Hawksmoor Essay Medal

About

To encourage new and unpublished entrants to the field of architectural history, the Society's Essay Medal (popularly known as 'the Hawksmoor') is awarded annually to the author of the best essay submitted in competition. The competition is limited to PhD students and early career researchers (defined as within 5 years from graduation of a terminal degree). The competition is international in scope and there is no geographical restriction on where entrants have obtained or are studying for their PhD; but the work must be written and submitted in English.

As a permanent reminder of the winner's achievement, a bronze medal featuring a relief portrait of Nicholas Hawksmoor based on the bust of the architect by John Cheere is awarded and inscribed with the winner's name and date. This is presented at the Society's Annual Awards Ceremony. The winning essay will be published in the Society's internationally respected journal, Architectural History. The winning essay will also receive a £400 cash prize and one year’s free membership of the SAHGB.

Judging Panel

The panel is drawn from the Editorial Board of Architectural History

Dr Doreen Bernath (Honorary Secretary of the SAHGB) (Chair)

Dr Emily Mann, ex officio  (Editor of Architectural History) 

Prof. Sussan Babaie  (The Courtauld Institute)

Prof. Christian Frost  (London Metropolitan University)

Editorial Statement

Architectural History is a double-blind, peer-reviewed international journal that publishes significant original and interpretive research on buildings, the built environment, the history of architectural theory and architectural historiography, in all places and from all periods. Articles in Architectural History are expected to be rigorous and analytical, and, although closely focused, to contextualise their subject and explore its relevance in relation to wider issues concerning the history and understanding of architecture.

Criteria

Work will be assessed by the following broad evaluation criteria:

Originality - including strength of argument

Significance - including relevance and contribution to knowledge/understanding 

Rigour - clear analysis derived from sound methodology or theoretical underpinning.

Submission Guidelines

1. The Essay Prize is open to anyone currently registered for a higher research degree, in the UK or abroad, and to anyone who completed such a degree no earlier than October 2019.

2. A researcher may enter for this award no more than twice. If submitting work a second time, they should do so within the qualifying period; and on the understanding that they must not previously have received a commendation or had an essay shortlisted by an SAHGB panel of judges.

3. Submissions should take the form of a single PDF, with line spacing at 1.5 lines and images included at the appropriate place within the text, submitted using the online form below.

4. Entrants must also supply an updated CV which includes details of degrees or qualifications, as well as previous publications and any departmental prizes awarded to the submitted essay.

5. Essays must be anonymous. Please do not include your name, institution or any other personal information within the essay pdf.

6. Entries must be written in English.  

7. The closing date for submission of entries has passed: this was 11 August 2024. The prize-winner will be notified by email before December 2024.

8.  Essays are to be no longer than 10,000 words, inclusive of all footnotes, and should conform to the style requirements of Architectural History

9.  Entries submitted must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. The entry must not have been previously published and must not have been awarded any national or international prize.

10. In the case of any dispute about the award, the decision of the Society shall be final. If in the judges’ opinion, the material submitted is not of a suitable standard, no prize will be awarded.

11. It is a condition of entry that the entrant grants exclusive licence to the publishers of Architectural History for publication if their submission is accepted.

12. In the event of publication, it will be the responsibility of the author to obtain copyright permission for all copyrighted material, including images, for any format in which the material is published for the SAHGB.

13. The winning entry will be subject to Architectural History’s normal standards of refereeing and editorial review.

14. There will be a single winner and, at the judges’ discretion, up to three commendations. Entries other than the winner may also be invited to publish their work in Architectural History, if the judges consider the work of the appropriate standard.