William Halfpenny, Alias Michael Hoare

Place: Richmond

Biography:

William Halfpenny (active 1723–1755) was an English architect and builder in the first half of the 18th century, and prolific author of builder's pattern books. He described himself as 'architect and carpenter', and his books concentrate on the practical information a builder would need, as well as addressing 'gentleman draughtsmen' designing their own houses. He also wrote under the name of Michael Hoare. Little is known for certain of his life, but he seems to have been based in Richmond, then in Surrey, and nearby London, perhaps also spending a period based in Bristol. He also worked in Ireland. Few buildings can certainly be ascribed to him, and no major ones; then and now his main importance lies in his books, which were often reprinted, and copied by other authors. They reached British North America and were also influential there. He wrote and probably built in collaboration with his son John Halfpenny in the later years of his career.