Sir Charles Barry FRS (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860) was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) in his home city of London during the mid 19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.
Born in Bridge Street, Westminster, he was the son of Walter Edward Barry. He was educated at private schools in Homerton and then Aspley Guise...
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Sir Charles Barry FRS (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860) was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) in his home city of London during the mid 19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.
Born in Bridge Street, Westminster, he was the son of Walter Edward Barry. He was educated at private schools in Homerton and then Aspley Guise, before being apprenticed to a Lambeth surveyor at the age of 15. Upon the death of his father (a stationer), Barry inherited a sum of money that allowed him to travel extensively around the Mediterranean and Middle-East (1817-20). His travels in Italy exposed him to Renaissance architecture and apparently inspired him to become an architect.
His first major civil commission came in 1824 when he won a competition to design the new Royal Manchester Institution for the promotion of Literature, Science & Arts (now part of the Manchester Art...
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