Quentin Hughes
Encyclopedia
Quentin Hughes was a British SAS officer during World War II who became an architect and academic. He was influential in the preservation of Liverpool's Victorian and Edwardian architectural heritage.
on the 28th of February 1920; the only child of a vicar of the Church of Wales. He was educated at Rydal School in Colwyn Bay
, North Wales, and then began his studies at the University of Liverpool
School of Architecture in 1937.
and was posted to 208 Anti-Aircraft Training Regiment before obtaining his commission in 1940. Hughes was posted to Malta
with 48/71 D Battery RA, from which his life-long love of the island and interest in its architecture began.
Following the siege of Malta, in 1942 Hughes joined the newly created 2nd SAS
based at Philippeville, Algeria and began carrying out sabotage operations in Italy.
On the 12th of January 1944 Hughes and four others took off from an American airfield in southern Italy for Operation Pomegranate
in support of the forthcoming allied landings at Anzio
. The objective of the mission was the destruction of German reconnaissance aircraft at San Egidio. The group was scattered after coming into contact with a German sentry, and although Hughes and the raid commander Major Tony Widdrington found each other, the other members could not be located. The pair carried on with the mission, infiltrating the airfield on the night of the 19th of January and planting Lewes bomb
s which when detonated destroyed four Ju88s, two Fieseler Storchs
and one Ju52. While defusing their unused bombs one exploded, killing Widdrington and leaving Hughes temporarily blind and concussed. He used his pistol to summon assistance, being captured by the Germans and taken to hospital in Perugia
. The accident left Hughes deaf in one ear and blind in one eye for the remainder of his life.
By February the Gestapo
was insistent that Hughes should be handed over to them to be shot as a saboteur; however a German officer managed to get Hughes classified as a prisoner of war, thereby keeping him at least temporarily safe from the Gestapo. Hughes later escaped along with two other men and with assistance from local partisans reached Allied forces on the 10th of May 1944. Hughes received an MC and bar for the raid and his following escape.
After spending some time at an officers' rest camp Hughes returned to England to rejoin the 2nd SAS at Prestwick, Ayrshire. He was appointed commander of HQ squadron in 1945 before a jeep accident forced him to retire from the army at the rank of Major.
In 1964 Hughes published Seaport: Architecture & Townscape in Liverpool, in which he stressed the significance of the Victorian and Edwardian architectural inheritance of the city. Much of the city centre was saved because of his activities, which in particular helped preserve the Albert Dock Warehouses
and the Oriel Chambers
. The book was highly influential in starting a national trend opposing the architectural Brutalism of the 1960s. In 1967 he also wrote a detailed policy for the conservation of Liverpool's architecture which was adopted by the City Council.
In addition to his academic work Hughes also found time to practise as an architect, designing houses in Surrey, converting Greenbank House in Liverpool and being involved in improvement work to Bridge Street and Eastgate Street in Chester.
In 1968 Hughes moved to Malta to start a School of Architecture at the Royal University, becoming the first Professor of Architecture there in 1970. In 1984 he was made an Honorary Research Fellow of Liverpool University.
Hughes was one of the founders of the Fortress Study Group
in 1975 and served as the first editor of the group's journal, Fort, being internationally respected for his knowledge of military architecture.
in recognition of his work in conserving the architecture of north-west England and in 2000 was made an Honorary Professor of Architecture by Liverpool John Moores University
. In 2004 he received Malta's highest civil honour, the Order of Merit of Malta.
Early life
James Quentin Hughes was born in Newsham Park, LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on the 28th of February 1920; the only child of a vicar of the Church of Wales. He was educated at Rydal School in Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay
- Demography :Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed...
, North Wales, and then began his studies at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
School of Architecture in 1937.
World War II
On the outbreak of war Hughes volunteered for the Royal ArtilleryRoyal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and was posted to 208 Anti-Aircraft Training Regiment before obtaining his commission in 1940. Hughes was posted to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
with 48/71 D Battery RA, from which his life-long love of the island and interest in its architecture began.
Following the siege of Malta, in 1942 Hughes joined the newly created 2nd SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
based at Philippeville, Algeria and began carrying out sabotage operations in Italy.
