Sir Herbert Baker

Architect

Architect Sir Herbert Baker is buried in the nave of Westminster Abbey. He was born on 9th June 1862 at Owletts in Cobham, Kent, a child of Thomas Henry Baker and his wife Frances (Davis). Educated at Tonbridge School he trained as an architect with his cousin Arthur Baker. On 21st June 1904 he married Florence Edmeades and they had four children: Ann, Henry, Allaire and Alfred. In France he constructed many cemeteries for the war dead and went on to design major government buildings in India, South Africa and Kenya and also rebuilt the Bank of England in London. His office was in Barton Street, just behind the Abbey, and T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) lived in the top room. His scheme for a memorial hall near the Abbey Chapter House was not taken up but he designed Church House in Dean's Yard in the 1930s, although that was bombed during the war. He designed the memorial to Dame Millicent Fawcett in the Abbey. In 1926 he was knighted and died 4th February 1946. The Dean of Westminster, who considered Baker the "architect of the Commonwealth" offered burial in the Abbey. Although the Royal Academy would not support this Sir Charles Wheeler gathered signatures of eminent men to back it. Wood from an old cherry tree in his garden was used to make the ashes casket and he was buried on 13th February. The inscription on the small lozenge stone is a little faint and reads: