William Hiorne was an architect and master builder active, especially in Warwick, England, in the mid-18th century. Hiorne was born in 1712 in Great Tew in Oxfordshire, the son of John Hiorne and elder brother to the architect David Hiorne (born 1715, died 1758).
Hiorne is perhaps best noted for the number of country houses and churches he designed and built across the Midlands and is known to have been, together with his brother, responsible for several garden buildings.
He is particularly associated with the Palladian style and also for hinting at the rococo in some of his interiors.
Hiorne died on 22 April 1776.
Notable works include:-
- Four Oaks Hall. 1740 remodelling
- Memorial to Thomas Cross Field, St Andrew’s Church, Rugby 1744[2]
- St Michael's Church, Coventry 1747 new wings for the altar piece[2]
- Arbury Hall, Warwickshire from c. 1748[3]
- St Bartholomew’s Church, Birmingham 1749[2]
- Memorial to Edward Action (d1747) in St Margaret’s Church, Acton Scott 1751[4]
- Guys Cliffe House 1751
- Edgbaston Hall, Warwickshire 1751-52[2] internal alterations
- Rode Hall 1752
- King Edward's School, Birmingham 1752[2] library fittings
- Holy Cross Church, Daventry 1752–1758[2]
- St Martin in the Bull Ring 1753[2] spire repairs and 1760 vestry and lobby at east end of the north aisle
- Kyre Park, Tenbury Wells 1753-56[2]
- Delbury Hall, Diddlebury, Shropshire 1753-56[2]
- Shire Hall, Warwick 1754–58 (built to the designs of Sanderson Miller[2])
- Derby Country Gaol 1755-56[2]
- Meriden Hall, Warwickshire 1757-58[2] addition of attic
- Stable-block, Packington Hall, Warwickshire 1756–58 (designed by Sanderson Miller)
- St Mary's Church, Nottingham 1762 new west front
- Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon 1763-64[5] rebuilding of spire in stone
- St Leonard's Church, Over Whitacre 1766[2]
Bibliography
Colvin, Howard, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 3rd edition (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1995), pp. 496-498.