Arthur Bown

• Date of birth        22 January 1851 at Harrogate, West Yorkshire
• Marriage              1880 to Jane, the daughter of John Bagshaw
• Date of death       3 July 1916
• Burial                  Grove Road Cemetery Harrogate

Arthur Bown was born at Harrogate, on 22 January 1851, the son of Edwin Bown, jeweller and his wife Anne. He was educated at Knaresborough and was originally intended for an engineer, serving some time with Mr. Barron, C.E., of Leeds, and Manning and Wardle, Boyne Engine Works. He was afterwards with his brother, Henry Edwin Bown, architect, of Harrogate, having worked for two years as an improver with J. Douglas Matthews, of London. His partnership with Henry under the style H E and A Bown ended with the early death of the latter in 1881. Henceforth Arthur Bown practised alone but still in the name of H. E. and A. Bown, Harrogate, until his retirement (by 1911).

The entry in Pike records that he had erected numerous public and private buildings, a monument to Queen Victoria in Harrogate, a lodge at Heywood, Rochdale for the Queen, and a residence for the Surveyor General to the Duchy of Lancaster. He was a past member of the London Architectural Association; a member of the Leeds Architectural Association, and of the Arboricultural Association.

Arthur Bown married Jane, the daughter of John Bagshaw, engineer and iron-founder of Batley in 1880 and they had two children. Their son Harold Linley Bown also trained as an architect and may have continued the practice. Arthur Bown died on 3 July 1916 at Harrogate and was interred in Grove Road Cemetery.

Residence
1891-1902    Hillstead, Grove Road, Harrogate, West Yorkshire,
1916        11 Grove Road, Harrogate (Probate)

Reference           Pike WT; The West Riding of Yorkshire at the opening of the 20th Century. 1902