SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY STATION ARCHITECT
born Faversham, Kent 1800 d Redhill 1859 William already had experience of employing eclectic styles from a Gothic-style London church to a ‘plain’ London school. When the commission to design over a dozen railway stations in a short space of time for the South Eastern Railway’s new line from Tonbridge to Hastings he didn’t offer one template to be replicated.
Some of the smaller stations were given a rather homely, brick building, while for others such as Rye (c1850) he chose an Italianate style. In his design for Battle railway station (1852) he gave a nod to Battle Abbey’s medieval architecture, faced in Caen stone. He also created rural stations for Winchelsea, Appledore, Ham St, Wadhurst, Frant, Stonegate, Etchingham, Robertsbridge, Crowhurst and the original Hastings station which was replaced in 1931 (and again in 2004).
William had three daughters by his first wife Ann. After her death he had a son by his second wife Emma.
William died in 1859 at his home Red Hill Lodge, in Redhill, Surrey.
