Lionel Godfrey Pearson

• Born : 29 October 1879
• Married : 1932, Melinda Elizabeth Osborne
• Died : 19 March 1953

Lionel Godfrey Pearson was born Liverpool, 29 October 1879, the son of the Rev. Samuel Pearson MA (-1907) and Bertha E, a daughter of William Crosfield of Liverpool. Samuel Pearson moved with his family to Broughton Park, Salford, when he was appointed minister for the Congregational Church. Thus, he was educated at Manchester Grammar School before being articled to Woodhouse and Willoughby of Manchester. After a two-year course at School of Architecture, Liverpool University; Pearson went to London in 1901 working in the offices of Professor E. S. Prior; William Flockhart in 1902; and Charles John Harold Cooper in 1903. He was assistant to Adams and Holden, from 1903 until 1911 when he was taken into partnership.

He served with RAMC in France, 1914–18; resumed practice, 1919; carried out numerous hospitals including the new Westminster Hospital, Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, Southend Hospital, etc., and with A. Taylor, FRIBA of Bath, the new Mineral Water Hospital, Bath. Member of Departmental Committee of Ministry of Health on Hospital Construction

Lionel Godfrey Pearson died at Old Meadow House Alton Road, Roehampton on 19 March 1953. His obituary in The Times provides some insight into his character:

MR LIONEL PEARSON - GRH writes – His friends will remember Lionel Pearson for his tall thin figure, rather bent, looking as if the wind would blow him away, and his far-seeing amused eyes. His greatness lay in his deep knowledge coupled with humanity and the desire to make other people talk rather than hold the platform himself. With amazing adroitness he would convince people that they had initiated a brilliant ides, for which he himself was responsible. No doubt this was the secret of his success with committees by whom he was regarded, rightly, as a practical man in spite of a tendency to arrive ten minutes late for a meeting with the appearance of having run most of the way. His knowledge of the fine arts and crafts was as profound as his knowledge of architecture. We who are left can only thank him for having introduced us to so many of the beautiful things in life. [Times 27 March 1953 page 10]

 Address
1910        28 Woburn Square, London
1914        28 Woburn Square, London

Residence
1881        48 Sefton Terrace, Prince’s Road Toxteth Park, Liverpool (Census)
1895        Woburn Lodge, Upper Park Road, Broughton Park, Higher Broughton, Salford
1910        28 Church Row, Hampstead
1953        Old Meadow House Alton Road, Roehampton (Times – deaths)