John Dobson
John Dobson (1787-1865), Architect
John Dobson (1787 – 8 January 1865) was a 19th-century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East - Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn, Northumberland, and Beaufront Castle among them. During his career he designed more than 50 churches and 100 private houses. He is best known for designing Newcastle Railway Station and for his work with Richard Grainger developing the centre of Newcastle in a neoclassical style.
Born at Chirton, the son of John Dobson, a market gardener, and his wife Margaret
Pupil of David Stephenson
1865 Obituary.[1]
A general feeling of regret was felt in Newcastle yesterday when the tidings spread that Mr. John Dobson, our talented and renowned architect, had expired at an early hour in the morning. The deceased had not, for a considerable time past, taken active part in the arduous duties pertaining to his profession, old age and failing strength having incapacitated him from so doing. He had long been an invalid, and has gone to his final rest in his 78th year, full of honours, and with the regrets of numerous and attached body of friends and admirers. few men have survived for so long a period the wear and tear incident to the profession which Mr. Dobson so successfully followed.
So early as 1810 he was busily engaged in furnishing plans for the Royal Jubilee School, at a cost of £2,194, erected to commemorate the completion of the 50th year of King George the Third's reign.
In 1813, Mr. Dobson designed the New Road Chapel, the cost of building which was £4,500.
In 1823, his plans for the erection of the present gaol were accepted, and the work pushed rapidly forward and finished at a cost of £35,000. His original designs were not fully carried out at that time, but in 1859 considerable additions were made to the buildings, introducing the separate system of confinement, at an expense of £'15,000.
In 1825, the Lying-in-Hospital was erected from his plans, and in the following year St. James's Chapel, Blacket Street, was designed by him.
In 1827, his plans for St. Thomas's Church, Barras Bridge, were accepted, and the edifice opened in 1830.
In 1834, the handsome chapels, and entrance gate of the Jesmond Cemetery, were the result of his skill.
In 1836, Trinity Chapel, Gateshead, underwent considerable renovation from his plans. At this period of Mr. Dobson's career, Mr. Grainger was changing the entire aspect of the town, by the erection the magnificent streets and public buildings which have shed such lustre upon his name. Towards his success in the gigantic operations he successfully carried out, Mr. Grainger never failed to award to Mr. Dobson his obligations for the advice and valuable suggestions that gentleman gave him whenever he was consulted.
In 1837, he designed the Northumberland Baths, which cost £9,500.
In 1840, when the necessity for additional churches became apparent, he designed St. Peter's, which is, perhaps, his best production ecclesiastical buildings.
In 1844, his plans were acted upon for the restoration of the south transept of St. Nicholas' Church.
In 1847, he designed Trinity Presbyterian Church, New Bridge Street.
In 1852, John Knox Church was erected from hut designs, as well as the Barber Surgeons' Hall, at Bye Hill. 1853, the Unitarian Church, New Bridge Street, was built from his designs.
In 1854, his plans were adopted for the Ragged and Industrial Schools. Mr. Dobson sustained a heavy loss in the course of this year by the death of one of his sous, who was killed at the dreadful explosion which occurred in Gateshead. The unfortunate young gentleman, with others, was looking at the fire from Mr. Davidson's mill, the explosion occurred, and the whole party were buried amid the debris. This sad calamity cast a deep gloom over Mr. Dobson, from which he never really recovered, and gave a shock to a constitution more than ordinarily strong.
Shortly after this event, the Corporation came to the determination to re-build the property on the Quayside, and Mr. Dobson, in conjunction with the late Robert Wallace, supplied the designs for those spacious buildings which now adorn the Quayside, and in which the merchants and others transact their multifarious business operations. The restoration of the Parish Church, Gateshead, which suffered so severely by the explosion, was also entrusted to Mr. Dobson, and its completion was such call forth the approbation of the Bishop the Diocese.
In 1856, Jesmond Church was commenced from his designs. In 1857, he supplied plans for St. Paul's Church, High Elswick, the foundation stone of which was laid by the Right Hon. Lord Ravensworth in 1858. The above list merely contains few of the ecclesiastical and other buildings in the town, which have been erected from Mr. Dobson's designs. But there has been scarcely church or mansion house erected in the two counties with which Mr. Dobson has not been in some way or other connected. We believe the last work upon which was personally engaged was the repair and alteration of Lambton Castle, the residence of the Earl of Durham. It will be remembered that, owing the working coal underneath that baronial structure, it sustained considerable injury. Mr. Dobson, to prevent further mischief, determined on undersetting the building, and this was carried out from his plans his son and son-in-law, Mr. Sidney Smirke, of London. The internal alterations were also under his superintendence.
