Richardson Thomas Johnson

• Birth date            1846 at Stepney, London
• Christening         7 February 1846 at St Thomas, Stepney
• Marriage              April-June 1880 to Alice Maud Grylls at Wigan
• Death date          15 April 1929 at Walton, Liverpool

Richardson Thomas Johnson was born in Stepney, London in 1846 the son of William Johnson, engine maker, originally from Wigan and his wife Eleanor from Antwerp, Belgium. His family moved from London to Wigan in the 1860’s, where father William was landlord of the family public house. In 1871 RT Johnson was living with his parents at the “Hole in The Wall Inn” situated in Market Place and had commenced practice as a surveyor (census).  RTJ was Hon Secretary of Wigan Cricket Club 1869 -1870. 

His first major work was The Arcade, also known as Grimes Arcade which he designed when still only 24 years old. Other major works include the original design for the Royal Court (1886); Redesign of the Alexandra Music Hall to become the Empire Palace Theatre. (1892) and Springfield Park, later to become the home of Wigan Athletic FC (1896).  He also designed several smaller buildings and houses throughout Lancashire, including a bridge at Saltcotes, near Lytham. There does not appear to be any evidence of the design of any further significant buildings. During his time in Wigan, he lived at Darlington Street, Caroline Street and Hodson Street. By 1901 He had moved to Blackpool with his wife and two daughters and also ran an architectural practice in the town. 

In 1880 he married his cousin, Alice Maud Grylls at Wigan. On the death of his wife he went to live with one of his daughters, Alice Maude de Coursey Kewell at 8, Agnes Street, West Derby, Liverpool. Richardson Thomas Johnson died on 15 April 1929, aged 82 years, at 107, Rice Lane, Walton, previously referred to as the Walton Workhouse. His heyday as an architect were certainly between the 1870’s and 1890’s. [Peter Fleetwood]

Address
1876     RT Johnson, Hopwood Chambers, King Street, Wigan
1880    Darlington Street, Wigan
1901    RT Johnson Blackpool

Residence
1846    Stepney London
1851    Newington
1871    “Hole in The Wall Inn,” Market Place, Wigan
1880    Caroline Street Wigan (baptism of Alice Maude de Coursey Johnson)
1891    Darlington Street Wigan and Hodson Street
1901    Elizabeth Street, Blackpool

Reference    Research by Peter Fleetwood. Wigan Local History and Heritage Society. Information by email