Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Amateur architect and painter.   George Hodson, who was born on 25 October 1806, was the second son of Sir Robert Hodson, first baronet, of Hollybrooke House, Co. Wicklow.    He succeeded his brother, Robert Adair Hodson, as third baronet in 1831.   As an amateur architect he designed improvements to the interior and demesne of Hollybrooke, including new offices and a gate lodge, as well as providing various designs for his Co. Wicklow neighbours at Powerscourt, Kilruddery, Charleville, and Bellevue.   He married Meriel Anne, daughter of the Rev. Richard Neville, in 1852 and died on 2 April1888.

Hodson was also a talented landscape and figure artist, exhibiting at the Royal Hibernian Academy between 1827 and 1845 (and again in 1875) and at the Royal Academy in 1838.   Some of his topographical views were engraved.

The Irish Architectural Archive holds a small collection of Hodson's architectural designs and topographical drawings (Hollybrooke Drawings, Acc.87/55).

RHA: honorary member, 1871.

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry is from Burke's Peerage (1884), 684-5, and W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 488-489. Busts of Hodson and his wife by Joseph Watkins RHA were exhibited at the RHA  in 1868..


6 work entries listed in chronological order for HODSON, GEORGE FREDERICK JOHN (SIR)


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Building: CO. WICKLOW, HOLLYBROOKE
Date: 1852;1871;1875
Nature: Designs for offices, 1836-37; gate lodge, 1848; sunken garden, 1852; cow shed and offices, 1859; ice house, 1868; library panelling, 1871; bookcase in library, 1875; dairy (undated); plant houses (undated); main gate (undated).; iron railing beside entrance porch (undated);  kitchen wing (undated); entrance to dining room from hall (undated);  gateway (undated). (Did he also design Gothic tower in grounds, visible from terrace?  See Tourists' Illustrated Handbook for Ireland (1854), 21.)
Refs: Drawings in IAA, Holybrooke Drawings collection, Acc. 87/55.1/1 -23/1

Building: CO. WICKLOW, KILRUDDERY
Date: 1854
Nature: Design for aviary.  For William Brabazon, 11th Earl of Meath.
Refs: Plan & elevation in IAA, Hollybrooke Drawings collection, Acc.87/55.26/1-2.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, GLENCREE, SCHOOL
Date: 1854
Nature: Design for school, for Lady Castlereagh. Not built.
Refs: Elevation and plan, 1854, in IAA, Hollybrooke Drawings Collection, Acc. 87/55.27/1-2.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, POWERSCOURT
Date: 1854-57;1859;1866
Nature: Design for Tinnehinch gate lodge, 1854.  Gift from Frederick, 4th Marquess of Londonderry, husband of 7th Viscount Powerscourt's mother. Erected, 1856-57. Also design for gateway, 1859, and design for tunnel to allow drive from house to waterfall without gates, 1866.
Refs: Set of 3 drawings for lodge, signed and dated Mar 1854, in IAA, Powerscourt Albums, Acc. 89/62, 1/33/1, 1/34/1, 1/35/1; another alternative set, 1854, in IAA, Hollybrooke Drawings collection, Acc. 87/55.24/1-4. Design for gateway, Acc. 87/55. 24/5;  design for tunnel, Acc. 87/55.25/1.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, CHARLEVILLE
Date: 1855
Nature: Design for entrance.
Refs: Plan and elevation, s. & d. 1855, and signed undated detail of top of wooden gate pier in IAA, Hollybrooke Drawings Collection, Acc. 87/55.27/1,2. For Charles Stanley, 4th Viscount Monck.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GRANGEGORMAN, RICHMOND LUNATIC ASYLUM
Date: 1855
Nature: Design for entrance lodge.
Refs: Plans and elevation, initialled and dated Nov 1855, in IAA, Hollybrooke Drawings Collection, Acc. 87/55.29/1