William Douglas Caröe [also known as W.D. Caröe] was born in Blundellsands, near Liverpool, England, on 1 September 1857. His father was the Danish consul in Liverpool. After studying at Trinity College, Cambridge from 1875 to 1879, Caröe was articled to Edmond B. Kirby (1838-1920) in 1879-80, and to the church architect John Loughborough Pearson (1817-1897) from 1881 to 1883. During his time with Pearson, Caröe worked on drawings for Truro Cathedral.
Caröe set up his own independent practice in London in 1883 and was in partnership for a period with J.H. Christian with whom he designed The Paddock in Leopardstown, Co. Dublin (1885) and Hanover Schools in Gilbert Street, Grosvenor Square, London (1889). In addition to his work with Christian, Caröe was also in partnership with Herbert Passmore (1868-1966) from 1903.
In 1885 Caröe was appointed architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and subsequently worked on numerous church projects. His secular work included various, schools, banks, shops, offices flats, and country houses,
Caröe exhibited frequently at the Royal Academy in London from 1905 and 1935. He also exhibited the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. He was elected a member of the Art Workers Guild in 1889 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1890. He was President of the Architectural Association in 1895-96.
Caröe was the author of several publications including Sefton (1893) and King's Hostel, Trinity College, Cambridge (1909) and The Importance of the Historical Buildings of Cyprus (1931). He also edited ‘Tom Tower’, Christ Church, Oxford: some Letters of Sir C. Wren to J. Fell (1923).
After retiring, Caröe moved to Cyprus and built for himself in Kyrenia where he died on 25 February 1938.
A biographical file on William Douglas Caröe is available on request from the Enquiry Desk, Royal Institute of British Architects Library, London
Caröe's ecclesiatical commissions included Gustav Adolf Kyrka in Liverpool (1886); Congregational Church, Huyton, Lancashire (1889-90); St. John the Evangelist in Stansted Mountfichet, Essex (1889-95); St. David's Church in Exeter, Devon (1897); St. Stephen's Church, Nottingham (1897); St. David's Church, Exeter, Devon (1897-1902); St. Michael in Edmonton, London (1901); St. Barnabas in Walthamstow, London (1902); St. Aldhelm's Church in Edmonton, London (1902); St. Paul in Camberley, Surrey (1902); St. Luke in Finchley, London (1903); St. Bartholomew in Stamford Hill, London (1904); Bishop's Palace, Southwell, Nottinghamshire (1907-09); St. Michael in Chiswick, London (1908); St. Peter le Poer in Friern Barnet, Middlesex (1910); St. John the Baptist in West Byfleet, Surrey (1912); St. Andrew in Oxshott, Surrey (1912); and St. Ninian's Church, Isle of Man (1913). He was also engaged in the repair of Canterbury Cathedral.
His secular work included boarding houses, Wycombe Abbey School, High Wcombe, Buckinghamshire (1898-1902); Martins Bank. junction of Brunswick Street and Castle Street, Liverpool (1890-94); alterations to South Lychett Manor, Lychett, Dorset (1900-04); Coleherne Court, Old Brompton Road and Redcliffe Gardens, Kensington, London (1901-1903); Church Commissioners' offices, Westminster, London (1903); 37-43 Park Street, Mayfair, London (c.1903); new buildings for Trinity and Pembroke colleges, Cambridge (1905-07); Main Building, University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, Cardiff, now Cardiff University (1905-09); and St. Edward's House, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London (1906).
Following World War One Caröe was commissioned to design a number of war memorials including for Church of St Peter and St Paul, Cromer, Norfolk (1919-21); Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk (c.1920); Harrow on the Hill , Middlesex (1921); and Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire (1921). He also designed a Boer War memorial to the Buffs and Royal East Kent Imperial Yeomanry for Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, Kent (1904).
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For further details of Caröe's architectural projects see also British Listed Buildings
Armstrong, Barrie and Armstrong, Wendy. The Arts and Crafts movement in the North East of England: a handbook. Wetherby, England: Oblong Creative Ltd., 2013
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Button, Roger. Arts and Crafts Churches of Great Britain: Architects, Craftsmen and Patrons. Settle, North Yorkshire: 2QT Ltd. (Publishing) Ltd., 2020
Caröe, W. D. ‘Church Furniture’. Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects 1894 pp. 423-429
Caröe. A.D.R. The Work of W. D. Caröe Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings. Transactions vol. 11, 1986, pp. 31-42.
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Goodall, John. ‘A medieval retreat. Allington Castle, Kent: home of Sir Robert and Lady Worcester.’ [Allington Castle, Kent, restored by W. D. Caröe] Country Life vol. 209, no. 9, 25 February 2015 pp. 53-59.
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Pearson, Frank Loughborough. ‘William Douglas Pearson’ RIBA Journal vol. 45, 1938 pp. 459, 558-559
‘Charismatic Caroe.’ RIBA Journal vol. 98, no. 2, February 1991 p. 14.
‘Obituary’. Architect & Building News vol. 153, 4 March 1938 p. 271
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 154, 4 March 1938 p. 435
'Obituary’. Architect’s Journal vol. 87, 10 March 1938 p. 399
‘Obituary’. AA Journal vol. 53, 1938 p.439