John James Robson
John James Robson (1853-1932)
1932 Obituary[1]
"THE LATE MR. J. J. ROBSON.
Mr. John James Robson, whose death, we regret to have to record, took place at his home in The Avenue, Gravesend, Kent, on October 19, had been Engineer to the Rochester Bridge Wardens for the past 25 years. The son of the late Mr. William Robson, of Roding House, Wanstead, Essex, he was born on August 8, 1853, and received his scientific training at the Gravesend Proprietary School. He subsequently served a pupilage of two years, from 1869-1870, under the late General C. G. Gordon, C.B., R.E., when that officer was superintending the construction of the Thames forts and defences in the vicinity of Gravesend. As is well known, General Gordon afterwards became Governor-General of the Sudan and died in tragic circumstances at Khartoum. In 1871, Mr. Robson became engineer on the staff of Messrs. John Aird and Sons, and Messrs. Lucas and Aird, contractors. During the years which followed, he was engaged on a number of works, including the building of a. bridge over the River Lea and Bow Creek, and a new gasworks at Bromley-by-Bow; the erection of a waterworks at Nunhead for the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company; the construction of the Fleetwood Dock Works for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company; the erection of the Stapleton-road gasworks for the Bristol United Gas Co; the building of a large number of bridges for the Hull and Barnsley Railway, and other works of a similar nature.
In 1888, Mr. Robson proceeded to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he practised as a consulting engineer in partnership with Mr. William Crickmay. Two years later, however, he returned to this country and carried out contracts for a large sluice and two miles of deep drain, at Rainham, for the Essex Sewers Commissioners, and a new dock on the Grand Junction Canal, for the Kensington Vestry, at Kensal-road. In 1891, he opened an office at Laurence Pountney-hill, London, and practised as a consulting engineer on his own account. Among his first works was the reconstruction and extension of the Royal Terrace Pier, at Gravesend. He was afterwards engaged on works connected with the re-opening of the chalk quarries at Purfleet. In 1902, and for some time afterwards, he was occupied in the building of extensions at the Aberdeen Wharf, Limehouse, of the Aberdeen Steam Navigation Company. These comprised the construction of a quay wall, the driving of piles, the dredging of the river, and the erection of warehouses. Subsequently, he built a wharf at Mill-wall for the Venesta Co. In 1907, Mr. Robson was appointed Engineer to the Rochester Bridge Wardens, and the reconstruction of Rochester Bridge, over the River Medway, during the three years from 1911 to 1914, was carried out under his supervision. Mr. Robson became an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers on December 4, 1894, and was elected a full member on February 24, 1903."