Alfred Dowson
Alfred Dowson (c1846-1914), civil engineer for sea works, including piers and landing stages etc.
Born the son of Joseph Emerson Dowson, a Metal and Gas merchant and Iron Founder and his wife Elizabeth
1851 Residing at 36 Queen's Road, Marylebone. Joseph E. Dowson (age 27 born Marylebone), Stove Manufacturer and Iron Founder. With his wife Elizabeth (age 26) and children Joseph E. Dowson (age 6 born Marylebone), Alfred Dowson (age 5 born Marylebone), Elizabeth W. Dowson, and Annie R. Dowson. Also his mother Ann and brother Thomas.[1]
1861 Residing at 6 Clarendon Terrace, New Road, Camberwell: Joseph E. Dowson (age 37 born Marylebone), Metal and General Merchant. With his wife Elizabeth (age 36) and children Joseph E. Dowson (age 16), Solicitor's General Clerk; Alfred Dowson, Clerk to Metal and General and Merchant; Elizabeth; Annie R; and Cecil Dowson (age 9).[2]
1870 Jointly with Joseph Emerson Dowson appointed engineers for Redcar Pier Co
1873 Jointly with Joseph Emerson Dowson appointed engineers for Cleethorpes Pier
1873 Patent. '1116. To Joseph Emerson Dowson and Alfred Dowson, both of 3, Great Queen-street, in the city of Westminster, Civil Engineers, for the invention of "improvements in tramways."'[3]
Engineer to his brother's company Dowson Economic Gas and Power Co.
1914 Obituary[4]
ON the 14th instant at Fleet, Hampshire, the death occurred of Mr. Alfred Dowson, civil engineer, at the age of sixty-eight. The late Mr. Dowson was for nearly a quarter of a century actively engaged in the design and construction of engineering works on the sea coast, including piers and landing stages at New Brighton, Hunstanton, Redcar, Cleethorpes, Wallasey, St. Anne's-on-Sea, &c. He was also consulted on the improvement of the harbour at St. Helier's, Jersey, and much of the work subsequently carried out followed the lines he advocated. He also made a thorough study of coast erosion and constructed breakwaters and other sea defence works at various parts of our coast, eventually bringing out a novel system of open groynes which he patented and applied with success at the mouth of the river Ribble, in Lancashire, and at Brighton.
On the passing of the Tramway Acts in 1870 Mr. Dowson carried out schemes in this country and in India. Several of the early track details were improved, and he actually designed and protected the present standard rail section, but at that date was unable to get the rolling mills to tackle its manufacture. In conjunction with his brother, Mr. J. Emerson Dowson, a treatise on "The Construction of Tramways" was published in 1875.
After giving up sea work, Mr. Dowson acted as engineer to his brother's undertaking, the Dowson Economic Gas Power Company, subsequently taking charge of its works at Basingstoke, which position he held for sixteen years until his retirement in 1908.
The late Mr. Dowson was keenly interested in the movement to preserve our commons and open spaces, and for some years acted as honorary surveyor to the Reading branch of the Commons Preservation Society. He also took great interest in sanitation and was for many years a fellow of the Royal Sanitary Institute.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1951 Census
- ↑ 1861 Census
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date:25 April 1873 Issue:23970 Page:2094
- ↑ The Engineer 1914/08/28