John Spence Hardy

• Birth date            December 1814 at Preston
• Christening         14 July 1815 at Preston
• Marriage              11 March 1844 at York to Mary Ann Hartley (she died before 1851)
• Death date          21 November 1892 at 15 Melville Street, Lincoln
• Burial                  24 November 1892 at St Swithin’s cemetery, Lincoln

 John Spence Hardy was born in Preston in December 1814, the son of John Hardy, silversmith, and his wife, Ann. Nothing is yet known of his education and training. It is assumed that he moved to York where he married in 1844. About 1844-5 he moved to Lincoln (where his first child was born), to become chief clerk to the architect William Adam Nicholson. He does not appear to have remained here long. Based on the birthplace of his second daughter, he had already returned to York by 1846 where he was working with Richard Hey Sharp (1793-1853). Following the death of Sharp in 1853, Hardy closed the York practice. William Adams Nicholson also died in 1853, and Hardy moved again to form a new architectural practice with Pearson Bellamy, one of Nicholson’s former pupils, in Lincoln. on 11 June 1853

Passionately fond of music, John Spence Hardy often delighted in the playing of his favourite instrument, the cello. He also excelled as an artist, many of his water colour paintings being highly prized at the time, although none appear to have survived. Being a Wesleyan Methodist, he at once joined the Society on his arrival in Lincoln.

John Spence Hardy died on 21 November 1892 at 15 Melville Street, Lincoln his remains being interred in St Swithin’s cemetery in that city on Thursday 24 November 1892.

Residence
1845    Melville Street Lincoln
1846    York
1851    York – St Maurice East Yorkshire
1853    Lincoln   
1892    15 Melville Street, Lincoln

Reference    Lincolnshire Chronicle 25 November 1892 page 5 – death notice
Obituary      Lincolnshire Chronicle 25 November 1892 page 8