Charles Bulman Pearson
- Born : 2 April 1876 at Milnthorpe, Westmorland
- Married : 1900 Maud Pinchon at Christ Church, Lancaster
- Died : 19 July 1944 at Brunton House, Lancaster
- Burial : Scotforth Church
Charles Bulman Pearson was born at Milnthorpe Westmorland, the son of Thomas Pearson and Eleanor (Harrison), and christened on 20 June 1876. He was articled to E. Howard Dawson, architect, of Aldcliffe Hall from 1890 to 1896 and was then assistant in the Lancaster Borough Surveyor’s office (1896-1899); and the offices of Oliver and Dodgshun (1899-1900); Charles John Ferguson (1900-1901); and John Bilson 1901-1904. He commenced practice at 12A Cheapside, Lancaster, in 1904 before seemingly moving to Chiswick London about 1910. Here he remained until at least 1914. By 1919 he had returned to Lancaster and went on to design and built a wide range of projects in the Lancaster area including houses, shops, offices and a cinema. He won several prizes for his drawings and was hired by well-known London practices to produce the perspective drawing for competitions. In 1931 he won first prize for his design of Ramsey Grammar School, Isle of Man. Medal of Merit, Tite Prize 1906. Godwin Bursary 1921. FRIBA 1915
His son, Charles Edward Pearson joined the practice in 1931 and they had a successful partnership until World War II, entering three competitions a year and winning several prizes including first prizes for Llandudno Hospital and Scunthorpe Civic Centre. Both were skilled perspective artists and had works hung at the Royal Academy in most years from 1906 to 1939.
After the Second World War and the death of Charles B, Charles E. Pearson re-opened the Lancaster office in 1946 and an office in Manchester in 1949. The practice continued to win competitions and worked on housing, schools and colleges as well as concentrating on health buildings following a commission to design an early hospital for the recently formed National Health Service at Whitehaven. His son (Charles) Michael Pearson opened the office in London in 1958, was made a partner in 1961 and also taught part-time at the AA, Bartlett and several universities in America. Having worked on school design, he won first prize in a Crown Local office competition, developing his interest in adaptable interiors. This led to a commission to design a large telecommunications centre in London.
By the 1970s, 75 architects were employed by the practice and Michael Pearson was president of the AA in 1973-74. In 1977, Charles E. Pearson and his son separated from the other partners and continued the family practice in London. They worked on overseas projects, mainly hospitals, applying their design concepts to different social, economic and climatic conditions.
Address
1904 : 12A Cheapside, Lancaster,
1919-1944 : 18 Dalton Square, Lancaster
1914 : 109 High Street, Chiswick
Residence
1881: Ivy Cottage Westmorland
1891 : Lancaster (Census)
1900: 10, Holland Road, Kensington, London W
1901 : Pendrill Street Sculcoates, Hull Yorkshire East Riding
1911 : Kew Surrey (Census)
1944 : Brunton House, Scotford Road, Lancaster
Reference : Who’s Who in Architecture (1914)
Reference : Lancaster Guardian 31 December 2004
Obituary Builder 28 July 1944 page 77
Obituary Lancaster Guardian 21 July 1944