On the 12th of January 1944 Hughes and four others took off from an American airfield in southern Italy for Operation Pomegranate
Operation Pomegranate (SAS)
Operation Pomegranate was a four-man raid in support of Operation Shingle by the Special Air Service conducted on the Italian airfield San Egidio on the night of 12 January 1944. Only two of the team were able to reach the target planting bombs on seven airplanes...
in support of the forthcoming allied landings at Anzio
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
. The objective of the mission was the destruction of German reconnaissance aircraft at San Egidio. The group was scattered after coming into contact with a German sentry, and although Hughes and the raid commander Major Tony Widdrington found each other, the other members could not be located. The pair carried on with the mission, infiltrating the airfield on the night of the 19th of January and planting Lewes bomb
Lewes bomb
The Lewes bomb was a blast-incendiary field expedient explosive device, manufactured by mixing diesel oil and Nobel 808 plastic explosive. It was created by Lieutenant Jock Lewes, one of the original members of L Detachment SAS in 1941...
s which when detonated destroyed four Ju88s, two Fieseler Storchs
Fieseler Fi 156
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a small German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II, and production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market...
and one Ju52. While defusing their unused bombs one exploded, killing Widdrington and leaving Hughes temporarily blind and concussed. He used his pistol to summon assistance, being captured by the Germans and taken to hospital in Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
. The accident left Hughes deaf in one ear and blind in one eye for the remainder of his life.
By February the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
was insistent that Hughes should be handed over to them to be shot as a saboteur; however a German officer managed to get Hughes classified as a prisoner of war, thereby keeping him at least temporarily safe from the Gestapo. Hughes later escaped along with two other men and with assistance from local partisans reached Allied forces on the 10th of May 1944. Hughes received an MC and bar for the raid and his following escape.
After spending some time at an officers' rest camp Hughes returned to England to rejoin the 2nd SAS at Prestwick, Ayrshire. He was appointed commander of HQ squadron in 1945 before a jeep accident forced him to retire from the army at the rank of Major.
Post war
Hughes completed his architecture degree at Liverpool in 1946 and then moved to Leeds University to study for a PhD. He was appointed Senior Lecturer in Architecture at Leeds in 1948 and stayed until 1955 when he became a lecturer at the Liverpool School of Architecture.In 1964 Hughes published Seaport: Architecture & Townscape in Liverpool, in which he stressed the significance of the Victorian and Edwardian architectural inheritance of the city. Much of the city centre was saved because of his activities, which in particular helped preserve the Albert Dock Warehouses
Albert Dock
The Albert Dock is a complex of dock buildings and warehouses in Liverpool, England. Designed by Jesse Hartley and Philip Hardwick, it was opened in 1846, and was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone, with no structural wood...
and the Oriel Chambers
Oriel Chambers
Oriel Chambers is the world's first metal framed glass curtain walled building. Designed by architect Peter Ellis and built in 1864, it comprises set over five floors...
. The book was highly influential in starting a national trend opposing the architectural Brutalism of the 1960s. In 1967 he also wrote a detailed policy for the conservation of Liverpool's architecture which was adopted by the City Council.
In addition to his academic work Hughes also found time to practise as an architect, designing houses in Surrey, converting Greenbank House in Liverpool and being involved in improvement work to Bridge Street and Eastgate Street in Chester.
In 1968 Hughes moved to Malta to start a School of Architecture at the Royal University, becoming the first Professor of Architecture there in 1970. In 1984 he was made an Honorary Research Fellow of Liverpool University.
Hughes was one of the founders of the Fortress Study Group
Fortress Study Group
The Fortress Study Group is an international organisation based in the UK, which aims to further the understanding of military fortifications, particularly those designed after the introduction of gunpowder artillery.-History:...
in 1975 and served as the first editor of the group's journal, Fort, being internationally respected for his knowledge of military architecture.
Later life
Hughes became the chairman of the Merseyside Civic Trust in 1995, serving until 2001. In this role he and his team stopped commercial development of a dedicated public space at Liverpool Pier Head. In 1999 he was appointed OBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in recognition of his work in conserving the architecture of north-west England and in 2000 was made an Honorary Professor of Architecture by Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
. In 2004 he received Malta's highest civil honour, the Order of Merit of Malta.
Publications
Hughes wrote numerous books including:- The Building of Malta 1530-1795 (1956)
- Seaport: Architecture & Townscape in Liverpool (1964)
- Fortress: Architecture and Military History in Malta (1969)
- Military Architecture (1974)
- Who Cares Who Wins (1998)
- Malta:The Baroque Island (2003)