Members at our 2007 BBQ

Cardiff
Naturalists' Society


Cymdeithas Naturiaethwyr
Caerdydd

 

 

George E. Robinson (1832-1914) 10th President


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George E Robinson was an architect responsible for a number of key buildings in the developing borough of Cardiff and was the mentor of Edward Seward who would become the 21st president, and in many ways eclipse him as a notable architect in the Cardiff borough

As an architect he designed and oversaw the construction of a number of buildings in Cardiff. Robinson and Seward were commissioned to enlarge Insole Court in 1873 (Seward would once again work here in 1875 when in partnership with others)

 Insole Court, aspects developed by Robinson and Seward

Insole Court, aspects developed by Robinson and Seward

 Insole Court, aspects developed by Robinson and Seward

Insole Court, aspects developed by Robinson and Seward

Another I have noted is this one

Excerpt from local newspaper

The Racquet Court Excerpt from The Cardiff Times 8th July 1876

From newspaper reports he did seem to be particularly involved in educational establishments such as this: -

New board schools in Whitchurch Road,Cathays, Cardiff, The schools provide for the accommodation of nearly 1,000 children, distributed in the following manner:120 Desks in boys' school, 240 in the three classrooms to this school, desk and gallery accommodation for 80 more, or a total of 320 boys. The girls' school is of the same size, and accommodates the same number. The infants' school accommodates in desks, 120; in galleries, 170 and in babies' room. 43. In the latter room provision is made for teaching the younger children in the Kindergarten system.

there is a really nice design of Wood Street Board School, Temperance Town, Cardiff, available on the Peoples' Collections Wales website

Excerpt from local newspaper

Excerpt from Weekly Mail 6th January 1883

Excerpt from local newspaper

Excerpt from The Cardiff Times 17th February 1894

From other newspaper articles he seems to have had a keen interest in the environment

Excerpt from local newspaper

Excerpt from The Glamorgan Gazette 5th February 1909

However in later years he seems to have had a struggle with money which resulted in some less flattering newspaper articles such as these: -

Excerpt from local newspaper

Excerpt from Evening Express 1st March 1902

The insole Research group have kindly provided information that he had been declared bankrupt in February 1902 which was reported in the Edinburgh and London Gazettes. However this does not seem to have been the end of his money troubles as per this article in 1910: -

Excerpt from The Cardiff Times 22nd October1910

Excerpt from the Cardiff Times 22nd October 1910

He does seem to have had an interest in history of the Cardiff borough through to his latter years, with letters like this reported in the local press.

Old St. Mary's, Cardiff, The Cardiff Times 7th May 1910

Old St. Mary's, Cardiff, The Cardiff Times 7th May 1910

He died in 1914 and is buried in Cathays cemetery



Back to the 150th Anniversary index

Before this... Clement Waldron (1828-1906) 9th President

Next up... Sir William Galloway, D.Sc., F.G.S. (1840-1927) 11th President

See our Full list of Presidents

These pages are part of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society 150th Anniversary celebrations and are about our history and are celebrating the people who developed our Society and helped build the city and the cultural heritage of Cardiff. You can read more about that using the links above

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