Holden, Charles Henry (1875-1960)

English modernist architect and town-planner. He is known for his massive, austere, stone-faced buildings such as the headquarters of London Transport, over St James's Station, London (1927-29); and the Senate House, University of London (1932). Following World War II, he was responsible, with William Holford, for the town-planning report for the City of London (1946-47).

Born in Bolton, Lancashire, he was articled in Manchester, then went to London. While assistant to H P Adams, he won the competition for Bristol Central Library, working independently. He designed the King Edward VII Sanatorium at Midhurst, West Sussex (1903-06). Adams took Holden into partnership (1907) and in 1913 L G Pearson (died 1953) was made a third partner. Work done by the firm included hospitals at Bristol, Torquay, Valletta and Istanbul; the British Medical Association building, London; and many stations for the London Underground. Holden was also one of the principal architects for the Imperial War Graves Commission 1918-22.