John Dobson

100 North East Heroes

Born: Chirton, North Shields, December 9, 1787. Died: January 8, 1865.

John Dobson was the most eminent architect to be born and have worked in the North East of England. He produced over 400 works of virtually every building type, and is especially linked with Newcastle where he practised for over 50 years designing many public buildings.

Dobson's precocious talent for design led to occasional employment as a draughtsman while he was still in his early teens and in1802 he was allowed to begin artistic studies in Newcastle under Boniface Muss, an Italian émigré.

In about 1804 he became an apprentice under David Stephenson of Newcastle, the leading practitioner in the North East at that time.

In 1809 Dobson travelled to London, where he studied watercolour painting with John Varley and he became immersed in the capital's architectural scene which he put to good use on his return to Newcastle in 1810.

By 1815 Dobson was becoming involved in planning several residential developments in Newcastle as well as a villa and country house practice producing Prestwick Lodge, Doxford Hall, Mitford Hall, Longhirst Hall and Meldon Park in Northumberland.

He was also given the landscape commission for Bolam Hall, Northumberland, where in 1816 he laid out extensive areas of carefully varied woodland.

Meanwhile, Dobson laid out Blackett Street, Eldon Square and the Royal Arcade in Newcastle for builder Richard Grainger.

He was also responsible for the design of the Grainger Market and the lower east side of Grey Street.

His greatest public building was the Central Station, Newcastle, designed in 1847–8 and opened in 1850.

Quote/fact: His second son, Alexander Ralph who was intended to take over his dad's practice died in the Newcastle quayside fire of 1854.