Percy Robinson (? architect).

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 01 Feb, 2012 7:29 pm

This photo (taken today, February 1 2012) shows the name 'Percy Robinson' inscribed on the Yorkshire Building Society frontage on Duncan Street. I assume Percy was the architect of this old building (I wonder how old?). In a connected theme see my http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... eadID=3453 thread that I started on November 1 2011 in which there are photos showing the inscription 'H. A.Chapman Architect 1905' and one with 'H. A. Chapman A.R.I.B.A. Architect 1905' that are on a nearby building on Duncan Street.When I was typing this I typed 'Pervy Robinson' in error.Thankfully I spotted that! My excuse is that c and v are next to each other on the QWERTY keyboard.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 01 Feb, 2012 7:41 pm

This photo shows the location of the name. It is just above the grey material above the red traffic light just on the Yorkshire building where that joins onto Tip Top.

grumpytramp · Post by **grumpytramp** » Wed 01 Feb, 2012 9:05 pm

Leodian wrote: This photo (taken today, February 1 2012) shows the name 'Percy Robinson' inscribed on the Yorkshire Building Society frontage on Duncan Street. I assume Percy was the architect of this old building (I wonder how old?). This is a useful resource for finding out about architects:http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/ar ... list.phpIt includes a short entry regarding the architect Percy Robinson confirming that his practice was in Leeds from 1890:http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/ar ... 1According to the link below the YBS building was designed by Percy Robinson by 1904:http://www.victorianweb.org/art/archite ... s/3.htmlHe also designed Armley Library which Alan Bennet waxes lyrically about here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/book ... etime.html

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Wed 01 Feb, 2012 9:09 pm

Well spotted Leodian - it's strange that the architect's name is so far above ground level as I thought they usually liked to advertise their work on a foundation stone.A Google search reveals that he was also the architect of Armley Library, a building which I have always loved - here's an article by Alan Bennett in the London Review of Books, which references this:http://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n15/alan-benne ... caseAnyone who knows me in real life will know that I'm a regular visitor to the Isle of Man, so I'm chuffed to bits to know that Percy Robinson was also one of the architects who designed the Kursaal (now known as the Villa Marina) in Douglas. This entry from Manx Notebook has a photo of Percy Robinson at the bottom of the article:http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook ... .htmThanks Leodian - your observations and photos lead to some fascinating research and knowledge - keep them coming!

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 01 Feb, 2012 9:25 pm

Cheers grumpytramp and Tasa. Your help is appreciated.