 Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details | Name: | Edward Robert Robson | | Designation: | Architect | | Born: | 2 March 1835 | | Died: | 19 January 1917 | | Bio Notes: | Edward Robert Robson was born in Durham on 2 March 1835 and from 1851-53 worked in the building firm of his father. During this time he excuted his first desigm for the Bethel Methodist Connection Chapel in Durham. Subsequently he was articled to John Dobson from 1853 to 1856. He then moved to London as an improver in the office of Gilbert Scott where he became acquainted with John James Stevenson, 1857-1860. While still in Scott's office he commenced independent practice c.1858 as architect to the Dean and Chapter of Durham. From that year he was in partnership with John Wilson Walton (later William Walton-Wilson) and was admitted ARIBA on 6 February of that year, his proposers being Scott, Dobson and Sydney Smirke, and Fellow 18 January 1864. He was appointed architect to the Corporation of Liverpool in the same year (1864) but left in 1871 as he was not allowed to practise privately at the same time as working for them. He then became architect in the LCC London and published the highly influential 'School Architecture' in 1876. In the same year (1871) he formed a partnership with Stevenson, but this was dissolved in 1876. In 1884 he also became architect to the Education Department, later the Board of Education and to the Scottish Education Department. Although these roles were advisory, Robson thus had a considerable influence on Scottish school design, notably in Edinburgh where the 'Queen Anne' character of many of the schools reflects Robson's work in London, albeit built in stone rather than brick. These appointments came to an end in 1904 when Robson was sixty nine, but he continued to practise from 1910 in partnership with J J Gott. Although Robson's son, Philip Appleby Robson, (1871-1951) may have assisted his father in the 1890s he started his practice independently in 1898. He took over his father's practice on his father's death at Blackheath on 19 January 1917. This he continued until he retired in 1939.
Robson senior died Publications: 'School Architecture' 1874 (Reprinted 1972 with introduction by M Seaborne) | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Liverpool, England | Business | 1864 | 1871 | | | London, England | Private/business | After 1871 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Stevenson & Robson | 1871 | | Partner | |
Employees or Pupils
RIBARIBA Proposals
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this architect: | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Grove Dictionary of Art | | Grove Dictionary of Art | | | |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | 24 February 1917 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | pp92-96 |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Courtesy of Graham Potts | Information sent via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent March 2013. |
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