He is the Government architect for all these schools &c &c."[5] Hawkins and his wife Mary lived at Redlands, South Holmwood,[1] which he designed.

[6] Hawkins studied under the wealthy London architect Thomas Cubitt,[7] designer of Queen Victoria's Osborne House in the Isle of Wight.

[8] He then explored his father's interest in antiquities, spending time studying in Asia Minor (now Turkey).

[9] Hawkins is known today mainly for schools such as the Châteauesque Royal Victoria Patriotic Building in Wandsworth[10] and Gothic style churches.

[9] After his death, an auction of his "Objects of Art" on 9 June 1891 by Christie, Manson & Woods included ancient Chinese Cloisonné enamels, Japanese ivory carvings, bijouterie, old Persian, Venetian and French metal work, and Old Nankin, powdered blue and other enamelled Chinese porcelain.