John Dobson was born on 9th December, 1787 in the building now known as the Pineapple Inn in High Chirton, North Shields

 I was very honoured to be invited to unveil this plaque to the great North-Eastern architect John Dobson. I spent nearly 25 years as a curator in Tyne and Wear Museums and have always had a special interest in the region’s architecture, and in Dobson in particular. John Dobson dominated architecture in Northumbria in the first half of the 19th century. His country houses are some of the most beautiful, elegant and refined of the period. He improved, modernised and restored numerous mansions and castles. He is probably most famous for being one of the talented architects who worked with Richard Grainger on the development of central Newcastle in the 1820s and 1830s, designing Eldon Square, the now demolished Royal Arcade, the Green and Grainger Markets, and part of Grey Street. Everyone will know his Newcastle Central Station. Other public buildings of his included craggy and intimidating prisons for the coun