John Shaw Jr.
John Shaw Junior (1803–1870) was an English architect of the 19th Century who was complimented as a designer in the "Manner of Wren". He designed buildings in the classical Jacobean fashion and designed some of London's first semi-detached homes in the area close to Chalk Farm. Shaw retired in the early 1860s and moved to Kensington where he died in 1870. He is buried with the Shaw & Hardwick family at Kensal Green.
Family
Born in Holborn, London. His father, John Shaw Sr. (1776-1832), was also an architect - to Ramsgate Harbour and Christ's Hospital in London. Both father and son did extensive work on both places while Shaw Senior trained his son; Shaw Junior designed the lighthouse at Ramsgate.
His father drew up some of the earliest plans for semi-detached houses, working closely with Shaw Jr.
Shaw's sister married the architect Philip Hardwick; his nephew was architect Philip Charles Hardwick. The two families lived close together in Holborn and Westminster.
Career
Following his father's death in 1832, Shaw took on the surveyor role at Christ's Hospital, keeping an office there. He also took over work on the church of St Dunstan-in-the-West on Fleet Street in London. It was completed between 1833 and 1834. It is well-known for its 17th century clock and statues of Queen Elizabeth I along with King Lud and his two sons. St Dunstan-in-the-West is the youngest church in the City of London and was designed by the Shaws after the old medieval chuch was torn down because of Londoners' complaints about it impeding traffic on Fleet Street. A building next-door to the church, 187 Fleet Street, is a typical example of Shaw's Jacobean style.
Shaw was appointed architect to Eton College, Berkshire where he contributed the Tudor Gothic buildings. In the same year as working for Eton (1825) Shaw developed the Chalcots estate, Chalk Farm, building semi-detached villas.
Shaw was looked upon favorably by Prince Albert as an architect who could offer something different from the usual Victorian era Gothic revival architecture. The Prince helped secure work for Shaw: the former Royal Naval School in New Cross and Wellington College in Berkshire.
From 1844 to 1855 Shaw was one of the official referees of metropolitan buildings.