Thomas Jackson (architect) explained

Thomas Jackson
Nationality:	Irish
Birth Date:	1807
Birth Place:	Waterford, Ireland
Death Date:	1890
Practice:	Thomas Jackson & Sons
Significant Buildings:	Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

Thomas Jackson (1807–1890) was a 19th-century Irish architect who contributed to the iconic baroque look of Belfast. He was described as being the foremost Belfast architect of his day.^[1]

Early life

Thomas Jackson was born in the city of Waterford, Ireland, in 1807. His parents were Anthony Jackson and Elizabeth Pim, both practising Quakers. In fact, Thomas Jackson's great-great-great Grandfather was in attendance during the very first Irish Quaker meeting of 1654. Thomas Jackson would later contribute to the local Quaker movement by designing many of the Friends meeting houses in Northern Ireland.^[2]

Jackson married Lydia Newsom Ridgeway, another member of the Waterford Quaker community, on New Year's Day 1835. Together they produced two children; Anthony Thomas Jackson and William Ridgeway Jackson.^{[3] [4]}

Career

Thomas Jackson served his early apprenticeship with George Dymond of Bristol, England. In 1829, he moved to Ulster to work in partnership with Thomas Duff of Newry. He was in charge of Duff's newly established Belfast branch office. He kept this role until 1835 before striking out on his own.^[5] Thomas's most recognised work from this period was the Old Museum building for the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Socitety, of which he was an Honorary member.^[6]

Around 1840 Jackson returned briefly to Waterford, the city of his birth, to design a new bank at 31 O'Connell Street. The bank was completed in around 1845 (It is due to open as the Waterford Gallery of Art in April 2020).

Around 1867, Thomas Jackson's sons joined him, operating under the name Thomas Jackson & Sons. Anthony left to pursue his own interests circa 1870. William stayed on for roughly another ten years before emigrating to Australia. Thomas Jackson produced very little architectural work in the years following Williams departure.^[7]

Jackson was fundamentally a residential architect, but over the course of his career he turned his hand to commercial, educational, industrial and ecclesiastical buildings. An example of his domestic work would be the ambitious Cliftonville development. He was the principal architect of Ulster Bank and of the Banbridge, Lisburn & Belfast Junction Railway.

Notable works

Thomas Jackson was personally credited with 114 designs in total. The following are good examples of work by Thomas Jackson and his sons:

• Arnotts Warehouse, Belfast^[8]
• Belfast Hospital for Sick Children
• Clifton Villas, Belfast^[9]
• Craigavon House
• Glenmachon House, Belfast
• Graymount House, Belfast
• Natural History Museum, Belfast
• St. George's Building, Belfast^[10]
• St. Malachy's Church, Belfast
• Quaker Bank, 31 O'Connell Street, Waterford (now the Waterford Gallery of Art)

Portfolio

NB: Some omissions due to lack of descriptive information.

