Introduction
George Corson (1829–1910) was a Scottish architect active in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
Background
He was born in Dumfries, where he was articled to Walter Newall before moving to Leeds in 1849 to work with his brother William Reid Corson who was working there with Edward La Trobe Bateman. His brother left Leeds in 1860, leaving Corson in charge of the practice.
In Leeds he was president of the Leeds and Yorkshire Architectural Association by 1898.
Works
Corson was responsible for many buildings in Leeds including:
- the Grand Theatre (1877–78), with his assistant James Robinson Watson - Grade II* listed
- the municipal buildings (1878–84) - Grade II* listed, now housing the Leeds Central Library
- an extension (1891–92) to George Gilbert Scott's Grade I listed Leeds General Infirmary
- Apsley House (formerly Concourse House) (1903) - originally a drapers and haberdashery warehouse for Crowe & Co and now occupied by Sky Sports
- many large houses in Headingley including the Grade II* listed Spenfield
- St Edmund's Church, Roundhay, Leeds, designed 1873.
- Bewerley Street School, Bewerley Street, Dewsbury Road, Leeds, designed 1872.
- St Silas National School, Goodman Street, Hunslet, designed 1872.
- Additions and alterations to Ripon Grammar School, designed 1875.
- Leeds School of Medicine, Park Street, inaugurated 1865.
- Wrathmell, Susan; John Minnis (2005). Leeds. Pevsner architectural guides. Yale U.P. ISBN 0-300-10736-6.
- Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday 25 January 1873 p2: "St Edmund's Church Leeds"
- Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Tuesday 13 February 1872 p1: "Leeds School Board, Bewerley Street School"
- Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday 09 March 1872 p8: "St Silas National School"
- Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday 21 August 1875 p7: "Ripon Grammar School"
- Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday 07 October 1865 p6: "Leeds School of Medicine, inaugural address and soiree"
Roundhay Park and Lawnswood Cemetery
Corson won a competition for the landscaping of Roundhay Park in 1873, and in 1874 designed the layout and many of the buildings of Lawnswood cemetery, where he himself was buried in 1910. His gravestone, a celtic cross with five bosses, is grade II listed, one of only four listed memorials at Lawnswood.
-
Spenfield House, 1875–77
-
Leeds Grand Theatre]]
