William Bonner Hopkins was born in Limber Magna, Lincolnshire, England in July 1868. He trained as an architect with William Wood Bethell (1848?-1909) from 1889 to 1892 and, for a year with George Frederick Bodley (1827-1907). He also attended classes at the Architectural Association in London. He qualified as an architect in 1893 and commenced independent practice as an architect in London later that year 1893.
In 1905 he formed the architectural partnership W.B. Hopkins & E.R. Walker with Ernest Robert Walker (1872-1942) in the London. The partnership was dissolved in 1905.
Hopkins was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1900. His address was given as 7 Queen Ann''s Gate, London in 1898; 5 Staple Inn, Holborn, London in 1900; 143, High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and Rosemary Cottage, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire in 1914; and Dudswell Rise, near Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire in 1923 and 1930. He died in Norwich, Norfolk on 21 March 1958.
Berkhamsted Hall, remodelling; Felden Lodge, additions; Parkham Church Tower, repairs; Tremeer House, Cornwall, remodelled; four screens and small altar, Morton Church; and, in conjunction with Mr. Walker: Pallton House, Rugby (additions, &c); Chelsea Rectory (additions, &c); and choir stalls, Ac, Morton Church, Bourne, Lincs; Shenleybury House, Herts; Llttle Heath House, Berkhamsted. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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At Berkhamsted: — House at Little Heath, for N. M. MacLehose, Esq.; and at Manor End, for Sir Jas. R. Thursfield. Screens, choir stalls, reredos, etc, at Morton Church, Bourne, Lincolnshire (in partnership with E. K. Walker). Alterations, additions, and stables to Felden Lodge, Boxmoor, for Sir Richard A. Cooper, Bart. Twenty Cottages for Berkhamsted R.D.C., at Northchurch and Potten End (National Housing Scheme). Alterations at Stag's End (and cottages) for F. Braund, Esq.; a number of other houses in the Berkhamsted neighbourhood; rebuilding of Tremeer House, St. Tudy, Cornwall, for G. K. Hext, Esq.; Pailton House, Rugby (additions), for F. A. Morris, Esq.; the Hall, Berkhamsted (alterations), for E. Greene, Esq.; Gate Lodge at Potterspury Lodge, near Stony Stratford, for Mrs. Newton; house with garage and cottages at Berkhamsted, 1924, for Miss S. R. Courtauld; reparations of tower of Parkham Church, N. Devon. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The architectural Press, 1926