The public buildings in Newcastle — sacred and secular — all remain monuments of the persevering industry and wonderful fertility of Mr. Dobson's ability. His churches are fine specimens of the varied architectural orders in which they are built. St. Peter's, in George Street, and St. Paul's, High Elswick, are amongst his latest productions, and it must be apparent to all how minutely every detail has been carried out, both in the exterior of the buildings and in the interior. The other places of worship are equally worthy of commendation, showing how readily the genius of the architect could be brought to bear upon every description of structure required for religious purposes.
Perhaps his finest specimen of a country residence is Beaufront House, the beautiful abode of William Cuthbert, Esq., whose father built the house from Mr. Dobson's plan. The elegance of its design, and the commanding nature of its situation, render it unsurpassed in the north of England as the seat of a country gentleman.
We have omitted from the aforegoing erection upon which Mr. Dobson's fame will be more indelibly fixed than upon any other of his works, although there are several of them amply sufficient stamp their designer as man of genius. We allude to the Central Railway Station. The rapid spread of the railway system throughout the kingdom has introduced an entirely new school of architecture. The stations, bridges, tunnels, and other works required, have afforded great opportunities for the display of architectural taste and talent during the last quarter a century, such had never before been experienced. the introduction of the present North-Eastern line from Darlington to Newcastle, and thence to Berwick, it was obvious that a large station would be required for the accommodation of the immense traffic which was sure to be developed by the trunk line passing through the town. The splendid conception of Stephenson in the design of the High Level Bridge is well contrasted by the grandeur of the station. There are many fine stations at railway termini in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and other large towns, but none of them possess the beauty of outline, and capacity of space, to such extent at Newcastle. The fine curve of the roof, supported chaste and elegant pillars, with the graceful span of the arches, strike every visitor with admiration. The appearance the building on the outside is most imposing from its massive grandeur. It is in the style, the ornamental work being of the Doric order. The principal front, exclusive of the hotel, is 600 feet in length, and the shed is 236 yards long by 61 wide, covering an area of about three acres; the cost of the whole being about £90,000. The designs for the station were exhibited in the Royal Academy, London; and the Athenaeum, in elaborate criticism, stated them to be equal to designs of Yanburgh, and if carried out would be one of the finest structures of its kind in Europe, and Newcastle might well be proud of its architect. Unfortunately, the depression which came over railway property deterred the directors from finishing the station according to the original design, and the building remained until 1863 without the portico, which was to have been erected with the station. Had Mr. Dobson's plans been carried out in their entirety, Newcastle might have boasted of possessing the finest station in the kingdom, so far as exterior appearances were concerned, as it does in the beauty of its interior design and arrangements. The fine effect of the building has been much destroyed by the unseemly portico which has been added; but, notwithstanding this defect, the fame of the architect will remain. The space afforded for the booking offices and refreshment rooms, well the counting rooms «f the commercial department, are all in keeping with the main building, while the plan adopted for the arrival and departure of trains, a« separate platforms, is such as to prevent any confusion, even the most crowded occasions.
As showing the versatility of Mr. Dobson's talent, it may be mentioned that he furnished designs for Seaham Harbour. In works of less magnitude Mr. Dobson was equally at home. He confined his plans to the amount of means or space he had to deal with. Mr. Dobson's long experience and well known acquaintance with the town rendered his services as an assessor of property exceedingly valuable. The large quantity of property required for the railway in its course through some of the most densely populated parts of the town called for especial consideration and with the late Mr. Robert Wallace, Town Surveyor, he was extensively engaged in settling the value the property so required. Few provincial architects have attained higher reputation in their profession than the late Mr. Dobson. Possessing fine taste for the beautiful, both regards the exterior and interior of his buildings, his great practical ledge enabled him not only to develop to the full extent the ornamentation adapted the order of the architecture, but to combine with it the greatest possible amount of space. Mr. Dobson, in his early years, passed sometime in the studio of an artist of high distinction in London, and was a most excellent draughtsman. The versatility of his genius was remarkable, and displays itself in every work with which he was connected. He has left no successor in the north of England to fill his place. His works remain and will continue to afford admirable studies for the profession of which he was so distinguished a member. He leaves one son and two daughters, one of the latter being married to Sidney Smirke, F.S.A., London, and the other has assiduously soothed and comforted the last days of a fond and indulgent parent.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Newcastle Journal - Monday 09 January 1865