Barry, Charles (1795–1860)
English architect. He designed the neo-Gothic new Palace of Westminster, London (the Houses of Parliament; 1840–60), in collaboration with A W N Pugin. His early designs for the Travellers Club (1829–32) and for the Reform Club (1837), both in London, were in Renaissance style.
| Born in Westminster, after serving his articles in London, Barry travelled in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Palestine. He started practice in London in 1820. His first important work was St Peter's Church at Brighton (1824–28). Other early work included the City Art Gallery and Athenaeum at Manchester, and King Edward VI's Grammar School, Birmingham. |
| His winning design for the new Houses of Parliament was picked from a field of 97 submissions in January 1836. Pugin had assisted Barry in executing his competition designs but would not be an integral part of the new project until 7 years after building began. |
| Later works included Dulwich College schools (1841), Halifax town hall (1859–62), and several very large mansions, notably Eynsham Hall, Oxfordshire (1843); Bridgewater House, Green Park (1847; demolished 1941); and Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire (1851). |