Extensive list of designs attributed to Thomas Jackson –

CO. ANTRIM, ANTRIM, MARKET SQUARE, ULSTER BANK – 1886 CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, BRIDGE STREET, LINEN WEAVING FACTORY (BRAID WATER FLAX SPINNING CO.) – Circa 1866 CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, DIOCESAN SCHOOLS – 1863 CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, FLAX MILL (BRAID WATER FLAX SPINNING CO.) – 1866 CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, GALGORM ROAD, MOUNT PLEASANT (KNOCKANURE) – 1856 CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, GEORGE STREET, ULSTER BANK CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, HIGH STREET, UNITARIAN MEETING HOUSE – 1845 CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, HOUSE CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMENA, MOUNT PLEASANT, KNOCKABURE – Circa 1856 CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMONEY, ULSTER BANK – Circa 1861 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST (NEAR), TURKISH BATHS (002) – 1859 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ACADEMY STREET, ACADEMY (PROPOSED) – 1841 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ALFRED STREET, FLAX FACTORY & WAREHOUSE (LEADBETTER'S) – 1852 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ALFRED STREET, ST MALACHY'S CHURCH (RC) – 1840 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ASHLEY PL CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BALLYMACARRETT, SCHOOL – 1866 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BALLYMISCAW ROAD, TWESKARD CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BRIDGE STREET, NO. 012-16 (ARNOTT) – 1866 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, BRIDGE STREET, PREMISES – 1858 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CASTLE PLACE, NO. 020-22 (CANTRELL) – 1866 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CLIFTONVILLE, CLIFTONVILLE COTTAGE – Circa 1835 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CLIFTONVILLE – Circa 1830 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CLIFTONVILLE ROAD, NO. 026-30 (HOME FOR THE BLIND) – Circa 1831 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CLONARD GARDENS, CLONARD HOUSE – 1843 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, COLLEGE SQUARE EAST, ACADEMICAL INSTITUTION – 1874 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, COLLEGE SQUARE NORTH, MUSEUM (OLD) – Circa 1830 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, COLLEGE STREET, REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (OLD) – 1843 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CORPORATION STREET (& GREEN STREET), WAREHOUSE (PATTERSON) – Circa 1867 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CORPORATION STREET, WAREHOUSE – Circa 1853 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, CUPAR STREET, FLAX SPINNING MILL (J. & T.M. GREEVES) CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DERRYVOLGIE AVENUE, NO. 008 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DERRYVOLGIE AVENUE, NO. 008 (TIGHNABRUAICH) – 1880 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DONEGALL PLACE, NO. 001-5 (ANDERSON & MCAULEY) CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DONEGALL PLACE, NO. 27 (ROYAL HOTEL) – Circa 1849 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, FALLS ROAD, GUNNING & CAMPBELL MILLS CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, FALLS ROAD, NORTHERN SPINNING CO. – 1867 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, FORTHRIVER, FLAX SPINNING MILL (J. & T.M. GREEVES) CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, FOUNTAIN STREET, HALL – 1889 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, FREDERICK STREET, QUAKER MEETING HOUSE – 1840 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GLENBANK SPINNING MILLS CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GLENMACHAN ROAD, ALTONA – 1864 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GLENMACHAN ROAD, GLENMACHAN TOWER – 1862 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GLENMACHAN ROAD AREA, HOUSE (GLEN EBOR) – 1862 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GRAY'S LANE, GRAYMOUNT – Circa 1835 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HIGH STREET, FORSTER GREEN & CO. – Circa 1865 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, HOLYWOOD ROAD, RICHMOND LODGE – Circa 1845 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, LISBURN ROAD, ROYAL TERRACE – 1848 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MALONE ROAD, NO. 071 (BERTHA) – 1853 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MAY STREET, MUSIC HALL – 1840 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MOUNT CHARLES, NO. 002 & 4 – 1842 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, OLD HOLYWOOD ROAD, HEIDELBERG CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, OLD HOLYWOOD ROAD, LISMACHAN CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, QUEEN'S ELMS – 1859 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ROYAL AVENUE, NO. 103-107 (EAGLE CHAMBERS) – Circa 1883 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, SCHOOLS – 1872 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, SEAVIEW CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, SPRINGFIELD CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, STRANDTOWN, SCHOMBERG CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, UNIVERSITY ROAD, ELMWOOD TERRACE – 1858 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, UNIVERSITY SQUARE, NO. 004-30 – Circa 1848 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, VICTORIA STREET, NO. 001-7 (CORN EXCHANGE) – 1851 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, VICTORIA STREET, NO. 010-14 (SCOTTISH AMICABLE LIFE ASSURANCE CO) – 1863 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, WARING STREET, NO. 012 (W.H. SMITH) – 1878 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, WARING STREET, NO. 035-39 (ULSTER BANK) – 1859;1869;1873 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, WILMONT CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, WINDSOR AVENUE, NO. 046 (CEARA) – 1854 CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, YORK STREET, SPINNING MILLS CO. ANTRIM, CARRICKFERGUS, HOUSES (003) – Circa 1844 CO. ANTRIM, CARRICKFERGUS, TAYLOR'S AVENUE, BARN FLAX SPINNING MILLS CO. ANTRIM, GREENISLAND, SEAPARK CO. ANTRIM, LISBURN, LISNAVARVEY CO. ANTRIM, LISBURN, LISSUE CO. ANTRIM, LISBURN, RAILWAY STREET, QUAKER MEETING HOUSE – 1853 CO. ANTRIM, LONGWOOD (NEWTOWNABBEY) CO. ANTRIM, MERVILLE (CARNMONEY) CO. ANTRIM, SEA PARK (GREENISLAND) – 1853 CO. ANTRIM?, OLD FORGE CO. ARMAGH, GOSFORD CASTLE (MARKETHILL) – Circa 1852 CO. ARMAGH, LURGAN, HIGH STREET, HOUSES (2) – 1837 CO. ARMAGH, LURGAN, HOUSE CO. ARMAGH, LURGAN, SILVERWOOD – 1840 CO. ARMAGH, PORTADOWN, STRAMORE CO. CORK, CORK, HOUGHTON CO. DOWN, BANBRIDGE, GAS WORKS – 1851 CO. DOWN, BANBRIDGE, RAILWAY STATION – 1861 CO. DOWN, CRAIGAVAD, HOUSE (AILSA LODGE?) – Circa 1875 CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, INSTITUTE – 1841 CO. DOWN, DOWNPATRICK, IRISH STREET (& MARKET STREET), ULSTER BANK – 1854 CO. DOWN, DROMORE, RAILWAY STATION – 1861 CO. DOWN, HILLSBOROUGH, BARRACK STORE – 1870 CO. DOWN, HILLSBOROUGH, RAILWAY STATION – 1861 CO. DOWN, MULLAGHFERNAN, RAILWAY STATION – 1861 CO. FERMANAGH, ENNISKILLEN, DARLING STREET, ULSTER BANK – 1875 CO. FERMANAGH, LISNASKEA, ULSTER BANK – 1872 CO. LIMERICK, LIMERICK, CECIL STREET, QUAKER MEETING HOUSE – 1806 CO. LONDONDERRY, DERRY, WATERLOO PLACE, ULSTER BANK – 1858 CO. LONDONDERRY, MAGHERA, ULSTER BANK – 1866 CO. MONAGHAN, CARRICKMACROSS, MAIN STREET, ULSTER BANK – 1873 CO. MONAGHAN, CARRICKMACROSS, MAIN STREET, ULSTER BANK – 1873 CO. TYRONE, BERNAGH (DUNGANNON) – Circa 1850 CO. TYRONE, CASTLEDERG, MAIN STREET, ULSTER BANK – 1866 CO. TYRONE, COOKSTOWN, WILLIAM STREET, ULSTER BANK – 1852 CO. TYRONE, OMAGH, JAMES STREET, RAILWAY STATION – 1861 CO. TYRONE, STRABANE, ABERCORN SQUARE, ULSTER BANK – 1861 CO. TYRONE, TAMNAMORE (DUNGANNON), HOUSE CO. TYRONE, TULLYLAGAN, HOUSE CO. WATERFORD, WATERFORD, MORGAN STREET & MILITARY ROAD), BACON CURING FACTORY CO. WATERFORD, WATERFORD, O'CONNELL STREET, SAVINGS BANK – Circa 1840 CO. WATERFORD, WATERFORD, ROCKVILLE

