His work
Wardell started his career as an engineer, spending three years as a Railway Surveyor, before setting up a private architectural practice in 1846.
New Catholic churches, at this time were needed to serve working-class communities, where funds were scarce and wealthy patrons were not common. Wardell often worked to provide churches to these low-income communities, such as Greenwich and Poplar.
His focus on financial honesty is reflected in Canon Richard North’s letter to Wardell of 9 June 1858, in which he said: “Your estimates of probable cost have not as elsewhere been doubled… We have not been compelled to see the completion of our work with broken hearts, and to lie down and die.”
According to North’s letter of 17 January 1851 to John Hardman, this church was for Wardell “his first commission – he was unknown before”. He was only 23 when the foundations were laid. We have the original signed contract between Fr North and Wardell for the foundations and partial erection of the church on 29 October 1846.
Emigrated to Australia 1858
It is thought that Wardell designed 30 churches in England, before poor health forced his emigration to Melbourne in 1858. He parted ways with his working relationship with Fr North when AWN Pugin became involved, and took all his architectural drawings with him.
In Australia, he principally designed public buildings, leading the Public Works Department in Victoria, before moving to Sydney. He also maintained a private practice, designing churches, almost exclusively for the Catholic Church. Most notable are the cathedrals of St Patrick’s, Melbourne, and St Mary’s, Sydney. The foundations were laid for St Mary’s in 1868. However, the spires were added only in 2000. He died in Sydney in 1899.
He is recognised in Australia as a significant architect of the 19th Century, who contributed substantially to the country's architectural landscape.
