Thomas Oliver (architect)

Thomas Oliver (14 January 1791 – December 1857) was an English classical architect and surveyor active in Newcastle upon Tyne.

He was one of a number of talented local architects who worked with Richard Grainger on the development of Newcastle, but his work tends to be overshadowed by that of John Dobson who has been given a great deal of the credit for the central part of the city referred to as Grainger Town.

He was "pupil and assistant" to John Dobson for six years until 1821,[2][3] when he began independent practice as a "land surveyor and architect".

All three of Oliver's creations survive today, although Leazes Terrace is overshadowed by St James' Park football stadium.

Oliver's plans were not as ambitious as Dobson's and mostly dealt with straightening and extending existing streets to give better access to the town.

His obituary said:[4] Mr Oliver is well known as the author of several publications, in addition to his great work, the plan of Newcastle, published by him in different forms since the year 1830.

[3] For his work in surveying the first railway line from Manchester to Liverpool, he was offered a knighthood, which he politely declined.

Honeymen, in a publication of 1831, claimed that Oliver was asked by the Corporation to provide a design for Blackett Street and Eldon Square, which he then did.