Bibliography

• James Stevens Curl, 'A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture'.
• Hugh Dixon, 'Honouring Thomas Jackson (1807–1890)'. British Natural History and Philosophical Society Journal.
• Paul Larmour, 'A hive of activity (Thomas Jackson 1807–1890)'. QUB Perspective Journal.

Notes and References

1. Book: The Musical Life of Nineteenth-Century Belfast. Johnston. Dr Roy. Plummer. Dr Declan. 28 December 2015. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. 9780754663256. en.
2. Web site: Jackson, thomas – Dictionary of Irish Architects. dia.ie. 13 July 2017.
3. Web site: Sinton Family Trees – Details of Anthony Thomas Jackson, son of Thomas Jackson and Lydia Newsom Ridgway, Born 1838, Died 1917. Kingdom. Bob Sinton, Tandragee, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, United. sinton-family-trees.uk. 14 July 2017.
4. Web site: Full text of "Proceedings and Report of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society.". archive.org. 1978. 14 July 2017.
5. Thomas Jackson – oi.
6. Book: Trainor, Brian. Researching Irish Australians: Directory of Research. 1998. Ulster Historical Foundation. 9780901905901. en.
7. Book: The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Curl. James Stevens. Wilson. Susan. 2015. Oxford University Press. 9780199674985. en.
8. http://archiseek.com/2015/1866-arnotts-warehouse-bridge-st-belfast/ Arnotts Warehouse, Bridge Street, Belfast
9. Web site: Hearth Money – Finance and loan blog.
10. http://archiseek.com/2015/1881-st-georges-building-37-41-high-street-belfast/ St. George’s Building, 37–41 High Street, Belfast