James Pennethorne - Definition and Overview

Sir James Pennethorne (4 June 1801-1871) was a notable 19th century English architect and planner, particularly associated with buildings and parks in central London.

Born in Worcester, Pennethorne travelled to London in 1820 to study architecture under, first, August Pugin and then John Nash. Like many architects of the period, he spent time studying in Italy (1824-1826). He then returned to London to work for Nash on several government buildings, and – like Nash – became well-known for his planning work and for landscaping London parks. He served for some years as chief architect at the government’s Office of Works.

His building works include:

• completion of East and West Park Villages, Regent's Park (started by Nash, but completed by Pennethorne after Nash's death in 1835)
• the Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London WC2 (1851-1858 – now the library of King's College London)
• ballroom at Buckingham Palace, London SW1 (1854)
• the west wing of Somerset House, London WC2 (1849-1856)
• alterations to the National Gallery, London (1860-1869)
• Army Staff College, Sandhurst (1862)
• alterations to Marlborough House, London SW1 (today home of the Commonwealth Secretariat) (1863)
• 6 Burlington Gardens, London SW1 (originally designed as office accommodation for the University of London, today this forms the rear part of Burlington House, home of the Royal Academy) (1867-1870)

His parks include:

• Kennington Park, south London
• Victoria Park, East London (from 1842, opened 1846).
• Battersea Park, south London (1846 to 1864, designed with John Gibson)

His pupils included Henry Saxon Snell (1830-1904).