was the artist J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851), whom it is said Hardwick advised to concentrate more on painting than architecture. During the young artist's training Turner made a drawing of Hardwick's design of St Mary the Virgin at Wanstead and later sold some of his early works to his popular tutor. Turner continued to be friends with the Hardwick family and would at the end of his life choose Hardwick's son, Philip, as an executor.

Plymouth architect John Foulston (1772–1842) designer of the Greek Revival style Plymouth Proprietary Library, and his second son Philip Hardwick were also pupils. Philip thus became the third successive generation to practice as an architect, joining his father as a partner and in 1825 taking over the firm’s London office.

Thomas had worked with architect John Shaw Sr. (1776–1832) whilst surveying St James's Church in Piccadilly and St Barthlomew's Hospital in Smithfield; later, a daughter of John Shaw married Thomas's son Philip. Another son, John Hardwick (1790–1875), was a stipendiary magistrate at Great Marlborough Street magistrates' court, London, and was a friend of the novelist Charles Dickens.

Hardwick died at his family home in central London's Berners Street, and was buried in the family vault in the churchyard of St Laurence, Brentford.

A portrait of Hardwick by George Dance the Elder is part of the National Portrait Gallery collection.